With Wednesday’s deadline to secure players’ contracts approaching, the Nets dismissed guards Andre Roberson and Iman Shumpert, as well as pivot Noah Vonleh and agreed to summon Tyler Cook, with 6’9 ”in league G , for a 10-day deal, according to several reports.
Shams Charania reports that two of the three resigned, Roberson and Shumpert, will sign 10-day deals if they release the resignations, giving Steve Nash a chance to better assess them. Vonleh seems to be gone.
Also, no surprise: Tuesday night reports suggest that Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot will be guaranteed for the rest of the season, giving Brooklyn its bird rights in August.
Adrian Wojanarowski and Charania tweeted the news shortly after the Nets defeated the Kings …
Guard Iman Shumpert and striker Andre Roberson plan to sign 10-day contracts with the Nets when they release the exemptions on Friday, sources said @TheAthletic @Stadium. Networks maintaining flexibility ahead of the warranty period this week.
– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 24, 2021
Brooklyn is planning to sign a 10-day contract with Tyler Cook, the source told ESPN.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 24, 2021
By hiring Roberson and Shumpert for 10 days, two defensive guards who can play in various positions, the Nets will give Steve Nash more time to assess the two veterans. The team can extend players for a second 10 days before having to decide whether to keep them. Roberson was hired a week ago and Shumpert in late January, but he was sidelined with a hamstring injury until Tuesday night. The changes will also save the Nets some luxury taxes, but the main reason seems to be giving flexibility to Sean Marks’ squad.
Nash talked about Roberson’s post-game potential, comparing the 29-year-old 6’7 ”player to Tuesday night’s hero Bruce Brown.
“Bruce makes it look easy. It is not easy to be a 6’3 ”guard and catch, roll, catch the ball, finish. André is also a very smart player, but I don’t want that for him. He can choose and roll for sure, and he can definitely protect some bigger players, ”said Nash, making the comparison.
Cook, 23, left Iowa without being recruited in the 2018 NBA Draft and has since leapt into the G League and the NBA fringe. Last season, Cook played 13 NBA games, two with Denver and 11 with Cleveland, averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.2 combined minutes.
This season, he signed with Iowa Wolves, a Minnesota G League affiliate, where he averaged 20.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He is not a 3-point shooter, but he has defensive potential due to his 7’1 “wingspan.
Their best game was Wolves’ first game against the Long Island Nets, scoring 31 points from 14 of 20 shots, 10 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks. He’s not a 3-point shooter … or at least he wasn’t.
Dakota Schmidt of Ridiculous Upside, our sister site for League G on SB Nation, said this on Tuesday.
It is not surprising that Cook was absolutely wonderful in the G League bubble. The 6’8 striker has been a force with the ball in his hands, fighting in the offensive glass, and as a facilitator in moving the ball to other players. https://t.co/KaG9sbTkNX
– Ridiculous Upside (@RidicUpside) February 24, 2021
Cook played ball in high school with Celtics Jayson Tatum in his hometown, St. Louis.