HIT THE TRAIL
Portland mates sad to lose ‘real one’ to Nets
It is impossible to know how Ed Davis will perform with the Nets. But if the reaction from his former Trail Blazers teammates is any indication, the gritty workhorse, who agreed to a deal with the Nets on Sunday, may do just fine in a borough that respects grit and effort.
While most expected Nets general manager Sean Marks to bring back Joe Harris, landing Davis came out of the blue. And if it was an understated-but-pleasant surprise for Nets fans, it was a shock to the Portland players, who were irate that the team let Davis go — especially for a bargain-basement, one-year, $4.4 million deal.
Damian Lillard responded by tweeting a broken-heart emoji, while C.J. McCollum retweeted it with the caption “lost a real one.” Possibly most telling, when a fan appeared to question Davis’ ability or value to the Blazers, Lillard’s re- sponse was as blunt as it was brusque: “STFU.” Davis, 29, was regarded as a glue guy for Portland. He is more of a defender, rebounder and screensetter than scorer, more meat-andpotatoes than fine wine. But for a 28-54 team that’s going to have to make any improvements this season either internally or on the cheap, he’s a perfect signing.
The Nets got beat up inside far too easily last season. (Remember them getting worn out for 32 points and 30 rebounds by Dwight Howard?) Davis should help in that department.
Davis averaged 7.4 rebounds in just 18.9 minutes, and his 21.4 re- bound percentage was eighth-best in the league (among players with at least five appearances). He’s the perfect age to accept a bench role but still help mentor second-year center Jarrett Allen.
Yet, none of that would’ve landed Davis in Brooklyn if his contract demands were either longer or higher. Davis had just finished a three-year, $20 million contract and likely expected a similar deal. But with Portland tight on cap space, Marks was happy to squeeze his way in.
“Buckets and playoff experience #InSeanMarksWeTrust,” Spencer Dinwiddie tweeted with regard to Davis.
The one-year deal lets Davis head back into the market next summer when there will be more money and preserves the Nets’ 2019 cap space.
Harris got a two-year, $16 million deal that offers similar flexibility. It’s roughly market value, lets him hit the market at 28 years old and makes him an expiring contract — thus movable — next summer.
Right now, protecting 2019 cap space is still a top priority for the Nets and isn’t likely to change. But how much they have to spend this summer is still up in the air, depending on what happens with Howard.
Howard is nominally a Net, but he is negotiating a buyout of his $23.8 million contract. If he left the typical third of his salary on the table, it would give the Nets $15 million in cap room. But with the center’s market seemingly dry — the Wizards are possible, but the Warriors have only tepid interest, if any at all.