The Brooklyn Nets and Sixers pulled off a blockbuster trade on Thursday and shocked the NBA world. However, that wasn’t the only major move that Brooklyn pulled off. Hours after the trade took place, Brooklyn waived DeAndre’ Bembry.
Bembry signed a one-year deal worth $1.9 million before the season began. He averaged 5.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the 48 games that he played in for the Nets.
Because Brooklyn welcomed Seth Curry and Andre Drummond to the team alongside Ben Simmons, a roster spot needed to open up. And Sean Marks believed that saying goodbye to Bembry was the best move to make.
However, it was a move that didn’t make the most sense and could come back to bite the Nets in the long run.
The Nets are waiving DeAndre Bembry to create roster room for the trade today, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 10, 2022
Why did the Brooklyn Nets waive DeAndre’ Bembry?
One can argue that Bruce Brown or Jevon Carter should’ve been waived in Bembry’s place. Brown is making $4.7 million this season and Carter is making $3.7 million. Financially, letting go of Bembry makes the most sense because his contract was the cheapest.
Brooklyn opened up the option for Bembry to go to a contender. The Bucks are short on guards and Bembry, who can operate as a guard or forward, could very well sign with the defending champions. Although the Nets decided to get rid of him, that’d still be tough to process.
Because it took Harden so long to tell Marks and Joe Tsai that he wanted a trade to Philadelphia, Brooklyn wasn’t expecting to make a major trade ahead of the deadline. As part of the aftermath, the organization had to scramble to make the safest cost-effective move but it wasn’t the smartest one.
Hence why the Nets tweeted out a picture of Bembry as part of their game-day graphic last Thursday (which the social team deleted).
Bembry was a solid rotation player that provided a spark on the defensive end.
i am still processing the nets’ decision today
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) February 11, 2022
…
how do you just waive deandre’ bembry like that! he’s been really good
After Brooklyn fell to Phoenix, 113-107, on Nov. 27, Kevin Durant offered high praise for Bembry. He started and finished with 18 points (9-of-11), nine rebounds, and two steals.
Kevin Durant was very happy with DeAndre' Bembry's performance tonight:
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 28, 2021
"He played incredible tonight. Playing defense, into the ball, cutting to the rim, making himself available, rebounding... he was a spark for us. He was one of the bright spots out there." pic.twitter.com/q0QYIpmAFo
Without a doubt, Bembry’s energy will be missed. Although his time with the Nets was brief, he’ll always be appreciated in Brooklyn. Hopefully he’s able to find success with another team and based off the way that he played for the Nets this year, he’ll do just that.
Bembry likely won’t be the only player who’s waived. If Brooklyn adds to its roster in the buyout market, the team will have to make room for a new face by waiving another player.
Although freeing up a roster spot after the Harden-Simmons trade was necessary, the Nets shouldn’t have waived Bembry, regardless of the financial implications.
Will Bembry get his revenge against Brooklyn in the playoffs? We certainly hope not.
Nets rumors: Should Brooklyn sign Goran Dragic in buyout market?
Now that the trade deadline is in the past, the Brooklyn Nets are reportedly interested in buyout candidate Goran Dragic.