WASHINGTON – C.J. Watson could have played somewhere else for more money. But a personal sales pitch from Deron Williams and Nets coach Avery Johnson, plus the opportunity to be a part of the Nets’ first season in Brooklyn, was enough to convince the point guard to reach an agreement to sign with the Nets Saturday night.
“In the end, Deron had called C.J., Avery had called him, and C.J. liked the opportunity to backup Deron and potentially play alongside him some,” said Jared Karnes, Watson’s agent. “He felt like there was a big hole he can fill.”
Landing Watson, who agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum with a player option for the second season and who had been waived by the Bulls earlier this week, fills a critical need on the Nets roster. The Nets were in need of a veteran point guard to play behind Williams, and Watson, who was the primary backup for Derrick Rose last season in Chicago, was happy to take the job.
The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 9.7 points and 4.1 assists last year for the Bulls in 49 games. He also made 25 starts while Rose was sidelined with injuries throughout the regular season, before serving as the team’s starter for the final five games of their first round loss to the 76ers after Rose injured his knee at the end of Game 1.
“C.J. has obviously had quite a bit of experience, not only backing up Derrick Rose but playing as the starter in his absence,” Karnes said. “He did a very, very good job of that.
“He’s used to a big market, he’s used to playing for a contender, he’s used to pressure, and he really looks forward to contributing.”
Karnes said that Watson was willing to take less not only because of the possibility of playing both behind and alongside Williams, but because of the excitement surrounding the team beginning a new era this fall when they move to Brooklyn and open the brand new Barclays Center.
“You’ve got a player with that experience who’s demonstrated the capability to lead the team in a major market, and he’s willing to make a financial sacrifice for something he believes in,” Karnes said.
“He believe in the Brooklyn Nets … we’re 100 percent behind them.”
******
The Nets, who are the in the market for a backup center, are a possible landing place for former No. 2 overall pick Darko Milicic. The 7-footer and former Knick cleared amnesty waivers yesterday after being waived by Minnesota. Milicic would fill a need for a backup center behind Lopez on the roster.
The Nets also may have seen a potential suitor for Kris Humphries drop out of the bidding after the Charlotte Bobcats claimed center Brendan Haywood off amnesty waivers from Dallas. The Bobcats have been rumored to have interest in Humphries, but after adding a big man on the cheap in Haywood, they could potentially slide one of their two first-round picks from a year ago, Bismack Biyombo, to power forward.
King said Friday that the Nets are “close” to re-signing Humphries, who has averaged a double-double each of the past two seasons for the Nets in his first opportunities of his career to be a consistent starter.
tbontemps@nypost.com