SAN FRANCISCO — There may be concerns somewhere about how Jason Collins would potentially fit onto an NBA team as the league’s first openly gay player, but there aren’t any with the Nets.
Both Deron Williams, who spent several seasons playing with Collins’ twin brother, Jarron, in Utah, and Joe Johnson, who played with Collins for three seasons in Atlanta, spoke highly of the free agent big man Friday, and said they would be glad to have Collins on their team if the Nets decided to sign him.
“If he can help our team, I’m all for it,” Williams said after the Nets practiced Friday morning. “I think he’s a great role player. I played with his brother for five-and-a-half years, and they have similar games, so I’ve known Jason for years. … He could help our team.
“I definitely think it’s going to be a media circus, just because of the situation. It would be a historic day. We’d definitely have to deal with that, but with the type of team we have, veterans and guys who have played with him before and know him, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
After Thursday’s trade deadline came and went without the Nets addressing their need to add a big man to their roster — something general manager Billy King, coach Jason Kidd and players all admitted is something they could use — King confirmed the Nets had recently worked out Collins, who came out in an article in Sports Illustrated last May.
“I don’t think there’s a problem with it, man,” Johnson said of accepting Collins into the locker room. “I think it’s how the guys on the team will accept him, and I think we would accept it, and it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“We have a veteran group, who I think everybody is pretty comfortable in their own skin. It’s about what he can do to help us out here on the court.”
What Collins, who played the first 6 ¹/₂ seasons of his NBA career with the Nets, can do is provide strong interior defense. That’s something the Nets only have with Kevin Garnett, playing a little over 21 minutes per game as Kidd tries to ensure the 37-year-old is as healthy and ready to contribute in the playoffs as possible.
“I think that’s one of our needs right now,” Williams said of adding a defensive big man. “With Brook [Lopez] going down and Reggie [Evans] not being here anymore, we need to have another big, just another body out there, and Jason could definitely help us defensively.
“It’s not like he’s going to come here and play 30 minutes. Just some spot minutes here and there, give [Garnett] a break, and also when [Garnett] can’t go on a back-to-back, we need somebody to fill in.”
While the Nets have expressed an interest in Collins, that doesn’t mean they definitely will sign him. Both King and Kidd have said they will explore all avenues, including players returning from China and those playing in the D-League. One option is Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who agreed to a buyout of the last year-plus on his contract with the Magic on Friday and was released.
When Davis clears waivers on Monday, several teams are expected to be interested in securing his services, including the Nets, Heat, Trail Blazers, Warriors and Clippers. The Clippers are thought to be the front-runners for Davis’ services because of his close relationship with coach Doc Rivers and the obvious playing time they have for someone to back up Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
But the Nets have some things working in their favor as well. Along with former Celtics teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, the Nets have the ability to sign Davis for more money than any of the other teams interested in him because of their Disabled Player Exception they received when Lopez was lost for the season. Other interested teams could only offer the veteran’s minimum.
No matter if the Nets land Collins, Williams said the NBA is ready for an openly gay player.
“I think so,” he said. “It’s 2014. Michael Sam just came out, and his teammates welcomed him, and they’re in college. It’s time for the NBA, as well.”