JULY 23, 4:56pm: The team has made the signing official, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times (Twitter link).
JUNE 30, 11:45pm: The Nets and Ed Davis have agreed to terms on a one-year, $4.4MM contract, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Davis had been an unrestricted free agent.
Jusuf Nurkic‘s primary backup at the five during the 2017/18 season, Davis appeared in 78 games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 5.3 PPG on 58.2% shooting. The 29-year-old was also a force on the glass, racking up 7.4 RPG in just 18.9 minutes per contest.
Davis reportedly had interest in remaining in Portland, so it’s somewhat surprising that the two sides couldn’t work something out, given the modest price of his agreement with Brooklyn. However, the Blazers have been particularly cost-conscious so far this summer, having declined to tender qualifying offers to rotation players Shabazz Napier and Pat Connaughton.
Davis figures to step into a regular role for the Nets behind young center Jarrett Allen. Brooklyn is acquiring Dwight Howard in a trade with Charlotte, but the club is expected to negotiate a buyout with the former No. 1 pick, clearing the way for Davis to become Allen’s primary backup.
While the Nets should have some cap room available after buying out Howard, it’s possible that the team will wait to finalize its reported agreement with Davis. The room exception is worth $4,449,000 in 2018/19, so Davis’ deal would fit nicely.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
The Mavericks could have saved 20 mil and signed a great rebounder in Ed Davis
The Mavs need bigs who can play a lot of minutes. Dirk can barely get up and down the court and Ed Davis was a one year wonder. Signing Davis would’ve caused the Mavs to sign another guy to basically platoon with him.
agreed. But they will need another big anyway to spell an aging Jordan who relies on pure athleticism as his only strength. He also can’t play in the 4th quarter because of his free throw inadequacies. I’m just not sold on a 24 mil contract in a league that had maybe 5 teams with the money to sign him and possibly 3 that had any interest.
Man. The nets keep acquiring in some capacity the players I keep hoping hit their stride or catch a break in the last 3 years. Allen Crabbe, Cliff Alexander, Archie Goodwin, KJ McDaniels, Joe Harris, Sean Kilpatrick, Nik Stauskas, Tyler Zeller, Dante Cunningham and now Ed Davis lol.
Is he any good?
WOWWWWWWW the Blazers couldn’t afford to match this. Whatever I’m done have fun with Nurkic next year Portland it was a nice ride.
Why would they want to? They’re basically going to be in the luxury tax with a roster that is barely good enough to get past the first round in the playoffs. Granted it was a one year deal but Portland can’t afford to keep signing average players and expecting to go further in the playoffs.
Renounce the rights to every RFA because making the same mistake they did last year would be beyond stupid. Sign back Ed Davis and try to make a trade to shake up the roster. Vet min is what, like $2.1m? Considering they just gave Stauskas a minimum contract, put that money towards bringing back Ed Davis, the #1 reason they were the 3 seed this year and the reason Zach Collins developed rather quickly. I seriously don’t want anything to do with being a fan of a team that employs Neil Olshey anymore.
They needed Davis to REPLACE Nurkic, depending on Collins’ development. If they can’t afford Nurkic, they will have to get someone else… someone like… Davis.
How do we know Davis is a 1year wonder? He has been efficient throughout his career, albeit not with starter minutes.
I love Ed Davis man. What he brought to the game was so underrated, when they would bring him and Collins in I was certain the lead would stay or be extended. That kind of aggression on the boards always plays. You can always use a player like that on the court. Defensively, he could actually get out on the perimeter and hold his own against guards. The Blazers definitely should have signed him instead of Nurkic. At that price, Ed Davis is criminally underpaid. Meanwhile Meyers Leonard collects his checks…
I like what Brooklyn has done so far. Resigned harris for a reasonable amount, added this guy, and they’ll still have all their cap space to work with. I think they make another small signing and then work out a deal with OKC to take on Abrines/Singler.