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The Nets waived Iman Shumpert Thursday afternoon to get the roster back to 15 players. Brooklyn needed to make a move by Sunday when Wilson Chandler will return from a 25-game suspension for PED use. Before they waiving Shumpert, the team had 16 players under contract, including Chandler, as well as two two-ways.
Shams Charania broke the news...
The Brooklyn Nets are waiving guard Iman Shumpert, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Nets were 9-4 with Shumpert and reluctantly released him due to full roster guarantees.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 12, 2019
The Nets signed Shumpert, a 29-year-old combo guard, on November 13 after both Caris LeVert and Kyrie Irving went down with injuries. Shumpert, who hadn’t played since last May, was signed to a non-guaranteed vets minimum contract that would become fully guaranteed the first week of January. The Nets essentially replaced Chandler with Shumpert but with Chandler’s return, the Nets had to move someone. There had been speculation that Brooklyn would waive or trade one of their younger players but Sean Marks instead decided to waive Shumpert.
The two most high profile young players, Rodions Kurucs and Dzanan Musa, are under contract for three and two years respectively. In addition, Theo Pinson had the right to veto any trade. Moreover, a league source told NetsDaily that a widely rumored possibility —that Pinson could be waived then re-signed as a two-way player— wouldn’t be permitted under the CBA.
“Theo isn’t eligible for a two-way with us,” said the source.
The 6’5” Shumpert had certainly helped the Nets defense during their recent run.
Shumpert had 12 steals in 13 games and helped the Nets defensively, moving up from dead last in turnovers forced. As I wrote this morning, he was a candidate to be cut with Wilson Chandler's pending return, Dec. 15 flexibility and full roster guarantees: https://t.co/xQdOhkjRyS https://t.co/iPwU0TDkqE
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) December 12, 2019
He played 14 minutes Wednesday night vs. Charlotte scoring four points. In his run with the Nets, he averaged 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds and nearly a steal per game. Last week, vs. Charlotte, he had four steals in 22 minutes, playing a critical role in the win. But Shumpert shot poorly across the board. He hit only 32.4 percent of shots overall, 24.2 percent from beyond the arc and 57.1 percent from the line.
After the news broke, Shumpert tweeted out his thanks to the Nets.
The @BrooklynNets are a first class organization from top to bottom. It was great to be with you guys even for the short stay! I’m around. https://t.co/EiqIFAQt3b
— Iman. (@imanshumpert) December 12, 2019
The move doesn’t preclude the Nets from making a trade after Sunday, the first day that players signed in the off-season can be moved. Bobby Marks reported earlier Thursday that at least two teams were looking into Rodion Kurucs legal issues, suggesting interest in the 21-year-old.