After nearly two years of pain, ankle surgery and more pain and now more surgery, Greivis Vasquez has been released by the Nets. To replace the 29-year-old veteran, the Nets have signed Yogi Ferrell off their D-League roster.
Adrian Wojnarowski tweets...
Brooklyn is releasing guard Greivis Vasquez, who needs ankle surgery, league sources tell @TheVertical. Nets will sign Yogi Ferrell.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) November 9, 2016
Ferrell was a final cut of training camp and had been preparing to play for Nets' D-League affiliate. Expected to dress vs. Knicks tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) November 9, 2016
“Greivis did everything we asked of him and more to try to get back on the court at full strength,” said Sean Marks. “The passion, grit and perseverance he has shown since he joined the team have been remarkable. We are thankful to Greivis for all of his efforts and wish him well in the future.”
Vasquez appeared in three games this season with the Nets, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 assists in 12.9 minutes per game. He was originally signed as a free agent by Brooklyn on July 13, 2016.
The Nets signed Vasquez to a one-year, $4.35 million contract (with $650,000 in unlikely bonuses) this summer after the Heat matched on their offer sheet on Tyler Johnson. The Nets wanted Johnson as their back-up point guard and their sixth man. Once he rejoined Miami, they needed a Plan B and Vasquez, coming off ankle surgery, was the choice.
He underwent surgery last December and was expected to be ready in April for the Bucks final few games. He played minimal minutes in four games in April, but was not himself. This summer, he had hoped to play for Venezuela in the Rio Olympics, but had to drop out. In a Spanish language tweet in August, Vasquez told his Venezuelan fans that he had experienced ankle pain for 18 months.
The Nets were reluctant to release Vasquez, who they saw as a positive influence in the locker room. But word that he needed ankle surgery again made the decision easier. The Nets are already without Jeremy Lin.
No word yet on whether Vasquez will get his full salary.
Ferrell was signed by the Nets after the draft to a partially guaranteed deal worth $100,000. He played for the Nets in summer league and preseason, being the last player cut from the team. He then signed with the D-League and assigned to the Long Island Nets, where he was expected to start Wednesday night vs. the Westchester Knicks in a preseason game. Instead, he will be ready to play for the Brooklyn Nets against the New York Knicks.
Ferrell, 23, was a four year starter for Indiana and the Hoosiers’ all time assist leader.
The four-year Indiana University product was named to the All-Big Ten First Team twice (2015 and 2016) and garnered second-team honors as a sophomore (2014). As a senior, Ferrell averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 34.7 minutes per game, earning Associated Press Third Team All-America honors and capping his career as Indiana’s all-time assists leader with 633.
Ferrell also led Indiana to three NCAA Tournament appearances and helped the Hoosiers advance to the Sweet 16 twice. In 137 career games (all starts) at IU, Ferrell averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 32.8 minutes per game.
Ferrell will be in uniform tonight wearing No. 10.
The 6’0” point guard is the Nets third rookie, joining Isaiah Whitehead and Caris LeVert, who has yet to play for Brooklyn.
- Sources: Nets to sign Yogi Ferrell after releasing Greivis Vasquez - Adrian Wojnarowski - Yahoo! Sports
- Woj: Nets release Greivis Vasquez, sign Yogi Ferrell - Benny Nadeau - The Brooklyn Game
- Greivis Vasquez waived by Brooklyn Nets, who will promote Yogi Ferrell from D-League - Greg Logan - Newsday
- Nets waive injured guard Greivis Vasquez, will reportedly sign Yogi Ferrell - James Herbert - CBS Sports