Are Nets “seriously considering” deal for Khem Birch? No

Are the Nets “seriously considering” making an offer to Khem Birch, the 24-year-old Canadian rim protector.

Yes, according to Nik Varlas of Eurohoops.net, the official blog of the Euroleague.

No, according to a league source.

Varlas reported Monday morning...

According to Eurohoops sources, the Brooklyn Nets have included Canadian center Khem Birch in their transfer list for quite some time and are now seriously considering the possibility of offering a two-year contract to acquire him as a complementary addition to their frontcourt ahead of the upcoming season.

But the source told NetsDaily the rumor is false.

Birch did have a good year in Europe...

Playing for Olympiacos of Greece this year and Usak of Turkey two years ago, Birch distinguished him self as lobs-and-blocks specialist. He has a 7’1” wingspan with a 35.5” max vertical.

Birch, 24, averaged 7.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks last season in the Euroleague. In the Euroleague championship game, which Olymiacos lost to Fenerbahce of Turkey, he scored 14 points (4-of-4 overall and 6-of- 8 from the line) in 17 minutes.

The Montreal native was with the Nets summer league team in 2015, playing with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jonathon Simmons and Cliff Alexander, among others. He left the team early to sign in Turkey.

Birch has a buyout option near $300,000 in the two-year contract he signed with Olympiacos last summer, Varlas reports.

He played for Pitt and UNLV in college but went undrafted in 2014. After a training camp stint with the Heat, he played most of the 2014-15 season with the Heat’s D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging 11.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists per game, 1.8 blocks, and 0.7 steals.

He is also a member of the Canadian national team, playing alongside Andrew Nicholson.

• Nets consider offering a two-year deal to Khem Birch - Nik Varlas - Eurohoops