clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Report: Kyle Korver to the Nets is 'in the bag,' according to Marc Stein

By Tom Lorenzo

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Kevin C. Cox

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, a "rival GM" with interest in free agent Kyle Korver is conceding that the Brooklyn Nets will essentially sign the sharp-shooting wing.

Korver is expected to sign for the mini-MLE (mid level exception), which is about $3.2 million per year. This would be a pay decrease for Korver, a fairly highly coveted free agent, but the lure of winning a title and playing with his friend Deron Williams in Brooklyn seems to be enough for Korver to ink a deal with the Nets. Like Williams, Paul Pierce, Mirza Teletovic and Tyshawn Taylor, Korver is represented by Jeff Schwartz.

Earlier, at the midnight start to free agency, Deron Williams took to Twitter to try and make a soft pitch to Korver -- more specifically, his brother.

Later, Williams went even farther, tweeting out an PhotoShopped image of Korver in a Nets uniform!

Again, nothing's official, but according to Stein, it's "in the bag." Ironically, the Nets drafted Korver at #51 in the 2003 Draft, then immediately sold his rights to Philadelphia, and Billy King, for $125,000. With King as his backer, Korver became a key piece for the 76ers. If he does sign for the mini-MLE, it will be his lowest salary since 2004-05.

Also, The signing of Korver would appear to make any pursuit of Euro-Net Bojan Bogdanovic very difficult. Bogdanovic has a big buyout in Turkey and would need a salary larger than the rookie minimum, less than $500,000, to have a move make financial sense.

Meanwhile, C.J. Watson is officially a free agent, as expected. The Indianapolis Star reports that Watson is the Pacers top option for back-up point guard, but the first team to contact Watson was the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As to who would replace Watson, Peter Vecsey tweeted that the Nets are targeting Shaun Livingston and Luke Ridnour with Jamaal Tinsley gaining some interest as well.

Livingston and Tinsley are free agents. Ridnour has another year on his Minnesota contract at $4 million. The Nets tried to acquire Ridnour in a deal on Draft Night, but the T-Wolves weren't interested in what the Nets were offering, a deal centered on MarShon Brooks.

More From NetsDaily