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Free agent signings can begin at midnight

By Net Income
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Technically, the Nets and 29 other teams can begin signing free agents at midnight Wednesday, although announcements won't be made until after they clear the league offices later in the day. There will be some big deals announced elsewhere ... and a number of smaller signings in Brooklyn. Here are the specifics of what's been reported ... and what's likely:

--Andray Blatche is expected to sign a two-year vets minimum deal with the Nets, worth roughly $2.9 million. The second year is a player option. With amnesty payments from the Wizards, he's guaranteed $18.5 million over two.

--Shaun Livingston is expected to sign a one-year vets minimum which will guarantee him just under $1.3 million. No reports of a team or player option.

--The Nets are also expected to start the process of signing Bojan Bogdanovic to a three-year $7.5 million contract. The contract will reportedly pay him $2.4 million this season, financed out of the mini-MLE of $3.2 million. Since Bogdanovic is still under contract with Fenerbahce Ulker of Istanbul, a buyout will have to be formalized and then the Nets will need the customary clearance from FIBA, required when players change leagues. No indication of how long that will take, but it shouldn't be weeks. The Nets continue to say the deal is "done" as one insider said.

The Nets big trade --Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, a signed-and-traded Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph and three unprotected first round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018 (plus an option to swap first round picks in 2017) to Boston for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry-- will have to wait till Friday. Joseph can't be included in any trade for three months following his signing with the Nets on April 12. That's the hold-up. In theory, the Nets could trade Terry in a one-for-one deal starting Friday.or open the deal up to a third team transaction. Both had been rumored.

Mason Plumlee, the Nets lone draft choice, was signed last week for a little more than $1 million on a deal that could, with team options, pay him more than $6 million over four years.

Once the trade --and the Bogdanovic signing-- goes through, the Nets will have 14 players on their roster. .. and $100 million on their payroll. The Nets will not be re-signing Jerry Stackhouse, their remaining free agent. They are also not expected to sign a 15th player, whose signing even at the vets minimum could cost them up to $4 million in salary and luxury taxes. They can extend training camp invites starting this week, but are likely to wait. The Nets usually invite three or four players beyond the roster to camp.

The Nets are also likely to announce the signing of assistant coach John Welch, who had been George Karl's righthand man in Denver. Dennis Scott of NBA TV said Monday during the Summer League telecast the Nets are likely to add one more assistant to Jason Kidd's staff.

Dan Devine, in his latest free agent round-up discusses the Bogdanovic and Livingston signings. And John Schuhmann looks at whether the Nets have upgraded their three point shooting, one of the team's priorities going into the off-season.

Meanwhile, Stefan Bondy reports that the Philadelphia police closed their investigation of Blatche and his friends on assault charges "about two months ago."

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