Nets officially sign Andrea Bargnani to reported 2-year, minimum deal
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The Brooklyn Nets have officially signed former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani, the team announced Friday.
While terms of the deal weren't disclosed, Bargnani will be working under the veteran's minimum of $2.5 million over two seasons, with a player option for the second year, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post reports.
"Andrea will give us the ability to space the floor and complement our other front court players," said general manager Billy King in the team's official statement.
The Sacramento Kings were close to finalizing a deal with Bargnani, but that ultimately fell through after he decided to leave more money on the table to join the Nets, where he reportedly feels he'll be a better fit.
The 29-year-old Italian big was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2006, playing seven years with the franchise before being dealt to the New York Knicks in summer 2013. His poor interior defense and horrid rebounding for a 7-footer overshadowed any good he did on offense, as Raptors fans wanted their starting center to play as more of a traditional big, which Bargnani was anything but.
A strained calf muscle kept "Il Mago" out for a majority of his 2014-15 campaign, wherein he averaged 14.8 points on 45.4 percent shooting in just 29 games.
Signing Bargnani is a low-risk endeavor on the part of Nets management, who could use a stretch-big in their lineup to complement starting center Brook Lopez. As long as no one in Brooklyn expects him to protect the rim, grab double-digit rebounds, or evolve into a No. 1 or 2 option on offense, Bargnani's tenure with the team should be a pleasant one.
Then again, the mood at the Barclays Center could change in a hurry if Bargnani pulls one of his signature blunders.