Who is Jake Wiley? The guy Nets signed to two-way G-League deal

Jake Wiley didn’t get drafted but the 6’7” power forward out of Eastern Washington will get a shot at the NBA. But, wait, who is Jake Wiley?

According to both CBS Sports and ESPN, Wiley has signed a partially guaranteed deal with the Nets. In fact, both say he’s got one of the new two-way contracts permitting players to move more effortlessly from the G-League to NBA while remaining the property of the big club.

It’s not like being drafted, not as lucrative certainly, but it’s pretty close.

Here’s what Ian Begley of ESPN wrote of his deal...

Eastern Washington's Jacob Wiley has agreed to a 2-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources confirm. Wiley played well on the workout circuit before the draft, impressing teams with his intensity and relentless motor. The 6-7 wing is incredibly athletic and has shown the ability to defend multiple positions during his workouts. He was considered one of the hidden gems in this year's class. Could turn out to be a very wise investment by Sean Marks & Co.

It was always going to be tough for Wiley to make the NBA via the Draft despite his gaudy number at Eastern Washinton. He played only one year at the school, having taken a roundabout route that included Division 1 football and track and the NAIA. But he has the talent.

Take a look at this fan’s compilation of his season. That vertical is around 40”

"He had a ton of interest,” said his agent, Alvin Snow. “About 12 different teams were trying to lock him in after the draft. That’s why it might have been better for him to not be drafted," "It gave us more leverage and we could talk to all the teams who had legitimate interest."

By Friday morning, the Nets had secured his signature. He got a partial guarantee, the two-way deal and an invite to the Summer League.

The reigning Big Sky Conference MVP had first attracted Nets attention at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in April, sort of a Draft Combine for seniors on the fringes of the draft. He wowed scouts at the four-day event in Portsmouth, Va., made the All-Tournament team and was invited to a reported 15 NBA workouts, including one with the Nets on June 8. Their interest increased

Wiley, as Jonathan Givony of Draft Express says, “has one of the best stories in this draft.”

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports profiled Wiley last month. In reporting on his Nets deal Sunday, he encapsulated the details of the story...,

“He left his mother in California when he was 14 years ol to live with his father who was an alcoholic. His father died. Jake Wiley found his father dead when he was 16 years old. This was after a suicide attempt by his father. Then he goes to play for Montana, quits basketball after one season. Basically hates practicing.

“He tries out for the track team, joins the track team. Tries out for the football team, joins the football team. Eventually, he finds his love for basketball again, plays NAIA, this past season is at Eastern Washington, was the Big Sky player of the year. Now, he’s managed to be a top 80 prospect, one who could get picked in the NBA Draft.”

As a two-way player, Wiley will be the property of the Long Island Nets that can be moved up and down. He’ll be paid a G-League salary even if he’s playing for the Brooklyn club. The Nets will also have the ability to call him up, a maximum of 45 total days each season. Once he’s been with the parent club for 45 days, he’d be eligible for the rookie minimum. It’s a way for the teams with G-League affiliates to hold on to prospects.

Wiley says he models his game after Draymond Green, but others see some Thaddeus Young in him. He’ll be playing for the Nets summer league team next month. So we shall see.

• Eastern Washington star Jacob Wiley agrees to sign with Brooklyn Nets - Jim Allen - Spokane Spokesman-Review