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NBA Rumors: Brooklyn Nets Interested In Restricted Free Agents Allen Crabbe And Tyler Johnson

By Daniel Benjamin
Published on: 15:53 PST, Jul 3, 2016

The Brooklyn Nets have been very active this offseason and it appears they plan on continuing their aggressive pursuit of free agents on the open market, as there are rumors that the Nets are interested in restricted free agents Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson.

Earlier today, David Pick tweeted that the Nets and Crabbe agreed to a four-year, $70-million deal.

However, Sam Amick of USA Today has since refuted Pick’s report, though Amick did add that Crabbe will meet with the Nets’ brass.

Crabbe had a breakout season with the Portland Trail Blazers last year. The 24-year-old appeared in 81 games and averaged 10.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per night while shooting a career-high 45.9 percent from the field, as well as 39 percent from beyond the arc in 2015-16. He reached double-figures in 42 games, including four-20 point efforts.

Crabbe struggled in the first three games of the playoffs this year against the Los Angeles Clippers, racking up a total of six points. He did pick up his production after those three games, culminating with a postseason career-high 20 points in the Blazers’ Game 5 second round series loss to Golden State. Crabbe shot 7-of-9 from the field and was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc in that game.

Crabbe finished the series against Golden State, averaging 12.6 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 59.5 percent from the floor as well as 52.9 percent on his three-point attempts. Overall, he averaged 7.5 points and shot 52.1 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc during the postseason.

If Crabbe does ultimately receive an offer sheet from Brooklyn, Portland will have three days to match as a result of the Blazers tendering him a $2.725 million qualifying offer.

The Blazers agreed to a four-year, $70-million contract with free agent Evan Turner on day one of the free agency period and are reportedly interested in retaining the services of restricted free agent Moe Harmless, so it is unlikely they will match the offer for Crabbe. Harkless also has drawn interest from the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz.

The Philadelphia 76ers have also reportedly expressed interest in Crabbe.

Portland is also a potential landing place for Pau Gasol, according Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN.

The rumors surrounding Crabbe is not the only news out of the Nets’ camp. Adrian Wojanarowsi of The Vertical is reporting that Brooklyn has extended Tyler Johnson a four-year, $50-million offer sheet. Wojnarowski said that Johnson is expected to sign the offer after the free agent moratorium ends on July 7.

Wojnarowski added that the offer sheet is heavily back-loaded and the final year is a player option. Johnson would earn $5.628 million in year one of the deal and $5.881 million in year two. He would then receive a significant raise in year three ($18.858 million) and then make $19.631 million in year four.

Johnson missed the final three months of the regular season because of shoulder surgery, but did return in time for Miami’s playoff run. The 24-year-old averaged 8.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 36 games. He shot 48.6 percent from the floor and 38.0 percent from beyond the arc.

While the contract seems a little extreme for a player that has only appeared in 68 regular season games over two season, Kevin Pelton of ESPN believes it is a worthy gamble as the Heat may match the offer.

Brooklyn, which did not have a first draft pick in this year’s draft, started its offseason by trading Thaddeus Young to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the Pacers first round pick in this year’s draft (Caris LeVert). Brooklyn then traded its second round pick (Marcus Page) to Utah for Isaiah Whitehead, who was selected with the No. 42 overall selection.

Brooklyn has agreed to contracts with free agents Jeremy Lin, Justin Hamilton, and Trevor Booker already. Those three will join Brook Lopez, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Chris McCullough, LeVert, and Whitehead on the team’s roster.

In other news, the Nets waived point guard Jarrett Jack on Thursday.

[Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP]

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