Nets Hold Informal Free Agent Workout

The Nets currently have 18 players under contract, including 15 with fully guaranteed deals, which means the team still has two available training camp spots it could fill. Brooklyn may be moving toward maxing out its preseason roster, holding workouts today for unrestricted free agents P.J. Hairston, Jorge Gutierrez and Kendall Marshall, NetsDaily reports. A league source told NetsDaily that the trio were at the team’s facility just to get some court time and that no decisions have been made on any of them. But, it’s also possible, even likely, that there were others present in what amounted to a last minute free agent mini-camp, NetsDaily writes.

The presence of the two point guards (Gutierrez and Marshall), could indicate that Greivis Vasquez, who is slated to back-up starter Jeremy Lin, may not be fully recovered in time for opening night from surgery to repair a bone spur, the scribe notes. This may also mean that rookie Isaiah Whitehead could be called upon to provide meaningful minutes earlier than anticipated, NetsDaily adds.

Hairston, 23, appeared in 66 games last season split between the Hornets and Grizzlies, averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 19.9 minutes per outing. The former No. 26 overall pick’s shooting line on the campaign was .355/.290/.781. Hairston reportedly worked out for the Lakers back in Au.gust.

Gutierrez, 27, made 12 appearances in 2015/16 for the Hornets, averaging 1.8 points, 0.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 5.3 minutes per night. His shooting line was .545/.000/.909. The point guard also made 22 appearances for the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s D-League affiliate, averaging 11.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 5.7APG.

Marshall’s best season as a pro came in 2013/14, when he averaged 29 minutes per game in 54 contests for the Lakers. The former UNC standout averaged a career-high 8.0 PPG and 8.8 APG that year, while shooting 39.9% on three-point attempts. Marshall has taken a step back since then, though he was off to a solid start as a backup for the Bucks in 2014/15 before he suffered a season-ending ACL injury. He made 30 appearances for the Sixers last season, logging averages of 3.7 points and 2.4 assists in 13.3 minutes per contest.

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