The Brooklyn Nets have beaten the Sacramento Kings in the chase for big man and shooter Andrea Bargnani, signing the Italian player to a two-year deal on a veteran's minimum salary.
The move comes a bit of a surprise considering that the Kings seemed to be at the forefront of signing the 29-year-old player who has thus been far from his fiery self when he was still with the Toronto Raptors.
Bargnani spent the last two seasons with the Knicks but was mostly out due to injuries. And with that in mind, the Nets seem to be making a big gamble on the NBA veteran who was the top overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft.
Bargnani only showed up in 29 games for the Knicks last season, putting up numbers which include 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists. But what the Nets could be looking at is Bargnani's ability to make three-point shots, something rare for a seven-footer in the NBA.
The Kings had hoped to hook up Bargnani to free up the middle for the team's forwards such as DeMarcus Cousins. As it stands now, the Kings have to look for someone else.
By signing with the Nets, Bargnani doesn't have to leave New York after all. But one thing that many are wondering is who the Nets may eventually line up before the 2015-16 NBA season starts.
Though the NBA allows teams to carry as much as 20 players, only 15 are allowed before the regular season kicks off.
Of the 18 players, 13 have guaranteed deals with the Nets. Four are partially guaranteed while only one (Earl Clark) is not.
With the Nets's plans to rebuild their roster, it seems kind of a surprise why they did take Bargnani in. Nevertheless, the Italian seven-footer gets another chance to strut his wares provided of course he doesn't fall to injury once more.
