Roster moves are still being made by a few teams with several spots to fill on their rosters, with most teams already set. The Brooklyn Nets made some headlines after picking up a few solid veterans with plenty of experience over these last few days. So that’s where we begin.
Crawford’s Career Continues
It seemed that we had seen the last of Jamal Crawford in the NBA. He scored 51 points in the Suns’ final game of last season, as he put on a wildly impressive scoring display. He showed flashes of the great player he was for many years across various rosters.
But the guard-needy Nets decided to give the now-40-year-old an opportunity to play for them in Orlando. There is no doubt that he has stayed ready in case an opportunity arose. And it is also true that he probably would not have had this shot if play never stopped in the first place.
Crawford is as grateful as can be for this opportunity and will have the chance at a significant role with the Nets. He assumes the role of the oldest guard in the game with Vince Carter’s retirement now official.
Beasley Joins Nets As Well
Michael Beasley was playing outside the US for the past year and a half after being waived by the Clippers a year ago. But Beasley is going to be making yet another NBA return. It is actually surprising that he’s played at least a handful of games in each NBA season since coming into the league.
He came back onto the scene with the Knicks in 2017-18, averaging 13 points per game in just 22 minutes of action. Last year, he hardly saw the floor in Los Angeles with the Lakers, and as mentioned, was traded to the Clippers and eventually waived. Now, he’s back and ready to go again with the Nets. Only one problem, though.
Beasley will have to miss the first five games, serving a drug-related suspension from last summer. He wasn’t on a roster when it happened, so he’ll have to do it now. But for the last three games, he’ll be playing.
Nets Finish Up With Hall
After news of DeAndre Jordan not being able to play in Orlando, the Nets needed a big. So they added four-year letterman from Alabama, Donta Hall. Hall averaged multiple blocks a game, along with averages of 11 points and seven rebounds per game over his final two years.
Hall is likely to be the primary backup for Jarrett Allen as it stands now. He appeared in four games for the Pistons this season, so this will not be his first taste of NBA action. We’ll see how he does.
An Old Friend Coming Back to Thunder
It has been a long time since No. 21 has played for the Thunder. He got hurt halfway through the 2017-18 season and still hasn’t been back yet. But, Andre Roberson is with the Thunder on campus in Orlando and could potentially come back and play.
Per sources close to the team, he was going to be good to play if they made it to June. It will be the end of July when they play their first game that counts. He started all but two games he appeared in from 2014 to 2018, as he was a fixture in the lineup and an All-Defense performer.
With Luguentz Dort locked into the starting role now, Roberson could play a valuable role off the bench. Given all the talented wing players in the conference, they could sure use him as a pest.
He is still just 28 years of age and has a lot of basketball to contribute. If he does play, it would be great to see for him.
