Brooklyn Nets rumors: Paul Zipser to sign 2-way deal with Nets

According to reports, the Brooklyn Nets are set to sign former Chicago Bulls forward Paul Zipser to a 2-way contract before the Jan. 15 deadline to do so.

The Brooklyn Nets are preparing to sign former Chicago Bulls forward Paul Zipser to a two-way contract, according to a pair of European news sites.

German newspaper Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung reported Monday that Zipser has left Germany and returned to the U.S.

They are also reporting, however, that Zipser has already signed, but the Nets have not announced a deal.

Emeliano Carchia of Sportando, however, reported that Zipser will be signed by the Jan. 15 deadline to add players on two-way contracts, but has not yet inked such as deal.

The Brooklyn Nets have till January 15 (deadline to ink players to two way contracts) to sign Paul Zipser. The German will be added to the roster on a two-way contract, I am told.
— Emiliano Carchia (@Carchia) January 8, 2019

Zipser played the last two seasons with the Bulls after Chicago drafted the German in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. He was waived by the Bulls on July 14.

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The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward played in 98 games with the Bulls, starting 30, and averaged 4.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per game on a shooting slash line of 37.1/33.5/76.9.

The 24-year-old played more games for Chicago in 2017-18, but in a lesser role than he had as a rookie, averaging 4.0 points and 2.4 boards in 15.3 minutes per game over 54 games with 12 starts, shooting 34.6/33.6/76.0.

Zipser has not played this season, but had been practicing with German Pro A, the nation’s second-tier pro league, club MLP Academics Heidelberg in his hometown, according to EuroHoops.

He underwent surgery to repair a broken left foot in May, per NBA.com, after missing nine games in February and March and the final nine games of last season because of the problem.

While with the Bulls, Zipser played five games with their NBA G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, averaging 16.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 and 1.2 blocks in 36.6 minutes per game while shooting 40.3/34.8/87.0.

Zipser was selected by Chicago with the 48th overall pick in 2016 after playing three-plus seasons with Bayern Munich in Germany’s top pro circuit, the Basketball Bundesliga.

He came to the U.S. after averaging 6.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game in 2015-16 with Bayern Munich across BBL, Eurocup and Euroleague competitions, playing in 60 games in all and making 14 starts.

He shot 49.5/41.7/83.9 as a 21-year-old and his shooting potential was intriguing to NBA scouts as the pace-and-space era was beginning to take hold.

Prior to the draft, per NBA.com, scouts were enamored of Zipser’s size, athleticism and shooting and saw him developing into a stretch 4 with the ability to guard power forwards.

Zipser can shoot, but still needs to get stronger in order to adapt to the more physical NBA style of play. He’s got 98 games of NBA experience and is a low-risk, high-reward addition on a two-way contract.

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The Nets have had an open two-way slot since waiving Alan Williams at his request on Jan. 2. Williams is reportedly close to signing a deal to return to the Chinese Basketball Association, where he played his first pro season after going undrafted out of UC Santa Barbara in 2015.

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