New Jersey Nets add Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric to their roster
The New Jersey Nets is one NBA team that surely wants a change of faces and fortunes.
After losing out to their next-door rivals, the New York Knicks in a bid to land All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony, the Nets have gone on a trading spree.
Hours after completing a blockbuster deal in which they acquired the services of arguably the best point guard in the league, Deron Williams, the New Jersey Nets made another move on Wednesday night. In their latest transaction, the Nets have roped in Brandan
Wright and Dan Gadzuric from the Golden State Warriors, while sending Troy Murphy and their 2012 second-round draft pick in the other direction.
Not only will the two big men from the Warriors bolster the Nets’ bench strength, but they have come at a cheap price too. The contracts of Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric are worth about $11 million combined; close to the amount that Murphy was earning
alone.
"We are very pleased to add Dan and Brandan to our roster," Nets general manager Billy King said. He added, "Dan is an NBA veteran who will add depth to our frontcourt rotation, while Brandan is a young player who we feel has significant room to grow and
develop in our system."
The 6ft-10in Wright is considered to be a superior finisher from 12 feet and especially at the rim. He was picked up in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. In the same year though, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors. Wright’s
career has been plagued by injuries, the most recent one coming in the form of a left shoulder injury, which forced him out of the entire 2009-10 season.
Having a career average of 5.7 points and 3.0 rebounds, the fourth year forward played in 21 games for the Warriors this season. He averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game, while shooting 0.603 from the field. However, a change of scenario
might be just the break that the lanky forward requires to rejuvenate his career.
Gadzuric, on the other hand was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft. Currently in his ninth NBA season, the tall centre has a career average of 4.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks
per game.
The Dutch national has played in 28 games this season with four starts. He averages 2.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game, while shooting 0.420 from the field. His major assets though are his experience and leadership and he could have a major
influence on the Nets’ rebuilding campaign.
For Murphy though, this will hardly be a Bay Area reunion.
Murphy played under the Warriors’ banner for six seasons before he was sent packing to the Indiana Pacers in 2007. The well travelled centre next headed to the New Jersey Nets at the start of this season. However, before he could prove a point, he has again
been transferred to the very place where it all started for him.
To make matters worse, the Warriors also have no plans to retain him and have been busy in an attempt to buy out the final year of Murphy's contract.
The recent spate of injuries though, has only added to Murphy's problems. Murphy averages 11.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in his career, but has played only 18 games because of injuries this season.
Tags: