Nets combo guard David Duke Jr.. is not going to receive a qualifying offer from Brooklyn and will thus enter unrestricted free agency, reports Brian Lewis of The New York Post (Twitter link).
Nets shooting guard Dru Smith, inked to a two-way contract last season, was also not given a qualifying offer by Brooklyn, Lewis adds. He, too, will become an unrestricted free agent.
The 23-year-old Duke first joined Brooklyn on a two-way deal after going undrafted out of Providence in 2021. He returned to the Nets on another two-way contract for the 2022/23 season, but saw his agreement converted to a standard roster deal this past April, ending the year on the club’s 15-man roster.
Across 23 games for Brooklyn in 2023/24, Duke averaged 3.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG and 0.9 APG. In 22 games for Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, Duke averaged 22.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, and 1.9 SPG.
Smith, 25, barely played for the Nets during his inaugural NBA season. In 10 games for Brooklyn, he averaged just 3.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG and 1.5 RPG across 9.1 MPG. Smith played 14 contests for the Long Island Nets, starting just three. He averaged 14.1 PPG on .500/.426/.667 shooting splits, along with 5.4 RPG.
Do t know how his time has gone with Nets. I always thought he had a good shot to make it as 2way player. At 23 needs to start making some strides. I hope someone gives him a chance. Time to step up …..
James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have combined to request to be traded 7 times in the past 2 years.
cool. what does that have to do with this?
All mentally soft stars. Easily would’ve won a title if they stuck together
david duke sr was in the clan down in lakewood Georgia wasn’t he?
I like him as a 2/3 that can defend and playmake. Their rotations the last 3 years have been a clown show, but if he is put around shooters, he should be useful for teams
If your last name is Duke, why would you go and name your son David?
Duke couldnt even make layups, hes not NBA calibur
He’ll have to find a new clan
David Duke, if he has any acting skills, should try and get a part playing an NBA player on TV. He looks the part. Guys who peak, relative to their peers, in their teens, and then methodically fall off every year into their mid-20’s, rarely turn it around and become good NBA players. BKN gave him a great chance to turn it, and he forces his way off the 2way contract that made him worth developing. He’s turning 24 this summer, with no on-court NBA experience, but 2 years on the roster which counts for FA status. I wish him luck in getting another team to invest their finite resources in him.