NBA

Blatche making Nets’ risk worthwhile

The Nets took a chance on Andray Blatche in September, when they signed him to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal.

That deal has paid off as well as anyone could have imagined.

Blatche has become an integral part of the Nets’ rotation, averaging 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting nearly 47 percent from the field. Those numbers have improved since Blatche replaced the injured Brook Lopez in the starting lineup three games ago; he’s averaged 17.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and over 51 percent shooting.

“It’s great to play,” Blatche said after Tuesday’s 117-111 loss to the Thunder at Barclays Center. “That’s the only thing I like doing and love doing.

“To be out here playing, period, is great.”

When Blatche was cut free under the amnesty rule by the Wizards this summer, removing the final three years and more than $23 million from their salary cap, it was unclear if anyone would give him, despite being just 26 years old, another opportunity. But after Blatche spent several weeks working out with former NBA coach John Lucas this summer, the Nets gave him a shot.

Blatche has more than repaid them for the opportunity, developing a terrific partnership with rebounding machine Reggie Evans as part of the second unit for the Nets, who host the Warriors tomorrow night. The Evans-Blatche tandem off the bench had been one of the biggest strengths for the Nets in the early going, before Blatche carried that success over to his transition to the starting lineup while Lopez has been out nursing a sprained right foot.

“Whenever they hit me in the middle or any kind of pick and roll, for some reason I always find him,” Evans said recently. “So no matter if he’s diving or what position, I’m always gonna find him. We do a great job of playing team ball together.

“Blatche is learning. He’s willing to learn, willing to accept mistakes and you can’t really ask for too much [more than that].”

Blatche has plenty of people on the Nets willing to teach him. After his initial seasons in Washington were on playoff teams led by Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, Blatche was pushed into a role as one of several young players trying to lead the team.

But with the Nets, Blatche has been placed into a locker room with several veterans to give him guidance, including Evans and Deron Williams, who have made sure the talented big man maximizes his abilities.

“We’re trying to stay on him,” Williams said. “We’re trying to stay on him and keep him focused, which he’s been great at this year. He had a bad reputation from outside people, but he’s a great teammate, and he’s been a hard-worker for us and nothing but a positive for this team.”

And now that Blatche has gotten off to a strong start, the Nets’ veterans, led by Evans, are determined to make sure that it continues.

“We aren’t gonna let up on him,” Evans said. “We’re not gonna allow him to get comfortable, we’re not gonna allow him to get relaxed. We expect a lot out of him. …

“Everything is a learning experience, and he’s open-minded and doing it with no problem. That shows you what type of player he is, and shows you that he’s growing, and growing mentally within the game, and it’s showing out there.”