It's official! Isaiah Whitehead became the first Brooklyn native to join the hometown Nets Friday, signing what the team described as a multi-year contract ... presumably a rookie minimum deal at around $500,000 per year.
Whitehead, from Coney Island, is only the second New York City resident to play for Brooklyn. Chris McCullough from the Bronx was signed last season. The two are long time friends.
Selected with the 42nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Whitehead’s rights were acquired by Brooklyn in a draft-night trade with the Utah Jazz in exchange for the draft rights to guard Marcus Paige, the 55th overall selection, and cash considerations.
On Draft Night, Whitehead said being selected by the Nets has been a dream of his since the Nets moved to Brooklyn.
"Just to be able to wear that Brooklyn across my chest, it would be an amazing accomplishment, and I can’t wait for it," he said. "Since [the Nets] got here, I always wanted to play for them, so it’s definitely a dream come true."
Whitehead (6’4", 210) played two years at Seton Hall, most recently leading the Pirates to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006. He was also named the 2016 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player after averaging 23.3 points and 5.7 assists in the Big East Tournament, where the Pirates claimed their first conference tournament title since 1993.
A product of Abraham Lincoln High School and Coney Island, Whitehead was a McDonald's All American and named Mr. New York Basketball by the state's Basketball Coaches Association in 2014.
In addition, the Nets signed Trevor Booker, a 6'8" power forward who reportedly is getting $18 million over two years. Booker has played for the Jazz for the past two years after four years in Washington.
Over his six years in the league, Booker – the 23rd overall pick in 2010 – has averaged 6.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game with per-36 career marks of 11.5 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 51.5 percent from the field.
The forward could be stepping into a bigger role in Brooklyn alongside center Brook Lopez.