NBA Rumors: New Orleans Pelicans interested in Andray Blatche?
Brooklyn Nets’ big man Andray Blatche quietly had an excellent season.
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With age catching up to power forward Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez missing the entire season with another foot issue, Blatche was thrust into a bigger roll than anyone expected. He played very well and now will likely become a free agent. He has a player option worth $1,437,506 for the 2014-15 season, but he is obviously in line for a raise and at just 27 years old, he will be looking for a big pay day.
The Nets control his early bird rights so they can offer worth $6 million per season over four years. However, the Nets expect Lopez to return, Garnett does not look set to retire and saw Mason Plumlee emerge as a viable option this season, meaning they likely won’t want to pony up that kind of money.
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders reported that the New Orleans Pelicans are interested in Blatche and that the feeling is mutual.
I'm hearing there is mutual interest between the New Orleans Pelicans and free-agent-to-be Andray Blatche. Keep an eye on that after July 1.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 13, 2014
However, John Reid of The New Orleans Times-Picayune and NOLA.com has since dismissed the report, citing sources of his own.
Also, sources say the Pelicans are not interested in trying to sign Nets' forward Andray Blatche in free agency.
— John Reid (@JohnReid64) June 14, 2014
Blatche averaged 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the field, 27.8% from beyond the arc and 74.2% from the charity stripe for the Nets last season.