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Three weeks ago, Sean Marks all but announced that undrafted North Carolina product Theo Pinson would ultimately be converted from a camp invite to a two-way deal. In his press conference comments on September 18, Marks announced...
“Theo Pinson is gonna be our two-way guy. It hasn’t been out there yet; it probably shouldn’t be,” Marks told the media.
Now it is. Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news Thursday...
The Brooklyn Nets are converting rookie guard Theo Pinson's contract into a two-way deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 11, 2018
Pinson and Alan Williams, the former Suns power forward, will now fill Brooklyn’s two two-way roster spots.
Although Pinson went undrafted, the Nets scouted him extensively over his career at UNC.
“We’re excited about what we saw in him over the course of his college career. Our coaching staff got to evaluate him during the draft process. He has a lot of intangibles. Coached well, you can coach him hard. He wants to learn and he’s got some experience.”
Pinson was used as a Swiss Army Knife by North Carolina’s Roy Williams, playing everywhere from point guard to power forward. A four-year starter, Pinson was part of UNC’s NCAA championship team two years ago.
In particular, Pinson was Williams’ defensive stopper, an athletic player with a near 7-foot wingspan. He shot poorly from three during his time in Chapel Hill, hurting his draft stock, but in the Las Vegas Summer League Pinson shot 42.7 percent over five games.
“I think it’s been a blessing in disguise to come to Brooklyn as far as, we get here so early to get work in,” Pinson told NetsDaily on Media Day. “I’ve been here two months and I feel like I’m ahead of the game from the other rookies because they been doing their own thing and not with the team as much. I’ve been in the gym with all these NBA coaches with my teammates so I’ve been learning a lot.
“I’m here, in Brooklyn, and I’m excited,” he added.
The Nets made two other roster moves as well, seeking waivers on camp invites Nuni Omot, a 6’9” stretch 4 out of Baylor, and Jordan McLaughlin, a 6’1” point guard from USC. Both have Exhibit 10 contracts meaning their G League rights will automatically transfer to the Long Island Nets. Each will receive a $50,000 bonus in addition to a starting salary of $77,200 if they stay with Long Island for 60 days, starting in 10 days when Long Island opens it training camp.
That leaves only Mitch Creek’s fate uncertain. The 6’5” Australian got his first look Wednesday in Montreal. With Omot and McLaughlin gone, the Nets can sign two other players to Exhibit 10 players before Monday when NBA rosters have to be set. They too could be waived and their rights transferred to Long Island.
- BROOKLYN NETS EXERCISE TWO-WAY PLAYER CONVERSION ON THEO PINSON - Brooklyn Nets