The Brooklyn Nets announced that they have requested waivers on veteran forward Luis Scola. This move allows Scola to sign with a playoff contender, while opening up a roster spot for the Nets.
With the Brooklyn Nets set to release Luis Scola, the 36 year-old veteran will now be available on the NBA’s buyout market, likely to be picked up by a playoff-contending team.
In 36 games with the Nets this season, Scola averaged 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds, with one start. In recent months, Scola had fallen out of the rotation, receiving several DNP-CD’s in his last few games. The former Olympic Gold Medalist was signed as a culture piece for the Nets, a veteran leader for a team with several young players.
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Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks said the following in a statement on the release of Scola.
MORE: #Nets GM Sean Marks on Scola pic.twitter.com/0jr3uAGUTT
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 27, 2017
The deadline for players to be eligible to play in the NBA playoffs is this Wednesday, March 1st. There are likely to be more buyouts throughout the league, with contending teams freeing up roster room for veteran difference makers, and lottery teams releasing talent not needed for the rest of the season. Another veteran on the Nets’ roster, Randy Foye, could also be a buyout candidate in the next two days.
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This leaves the Nets’ roster at 14. The Nets are now $1.3 million below the salary floor, per Yahoo’s Bobby Marks. Brooklyn has first rights on the NBA’s waiver claim as well.
With an open roster spot due to the release of Scola, the Nets will likely take another flyer on a young player. They could sign a player from several sources. A recently released player such as Terrence Jones could be claimed by the Nets. Additionally, the Nets could sign a player from the D-League to a 10-day contract. With the Chinese Basketball Association regular season ending soon, Marks may also target a player returning stateside as well.
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With around 20 games left in the season, it may be time for the Nets and Marks to focus on looking for high-upside players to develop for the future. The release of Luis Scola shows that.