The Brooklyn Nets step up on the wing. As the franchise announced, Yuta Watanabe has signed a deal in Brooklyn.
The New Yorkers did not provide any details of the contract, according to Michael Scotto (HoopsHype) it is probably a one-year contract that is not guaranteed.
Watanabe completed 121 games in four years in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies and most recently for the Toronto Raptors. The Japanese played for the Canadians in 38 games and averaged 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.7 minutes.
The Nets now have 15 players under contract, twelve of whom are fully guaranteed, as well as guard Edmond Sumner’s in parts.
According to Marc Stein (substack), the Nets also have their eye on Markieff Morris, who could augment the thinned-out frontcourt rotation. Another prospect is the Philadelphia 76ers, Morris’ hometown team.
Morris only played 17 games for the Miami Heat in the 2021-22 season, in part because he was sidelined four months after a nasty shove from Nikola Jokic. For Miami, Morris averaged 7.6 points and 2.6 rebounds, in the playoffs he only got a short three-minute appearance.
