After watching the Nets finish 27th in rebounding last season, Billy King decided to do something about it. So far, so good, and it didn't cost him that much.
As Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal reports, the addition of Reggie Evans and Andray Blatche plus the continuing good play of Kris Humphries and some improvement by Brook Lopez has put the Nets in the elite of per-26 minute rebounding. Evans, Humphries and Blatche were, going into Sunday night's game, in the top 11 of that category, which is led by Evans.
Evans has been as rugged a rebounder as the Nets hoped when they acquired him in a sign-and-trade with the Clippers this summer. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward leads the league in rebounds per 36 minutes, at 14.9. But 6-foot-11 center Andray Blatche (signed as a free agent) is exceeding expectations by averaging nearly four more rebounds per 36 minutes (12.4) than his career rate...
Humphries, he notes, is pulling down13.8 rebounds per 36 minutes, just above his Nets average of 12.2, and Lopez has has reversed a steady decline and is averaging 8.0 rebounds per 36 minutes. Other than giving Humphries and Lopez new contracts, Billy King spent $5 million over three years on King and hasn't yet committed to a full season of Blatche at less than $1 million. Blatche's contract doesn't get guaranteed till January.
- Thanks to Signings, Nets Can Now Rebound - Michael Salfino - Wall Street Journal