LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When Brooklyn boarded their plane out of New York on Tuesday, there were only 12 healthy players on board. But reinforcements are coming. Jamal Crawford is signing with the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the season, league sources told ESPN.
Crawford, 40, will fill one of the Nets’ three vacant substitute roster spots. Crawford is eligible to be signed after Brooklyn had three players — Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince — test positive for the coronavirus. All three have been ruled out for the season restart in Orlando, Florida. Wilson Chandler, citing familial obligations, also did not make the trip. The team signed forward Justin Anderson in his place.
Now, the Nets have two roster spots that are available to be filled.
According to NBA rules, Crawford could fly or drive to Florida. If Crawford hasn’t been tested regularly since June 23 — when the league started testing players every other day — he would need to quarantine and be tested daily for a week in Orlando before being eligible to join his new teammates on the court.
Crawford hasn’t played in the NBA in the 2019-20 season. He last played for the Phoenix Suns and scored 51 points in the last game he played in 2019. The 20-year veteran has averaged 14.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game over the course of his career.
The deal with first reported by The Athletic.
The Nets arrived in Orlando on Tuesday as one of the 22 NBA teams scheduled to resume games on July 30. They are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Orlando Magic, who currently hold the final playoff spot.
Source : ESPN
