NBA Rumors: Brooklyn Nets’ Andray Blatche in for a big raise

The Brooklyn Nets have several huge decisions to make with Paul Pierce and Shaun Livingston prepared to become free agents.

Another intriguing player who will likely become a free agent is forward Andray Blatche. Blatche played well for the Nets down the stretch, carving out a role with the club.

Blatche has a player option worth $1,437,506 for the 2014-15 season and has already said he plans to opt out and look for a larger contract and a long term deal. 

Tim Bontemps of The New York Post takes a look at Blatche’s future.

"Blatche’s future is very much up in the air heading into this offseason. The Nets control his Early Bird Rights, meaning they are able to sign him for up to $6 million per year over four years, the same salary cap exception the Knicks used a year ago to re-sign J.R. Smith. But with the emergence of Plumlee, the hopeful healthy return of Lopez and the likely return of Garnett for a 20th NBA season, Blatche could choose to find more playing time elsewhere – especially because he’s still owed the final year of his previous contract with the Wizards following their amnesty buyout.If the Nets can bring Blatche back on a similar deal to last season’s – a one-year deal for slightly more than the minimum – it won’t be surprising to see him return. But a bigger, multi-year offer on the open market – entirely possible given his unique skill set – likely would lure Blatche away, which would leave the Nets with a scoring void off the bench that won’t be easy to replace."

Blatche averaged 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Nets last season.