clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Mantas Kalnietis uncertain, but Adonis Thomas to play for Brooklyn Nets summer league team

By Net Income
Springfield Armor

Adonis Thomas, the 6'7" small forward who the Nets nurtured at Springfield, will join the team's summer league entry, reports L. Jason Smith of the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Thomas' hometown.

Thomas, 21, finished the season in Philadelphia after a late season call-up, one of two he had during the D-League season. The Sixers' rights to him run out on June 30, making him a free agent in time for the July 6 opening day of the Orlando D-League.  Despite playing only six games and scoring only 14 points in those games (38 minutes), the Nets remain high on Thomas' potential. They signed him in the middle of training camp last season so they could send him to the now-defunct Armor, where he played 34 games, averaging 17.1 points, including 25.0 over his final four games.  He also shot 47% from three-point range, which placed him third in the D-League.

In 2011, Thomas was ranked in the top five among high school players -- No. 1 by the Sporting News -- but a series of injuries and some inconsistent play at Memphis cost him and he went undrafted. He was cut from the Hawks training camp before joining the Nets camp last summer.  In addition to his end-of-the-season 10 day from Philly, Thomas also had two 10-days from Orlando in mid-season.

Here's his D-League highlight package...

Meanwhile, the European agent for Mantas Kalnietis, who impressed the Nets at their free agent camp, threw cold water on the prospect of his client playing for the summer league team, citing issues related to his insurance -- Kalnietis remains under contract with his Russian team -- and interest from other teams, including he said the Knicks, Trail Blazers and Spurs.  Kalnietis will remain in the U.S., his agent, Tadas Bulotas, said.

In fact, Portland has reportedly invited him for a workout.

Bulotas, who works with Arn Tellem's Wasserman Media Group in the US, spoke on Lietuvos Rytas TV, a major Lithuanian sports channel. He also raised the issue of whether Kalnietis would get more than the minimum, which may be all the Nets can offer him.

So far, two players -- Nick Minnerath, a 6'9" small forward, and Michael Jenkins, a 6'4" guard -- have said they've accepted the Nets offer.

More From NetsDaily