Nets sign Duke Jr., Chiozza
The Nets have all but completed their training camp roster, retaining David Duke Jr. and bringing Chris Chiozza back to Brooklyn.
Duke re-signed on a two-way contract after spending last year’s rookie campaign with the Nets. Chiozza — fresh off winning a championship with the Warriors — inked an Exhibit 10 deal, essentially a non-guaranteed training camp invite.
The Nets have just one spot left on the 20-man camp roster, the last of their Exhibit 10s. They’ve already handed out two Exhibit 10s, both of their two-ways (rookie Alondes Williams got the other) and all 15 of their standard contracts, although three of those are either non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed, giving them significant flexibility.
Exactly what general manager Sean Marks plans to use it for is still unclear, although the Nets still have a taxpayer mid-level exception available to use, worth roughly $6.5 million. It can be broken up for multiple players.
Duke performed admirably on a two-way deal last season as an undrafted rookie, even starting 13 times. But that was when a perfect storm of Kyrie Irving’s absence, James Harden’s trade, Ben Simmons’ season-long injury and the comparative late arrivals of Seth Curry and Goran Dragic left their backcourt decimated at times. Those minutes are unlikely to be there again this season.
Duke, a former Providence standout, initially rejected the Nets’ twoway offer this offseason in hopes of landing a standard contract. But when he was unable to get one from the Nets or on the open market — despite a strong Las Vegas Summer League — he eventually accepted and re-signed on a twoway.
Chiozza is returning after having spent parts of the past two seasons with the Nets, when he’d been on a two-way. He played 40 games for the Nets, averaging 5.1 points and providing spark-plug energy.
The diminutive point guard played 34 games for Golden State last season, earning a title. He joins Kevin Durant, Irving, Patty Mills and fellow free agent signee Markieff Morris as the five Nets with championship rings.
In his return, Chiozza is essentially on a camp invite. But if the Nets waive him, they will retain his G-League rights. Williams could also see significant time in Long Island running the point as he develops his jumper.