The Nets decided not to give Grant Nelson a second 10-day contract after his first expired on Sunday night, league sources tell Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
In 35 combined minutes across four games with the Nets, Nelson compiled 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, five blocks and one steal while shooting 5-of-9 from the field (55.6%) and 7-of-10 from the foul line (70.0%). He also had six personal fouls and four turnovers.
The former North Dakota State and Alabama forward’s best game came against Cleveland on March 1, when he had 11 points, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal in 20 minutes.
Lewis is surprised Brooklyn declined to re-sign Nelson, as the 23-year-old showcased impressive “mobility and defensive energy.” Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised Nelson prior to Saturday’s game, though he acknowledged his future was up in the air.
“[He’s] a very good basketball player. Everything he does, he does it well,” Fernandez said. “He doesn’t over-dribble or try to do too much. Everything is efficient. His size is great. He’s a multi-positional defender, very good play-maker, fast. All of those things have been very good. It translates to this level. Obviously right now we have one more game and then after that we’ll have to discuss and see what the next move going forward is.”
Nelson spent most of his rookie season in the G League with the Nets’ affiliate team in Long Island, which still controls his NBAGL rights. But he’s now an NBA free agent.
The Nets now have an opening on their standard roster, and Lewis suggests Chaney Johnson could be a name to watch. Johnson, who is on a two-way contract, has yet to appear in a game for Brooklyn, but has played well with Long Island, Lewis notes.
If they choose to go that route, the Nets would have until the final day of the regular season (April 12) to convert Johnson to a standard contract, though they’d be unable to back-fill his two-way spot — the deadline to sign a player to a two-way contract was March 4.
Lewis doesn’t appear to understand what the “Two-Way conversion deadline” means (it doesn’t exist), I wouldn’t read too much into his speculation.
There is no deadline for converting a player. They simply can’t sign a new Two-Way to replace any player they do convert at this point in the season.
As such it’s just as likely to me that Nelson signs another 10-day with the Nets, if not today then later in the season.
Or another team gives him a look. The Jazz have open roster spots. Hell, the Celtics could even offer him a spot on their playoff roster.