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Baloncesto Sevilla, a top team in the Spanish League, has announced that it's signed Nets draft pick Xavier Thames. The 6'3" Thames, taken with the 59th pick in the 2014 Draft, was not signed by the Nets, the only one of their three picks to go unsigned. Brooklyn will retain his NBA rights as long as they offer him a contract by September 6.
Sevilla welcomed Thames Wednesday morning...
Bienvenido a Sevilla @Xthames2, ansiosos de disfrutar con tu juego en el @cdbsevilla #cbsevilla pic.twitter.com/1U0a2IDYAC
— Baloncesto Sevilla (@cdbsevilla) August 6, 2014
Thames could have been offered a training camp invitation, but if he had been signed, then cut, the Nets would have lost his rights. This way, Thames will get playing time in one of the world's best leagues and should the 23-year-old develop into an NBA quality guard, the Nets can sign him in the future.With him already committed to Sevilla, the Nets can offer him a contract, he can reject it and the Nets will retain his rights for as long as they want.
The Nets do not have a D-League affiliate after Grand Rapids businessmen bought the Springfield Armor in the spring and moved the team to Michigan where it will be a Pistons affiliate.
Thames, a good shooter, had difficulty getting past his man both in NBA tryouts and Summer League, having what Draft Express called "an underwhelming first step." Still his shooting prowess attracted the Nets who bought the 59th pick from the Raptors for $300,000 at the end of Draft Night.
In his senior season at San Diego State, he was named the 2014 Mountain West Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-MWC first team and the MWC All-Defensive team. In 36 games, he averaged 17.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.3 minutes per game.
In five summer league games in Orlando, Thames averaged only 3.6 points and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 26.% overall and 16.7% from deep.
in Sevilla, he will team with Kristaps Porzingis, a 19-year-old seven-footer from Latvia who's projected as a top 10 pick in the 2015 Draft.
- Brooklyn Nets draftee Xavier Thames to play in Spain next season - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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What's next for Xavier Thames? - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game