Nets’ Chandler says he won’t play when NBA restarts
Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler has informed the team that he is opting out of playing in Orlando.
Chandler cited spending more time with his family — particularly his grandmother, who raised him, and three children — as the primary reason for sitting out. The Nets plan to sign forward Justin Anderson, his agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN. Anderson had a 10-day contract with the team in January and appeared in three games.
“As difficult as it will be to not be with my teammates, the health and wellbeing of my family has to come first,” Chandler told ESPN on Sunday afternoon. “Thank you to the Nets organization for understanding and supporting me in this decision, and I will be watching and rooting for our team in Orlando.”
Chandler, who is on a one-year contract with the Nets, played in 35 games during the 2019-20 season. He was suspended for the first 25 games of Brooklyn’s season after testing positive for a banned substance in August. While he spent most of the season coming off the bench, Chandler started in the Nets’ last three games before the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Brooklyn was 3-0 during that stretch, including a narrow win over the Lakers at Staples Center.
He averaged 5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and shot 40.1% from the field. Forwards Rodions Kurucs and Taurean Prince will likely absorb some of Chandler's minutes.
The Portland Trail Blazers’ Trevor Ariza, the Washington Wizards’ Davis Bertans, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Avery Bradley and the Dallas Mavericks’ Willie Cauley-Stein have also told their respective teams that they will not be playing when the season resumes. Teams are scheduled to begin arriving in Orlando on July 7. The Nets are scheduled to resume their season against the Magic on July 31.
Elsewhere: The Los Angeles Clippers will sign
Joakim Noah for the rest of this season and next season, though the deal for 2020-21 isn’t guaranteed, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Los Angeles Times. The team agreed to terms with the veteran center on a 10-day contract just before the NBA season shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Noah, 35, has averaged 8.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 12 seasons. He will provide depth behind Ivica Zubac for the Clippers upon their return to action July 30 in Orlando.
ETC.
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