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In a bid to save money, reduce their roster further and add financial flexibility, the Nets have traded veteran point guard Steve Blake to the Pistons for 6'10" forward Quincy Miller, who they will bring in to training camp.
Blake was acquired from Portland in a Draft Night deal along with the rights to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Shams Charania of RealGM broke the story in a tweet
Brooklyn has traded guard Steve Blake to Detroit for Quincy Miller, with the Nets likely releasing Miller, league sources tell RealGM.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 13, 2015
Early Tuesday morning, Marc Stein reported that the Nets would not be releasing the 22-year-old Miller, but instead will give him a tryout. He played well in the D-League, averaging 23.8 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 35.7 percent from three.
Update from Brooklyn: Source familiar with Nets' thinking says current plan is to bring newly acquired Quincy Miller to training camp
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 14, 2015
Nets' current plan indeed to bring Quincy Miller to camp ... but word is more roster trimming can get Brooklyn closer to $2M under tax line
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 14, 2015
Miller, a third year player, is non-guaranteed as long as he's off the books by Wednesday. Even if he lasts beyond that, he's only guaranteed $50,000 through the first game of the regular season in November. So the Nets will lose Blake's $2.2 million contract without taking on any additional salary beyond $50,000.
Bobby Marks, the Nets former assistant GM (and Twitter's capologist) explained the value of the deal for both teams.
For BKN the Q.Miller contract is non-guaranteed with a 50k trigger date for 7/15. Gives BKN savings and flexibility to work under the tax
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 13, 2015
For DET the Blake contract goes into room since RJ has not signed yet. Blake gives the Pistons protection with Jennings come over an injury
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 13, 2015
Earlier Monday, the Nets dumped Cory Jefferson who was on the books for $845,000, meaning the team saved $3 million, getting them further under the luxury tax threshold.
With Miller, the Nets would have 17 players under contract, 12 of them guaranteed., and according to Stein will be "$730,000 and change UNDER the NBA's luxury-tax line." The departure of the 35-year-old Blake means the Nets now have only two players over 30 -- Joe Johnson, 34, and Jarrett Jack, 31.
- Pistons Acquire Steve Blake From Nets For Quincy Miller - Shams Charania - RealGM
- BROOKLYN NETS ACQUIRE QUINCY MILLER - Brooklyn Nets
- Detroit Pistons acquire Steve Blake for insurance at point guard - Vince Ellis - Detroit Free Press
- Pistons acquire Steve Blake for Quincy Miller - AP
- NBA - Detroit Pistons acquire Steve Blake from Brooklyn Nets - Kevin Pelton - ESPN Insider