Nets sign Center Justin Hamilton to two-year, $6 million deal

The Nets received a verbal commitment from big man Justin Hamilton Friday night, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports.

Free agent center Justin Hamilton has agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets, league source tells The Vertical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2016

Hamilton himself confirmed the news, using the same metaphor that Lin used earlier Friday... a journey.

Excited to start this journey with the @BrooklynNets can't wait to get out there and start working!!

— justin hamilton (@Justin__41) July 2, 2016

The Nets were in need of a backup center to Brook Lopez. So this fills a need at a reasonable price. Hamilton, a 7' 0" second-round pick in 2012, has played for the Bobcats, Heat and most recently Timberwolves in his two-year career.  He's only played a total 49 games in his NBA career, averaging five points and just under three rebounds per game.

Hamilton played 40 games for Valencia in the Spanish league in the 2015-2016 season, averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting better than 40 percent from deep.  The son of a Croatian mother, Hamilton was supposed to play for Team Croatia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament -- with Bojan Bogdanovic -- but opted out to pursue an NBA contract.

Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com quickly praised the signing, calling Hamilton a "great snag" by new GM Sean Marks.

Justin Hamilton was my Rip Van Winkle-level sleeper this summer. Great snag by Sean Marks for the Nets at $6 million for two years.

— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) July 2, 2016

The Nets still have needs to fill, but their roster is beginning to take shape following the additions of Hamilton and Jeremy Lin on the first day of free agency, with about $41 million in cap space to work with.

• Sources: Justin Hamilton agrees to deal with Nets - Yahoo Sports
• Report: Nets sign former Heat center Justin Hamilton to two-year deal – Sean Highkin - NBC Sports