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Chris Mannix in reporting on the lack of progress between the Nets and Cavs on Joe Johnson, writes that the two teams talked recently on Sasha Kaun, the 7'0" Russian center who wants to join an NBA team after playing for CSKA Moscow the last six years.
Brooklyn did speak to Cleveland last week but its most recent conversation wasn't about Johnson--it was about acquiring Sasha Kaun, the 30-year old Russian center who is interested in playing in the NBA next season. Cleveland owns Kaun's rights; Brooklyn is interested in acquiring them.
It would be the second time that Brooklyn and Cleveland have spoken about Kaun's rights, having reportedly talked about the rights on Draft Night. Kaun, who played four years for 2008 national champion Kansas, was drafted with the 56th pick that year by the Seattle Supersonics, then sold to the Cavaliers that night. The Cavs have held onto his rights since.
Mike Mazzeo says Kaun, who's 30, is interested in the Nets as well. Indeed, it's hard to believe the Nets would be talking to the Cavs without a commitment from Kaun.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nets?src=hash">#Nets</a>, Kaun have had mutual interest for a while now. They still need more frontcourt depth. <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMannixSI">@ChrisMannixSI</a> says Cle-Bkn talking rights</p>— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/618802275709001728">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Brooklyn has nearly $ 2 million left from the MiniMLE that they could use to sign Kaun. Last season, Kaun had his best stastitical year for CSKA, averaging 9.9 points and 4.5 points in 20 minutes. Known for his soft hands and wingspan, Kaun shot 69.1 percent from the field. He started for the Russian Olympic team in 2012 along with Sergey Karasev, winning the bronze.
The Euroleague did a profile on him last year...
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