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Brooklyn Nets waiting on DeAndre Liggins?

By Net Income
Brooklyn Nets

Just before Billy King walked onto the court at PNY Center last week to speak with the media, he stopped and sat down with DeAndre Liggins, the former Kentucky small forward, and spent a few minutes with him.  It had the look of a recruiting pitch and Liggins was the only player King spoke to in public.

Three days before camp opened, a Kentucky fan site reported the Nets interest...

So far, the Nets have commitments from at least three players -- Adonis Thomas, Nick Minnerath and Michael Jenkins. They've also extended an invitation to Mantas Kalnietis, who has yet to say what he will do. We discussed that in the Off-Season Report.  Orlando Summer League rosters are limited to 12 players. Three current Nets -- Mason Plumlee, Jorge Gutierrez and Marquis Teague -- are expected to play as well as whoever the Nets get in the draft, if as planned they acquired a pick.

Liggins spoke with Lenn Robbins, the Nets in-house beat, last week during free agent camp.  As Robbins wrote this weekend, "Liggins is the only one that doesn’t have to prove he can play. He’s played 57 games in the NBA and was named the 2014 D-League Defensive Player of the Year."

There is an asterisk to his future: his past.  While getting ready to play for the Thunder last summer, Liggins was arrested and charged with several felonies. It was ugly. He allegedly struck his girlfriend Jasmine Horton. He was charged the with three counts of domestic abuse, two counts of domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one count of kidnapping and one count of violating a protective order.  The Thunder cut him.  The charges were later dropped but Liggins wound up in the D-League, getting a late season call-up from the Heat. Now, Liggins says he and his girlfriend, who have a child together, are discussing marriage.

"There are a lot of people that would vouch for me, the people that know me well will tell you I’m a good person,’’ Liggins told Robbins. "I’m not the first person in the NBA that got in trouble. That’s not an excuse. But I think everyone deserves a second chance.’’

Liggins will also attend the Warriors mini-camp June 23.

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