The Nets filled one of their three open roster slots on Friday as they prepared to sign the great free agent Norvel Pelle.
The deal that pending the clearance of the NBA’s health and safety protocols was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post. Pelle must repeatedly test negative for COVID-19 before he can join the nets.
Since DeAndre Jordan swapped center Jarrett Allen for James Harden in the blockbuster deal with four teams last week, he’s been the default starter, who doesn’t have a real center to support or push.
Brooklyn has been sorely lacking in size, shot blocking, and central defense. GM Sean Marks, who brings in the 6-foot-10, 231-pound skin, should at least help in all three areas, especially rim protection.
Pelle scored 9 in 24 games with the 76ers last season. 7 minutes averaged 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 points and 1.3 blocks. But at the age of 27 he took a long, winding road to Brooklyn that would make Homer’s Odyssey seem like a day trip.
Pelle was born in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda and also lived in the US Virgin Islands, before settling in California.
Pelle was the top ranked center expert in his high school class in the nation. He turned professional and played in the NBA Developmental League as well as in Taiwan, Lebanon and Italy before reaching the NBA with Philadelphia last season.
Now Pelle has the option of a rotation point in a competing net- Fight team that needs his services. Allen is gone, the big sophomore Nic Claxton is out indefinitely, and Kevin Durant is the only net other than Jordan that is 6-foot-10 or larger.
Jeff Green, at 6-feet -8, 235 pounds, is far more of a distance 4 than a true center. Pelle could vie with Reggie Perry from the second round in 2020 for minutes. The 6-foot-8 Perry has played eight games and cracked in the last four double-digit minutes since Allen left.
The nets have until January 30th, two weeks after the Harden deal was closed, to fill the two remaining vacant roster positions. They could charge Perry and Chris Chiozza to full rosters either way.
According to The Athletic, the Nets were granted a $ 5.7 million disabled player exemption – half of Spencer Dinwiddie’s salary.
Brooklyn still has a clear need for a winger like Andre Roberson, Corey Brewer or ex-Net Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
The networks could make a trade and hold a place until the buyout market opens on April 9.
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