Getty Blake Griffin handles the ball during a May 11 game against the Chicago Bulls.
The NBA offseason is finally underway, with the free agency market open as of Monday night, and the Brooklyn Nets are officially on the board.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Blake Griffin is returning to the team on a one-year deal:
Six-time All-Star F Blake Griffin has agreed on a one-year deal to stay with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent Sam Goldfeder of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.
The six-time All-Star averaged 10 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 26 games with the Nets last season.
With eyes on making another title run in 2022, look for the Brooklyn Nets to continue rounding out their roster in the coming days. Blake Griffin is likely just the start.
Griffin Played Key Role for Brooklyn
When the Detroit Pistons bought out the remainder of Blake Griffin’s contract last year, there were doubts that he’d ever dunk again, let alone play a key role on a winning team.
But once he was cut loose, and found his way to the Brooklyn Nets, that narrative did a full 180-degree turn.
Griffin found his legs just games into his tenure, and by the time the postseason rolled around, was putting his body on the line to take charges and contest athletic shot attempts.
To close the year, he averaged 12 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals for their seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Nets Lose Jeff Green to Denver
Signing forward Blake Griffin helps to bolster the Brooklyn Nets’ depth, which also took a hit on Monday.
Utility veteran Jeff Green left the Borough for greener pastures in the Mile High City.
ESPN’s Malika Andrews is reporting that he’ll sign a two-year, $10-million deal with the Denver Nuggets.
Free agent forward/center Jeff Green has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, his agent Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM tells ESPN. The deal includes a player option in the second year.
Green, who averaged 11 points off the bench for Brooklyn, will chase a championship with the reigning MVP.
And he’s not the only Nets’ free agent that could be headed elsewhere this summer.
Bruce Brown’s Future Still Up in Air
Blake Griffin was one of a two-player duo regarded as the Brooklyn Nets’ glue guys.
Also a former Detroit Piston, 24-year old Bruce Brown thrived in a bench role as a small-ball center last season.
He wasn’t the knockdown shooter that Green or Griffin are, but he averaged 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Brown was an integral piece to the Nets’ successes through stretches with major injuries.
And as a restricted free agent, his market hasn’t yet developed, or at least, hasn’t been reported on.
Following their Game Seven loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Brown was adamant that he’d like to return for next season:
I hope I’m here. I know my contract is up, but I hope I’m staying in Brooklyn. I love playing with these guys. They made me better this year.
But, as HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported in June, his lack of a better fit may drive him back to Brooklyn:
According to rival NBA executives, Brown’s value could range anywhere from $4-7 million annually. There’s a belief he’s valued more highly in Brooklyn and may not fit well in a different role elsewhere due to his unique role with the Nets.
Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown, and Jeff Green all played contributing roles on last year’s Brooklyn Nets team.
As they look to run it back in 2021-2022, can they find a way to bring two of the three back to the Borough?
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