Andray Blatche looking like he'll be back in Brooklyn Nets uniform

This past season was Andray Blatche's best in the NBA. It was not his statistically most productive. His 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19 minutes --numbers he matched in the playoffs-- were not as good as those he put up in 2009-10 or 2010-11. But he was more efficient, in fact finishing 14th league wide in Player Efficiency Ratings, the highest for any bench player. More importantly, he contributed to a playoff team and of course redeemed his career.

And the Nets got all of that for the vets minimum. Every player ranked ahead of him in PER made $10 million or more. (Those who want to critique Billy King's acquisitions of Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson should note that he signed Blatche and C.J. Watson for a total of $1.8 million.) The question now is, can they keep him? He is still owed $16.2 million by the Wizards so he won't lack for funds and he's said he wants the Wizards to pay as much of that as possible. (Here's an explanation of how his amnesty payments affect his earnings.)

On Sunday, Blatche said all the right things. "That’s the plan," Blatche said when asked if he was coming back. "I’m not sure yet right now. I can’t tell you 100 percent yet, but that’s the plan for me."

Is he willing to take less money, perhaps the vets minimum again? "Yeah, I thought about that idea. I like it here, I got my second chance here and I’m loyal to being here. We just have to see what happens,’’ he said. "With the money situation, that makes it easier for me to stay here. I don’t have to take nothing huge. I can take less. It’s going to be based on what’s best for me."

He also likes the idea that Billy King raised at his press conference, that Blatche could wind up starting at power forward. "I played the four my whole career. This is my first year playing the five," he said. "A lot of people don’t realize when I was at Washington I played the four the whole seven years there."

• Nets' Blatche may latch back on - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Blatche wants to stay in Brooklyn - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Billy King goes over his desires and options for the offseason; Andray Blatche says, as of now, he plans to re-sign w/ the Nets - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News