The Nets signed ahead Drew Timme to a two-year deal on Friday, increasing the lively roster to 18 gamers with three two-way gamers.
The 24-year-old had been a standout performer in latest video games on Lengthy Island, as he was not too long ago named G League Participant of the Week after averaging 35.7 factors and 12.7 rebounds. He scored a career-high 50 factors towards the Motor Metropolis Cruise on March 22, turning into simply the second participant in franchise historical past to succeed in that time whole.
As a result of Cam Johnson is trending towards incomes a performance-based $562,000 bonus, Brooklyn wanted to carry off on signing a fifteenth participant till the tip of the season, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
“I think he’s done a great job with our club,” head coach Jordi Fernandez stated. “We’re the same team. You do your job, you’ll get rewarded, and he deserves to be here. So, we’re excited to get to know him at this level, give him an opportunity and see how he does.”
This might be Timme’s first NBA alternative after going undrafted out of Gonzaga in 2023, the place he led the Bulldogs to 3 NCAA Event appearances and a nationwide championship berth in 2021. He earned First Workforce All-America honors as a senior.
“It’s dope. It’s obviously a dream come true,” Timme stated. “This is what I’ve been wanting ever since I could pick up a basketball. So, super grateful for the opportunity and super excited to be here.”
Timme averaged 23.9 factors, 10.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and one steal throughout 29 appearances this season on 57/38.5/73.1 splits. He’s registered 17 double-doubles and is the one participant within the G League this season to common not less than 20 factors and 10 rebounds.
“The G is not the prettiest thing around, but it motivates you to work hard,” Timme stated. “And the staff down there is amazing, they’re great, they know what to do. They know how to get you to where you want to go. And they’re on you every day, and might be annoying sometimes, but on the whole, it’s great. And you know, those guys really helped me get to where I am right now. So, I’m very appreciative.”
SIMMONS RETURNS
Ben Simmons returned to Barclays Middle on Friday for the primary time since he was purchased out by the Nets and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February. In 11 video games along with his new crew, the 6-10 guard averaged 4.2 factors, 4.5 rebounds and three.5 assists whereas taking pictures 47.6% from the sphere. He’s come off the bench in all 11 appearances and averaged 17.7 minutes per sport coming into the evening.
“I had the opportunity to watch him play with a Clippers jersey,” Fernandez stated of Simmons. “He really [helps] the team with scoring efficiency and rebounding, assisting. He’ll do whatever it takes to help the team, same thing he did here. So, I think that attitude is the most important thing. He’s more than capable. He’s a very good player.”
Simmons averaged 6.2 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 33 appearances for Brooklyn this season, together with 24 begins, his most since becoming a member of the Nets in 2022-23. He tried 7.4 subject objectives and 1.1 free throws per 36 minutes this season, which had been each profession lows, and wasn’t cleared to play in back-to-back units.
The 28-year-old ended his Nets tenure with 90 video games performed and 0 playoff appearances over three seasons.
NBA EUROPE
In a joint announcement with FIBA on Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated the league is exploring the potential of creating a brand new males’s basketball league in Europe. Basketball is nearly as widespread as soccer abroad, so the potential partnership is smart.
Whereas particulars are nonetheless being labored out, Silver talked about the thought of a 16-team league with 12 everlasting members and 4 groups that may be relegated out of the group. Groups can be positioned in confirmed European markets and present NBA house owners can be inspired to accomplice with the brand new league.
Fernandez, who hails from Badalona, Spain, thinks the thought has actual potential.
“Now developing the idea is the most important thing,” Fernandez stated. “Obviously I’ll always support everything that can help my country or in Europe with developing something really cool.”
