OFF NETS’ BUBBLE
Chandler opts out of NBA Disney World trip
The roster shakeup continues with the Nets.
Veteran forward Wilson Chandler will not be joining his teammates in Orlando, the Daily News has confirmed. The Nets are one of 22 teams set to resume the NBA season at Walt Disney World Resorts.
“As difficult as it will be to not be with my teammates, the health and well-being of my family has to come first,” Wilson told ESPN. “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.”
The Nets replaced Chandler with a familiar face in reserve journeyman forward Justin Anderson. Anderson, a physical and versatile defender at the four spot, played on a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier this season. In three games, he shot 0% from three just 17% from the field. The minutes at the four project to be largely split between Taurean Prince, Rodions Kurucs, and Anderson.
Chandler took over for Prince as the starting power forward in the Nets’ last three games before the March 11 coronavirus hiatus. He averaged six points and four rebounds per game, and shot 40.1% from the field this season.
But he has openly expressed his dismay with the rush to resume the NBA season in the middle of both a surge in number of recent coronavirus cases — especially in Florida — and the national outrage in the wake of George Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer.
Chandler signed a oneyear deal with the Nets last summer but was suspended the first 25 games of the regular season due to a failed drug test. He
returned and, despite shooting just 30% from three, was inserted as the starting four largely due to his toughness and physicality on the defensive end.
The power forward position has been of concern for the Nets both this season and last. Prince could be the starter when the Nets play their first game in the Orlando bubble against the Magic on July 31. The starter could also be Rodions
Kurucs. The second-year forward from Latvia who had been buried either at the end of the bench or on GLeague assignment despite shooting nearly 39% from three (he shot 32% as a rookie).
Prince has struggled from the field this season. After shooting 39% from downtown with the Hawks last season, he has been an inconsistent marksman with the Nets (sub-34% and sub-38% from the field).
The Nets now have an open roster slot, which they can use to sign any free agent during the NBA’s transaction window that closes just before midnight on Tuesday. The Nets recently waived Theo Pinson to sign combo guard Tyler Johnson.
Chandler was one of several signings the Nets made in their splashy summer of 2019. Both Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Kevin Durant (Achilles) will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.