3:25pm: Watford’s contract is non-guaranteed, per NetsDaily (Twitter link).
2:27pm: The Nets have signed free agent forward/center Trendon Watford, the team announced (via Twitter).
According to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, Watford received a standard contract (Twitter link). It’s unclear if the deal is guaranteed.
Watford was surprisingly waived by the Trail Blazers at the end of June before his minimum-salary contract for 2023/24 became guaranteed. He went unclaimed and became an unrestricted free agent a couple days later.
The 22-year-old averaged 7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists with a shooting line of .560/.391/.720 in 62 appearances (19.1 MPG) in 2022/23.
Watford, who played two seasons of college ball at LSU, went undrafted in 2021 and caught on with the Blazers, initially signing a two-way deal. His contract was converted to a standard deal in February 2022 during his solid rookie season.
After officially signing Watford, the Nets are now carrying 17 players on their roster — 15 on standard contracts and a pair on two-way deals.
Do we know what kind of contract?
The Chicago Bulls take another L, and miss out on the EXACT type of player they needed to complete their bench.
I mean, come on, Watford was the perfect fit for exactly what they’re missing, and they couldn’t do better than a non-guaranteed deal!?!
Plus, on top of it all, hes only 22, not like he is some washed up veteran. There was room for growth, and the opportunity for him to get better without having to give up any assets or take any kind of risk…
I really hope to find out that the Bulls at least offered him a deal, and he just chose the Nets because he thought he’d get more playing time or liked the coach/players better or something.
There isn’t one good reason why they couldn’t have just signed him for something like 3-4mil, and then included a player option at 5-6mil for a 2nd season.
I imagine this has to mean the Bulls have their sights set on someone else that can play the 4, or be a small ball 5 for them for roughly 15min a night…
I really hope the Bulls don’t go into the season planning to use Patrick Williams, Torrey Craig, and/or sometimes Demar DeRozan at the 4 all season long…
Honestly, they truly do not have a SINGLE power forward on their roster. The closest players they probably have are Patrick Williams and Julian Phillips, but like every other one of their forwards they’re best used as a wing..
I’ve never seen a team with such a glaring hole be so unwilling to fix it…
Sorry, rant over..lol
You’re right good signing by Nets
Cronin let him go before Dame’s request so that was unfortunate for Blazers
The Blazer waiving Watford was baffling. He was a good energy player and loved by fans and teammates. He also fit in with the youth timeline. No one in PDX understood why he was let go, other than Cronin. Same with Eubanks, who most valued higher than N’Urkle! Maybe it was because everyone knew they were both better than the incumbent starter. Granted Jabari Walker and Murray may have taken the minutes away from both but can you ever have to many quality young bigs making peanuts? Or even sign and trades made more sense than letting assets walk. Watford will be a good find for BKN if he’s given opportunities enough. Trendon is a hustling big with good mobility and good ball handling ability.
Portland are clueless