Shots in the arm
Crawford, Beasley could add scoring for Nets
After signing veterans Tyler Johnson, Michael Beasley and Jamal Crawford — and presumably rookie Donta Hall — the Nets have added so many new faces, they may have to put names on the practice jerseys.
“Somebody joked today if we were going to have them wearing name tags because it is a new roster,” GM Sean Marks said in a teleconference from Orlando, Fla., where the Nets held their first practice inside the NBA’s bubble. “What’s important is to get these guys at least on the court together bonding and playing together as soon as they can.”
The decimated Nets have lost six players to injury or COVID-19, and arrived in Orlando on Tuesday with just a dozen available bodies. But they’re bringing in a fresh faces, half reinforcements for 2020 and half tryouts for 2021. And it’s likely no coincidence that Kevin Durant’s close friend Beasley is among them.
“Obviously we’re in a situation where you need bodies to play,” Joe Harris said via Zoom. “We’re fortunate to pick up two really good players.”
Johnson isn’t in Orlando yet due to a personal matter, but he had already signed and is expected to join the Nets in Disney shortly. Crawford and Beasley became official Thursday, and will add some scoring punch for a shorthanded team — eventually.
Beasley is in the team hotel, but just beginning a six-day quarantine during which he must pass repeated COVID-19 tests. Then he’ll have to sit out the first five games due to his failed 2018 drug test.
There will be plenty of rust, with Beasley and Crawford both out of the NBA this season.
Beasley hasn’t played in the league since February 2019, spending this season in China. But he averaged 13.2 points on 50.7 percent shooting two years ago with the Knicks, and Durant wanted Beasley to join him in Golden State last season. Now he’ll get his wish.
Meanwhile, Crawford poured in 51 points on 18 of 31 shooting — 7 of 13 from deep — in last season’s finale.
“We wanted this group to know we’re here to win basketball games and to maximize this team,” interim Jacque Vaughn said via Zoom.
Even at 40, Crawford has a filthy crossover and a midrange game that works in the playoffs.
“When I was kid [Crawford] was my favorite player. When I went to Michigan, he reached out and we’ve been big brother/little brother ever since,” Caris LeVert said. “I can’t wait to get him here.”
This is a low-risk audition for costeffective vets to fill out the roster next season should Brooklyn bring in a third star to join Durant and Kyrie Irving. Building a Big Three means following the blueprint of Miami, Cleveland and Golden State, and using their taxpayer’s exception ($18 million over three years) wisely.
“We’re always going to be evaluating players, how they fit not only with the group we have now but the group that’s expected to be part of this team next year and the year after that,” Marks said. “The evaluation process is ongoing for sure. Yes, you’re right; we’re evaluating right now for not only this year but next year’s free agency as well.”
Durant surely will have a hand in that evaluation.
“I don’t think that’s fair to call Kevin on every single scenario we do,” Marks said. “It’s probably welldocumented over the course of the last few years that [Durant and Beasley] are pretty close. But that wasn’t a factor in this; we’re looking at who is available and the talent, and Mike certainly is that.”
The Nets are also expected to add Justin Anderson and Hall, 22. Hall was second-team All-G-League, averaging 15.4 points, 10.6 boards and 1.5 blocks. He played four games for Detroit, and would be the replacement for DeAndre Jordan and backup to Jarrett Allen.