With the Nets season officially in the books, it’s time to look back at the year that was. We’ll look back at a different player each weekday, before wrapping up with the coaching staff and front office. Next up: Marcus Thornton
Regular season stats:Â Averaged 12.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks per game for Nets. Shot 41.4 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 80 percent from the foul line in 23.8 minutes per game over 26 games (one start).
Playoff stats:Â Averaged 5.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.1 blocks per game. Shot 38.9 percent from the field, 23.8 percent from 3-point range, 66.7 percent from the foul line in 12.4 minutes per game over 10 games (no starts).
Contractual status: Owed $8,575,000 for the 2014-15 season, the final year of his contract.
Season recap
Thornton found himself in an awkward situation this season in Sacramento, where a new general manager and coaching staff came in and drafted a player in the lottery – Ben McLemore – who plays the same position. Thornton didn’t do himself any favors by shooting 38 percent and less than 32 percent from 3-point range in 46 games with the Kings.
With a desire to get McLemore additional playing time – and with the Nets hoping to add scoring punch to their bench after a similarly poor first half from Jason Terry – the Kings and Nets worked out a trade sending Thornton to Brooklyn for Terry and Reggie Evans, a pair of veterans who weren’t playing much.
Thornton was not expected to make a huge impact for the Nets, but he turned into a key rotation player down the stretch, becoming a source of instant offense off the bench, averaging 12.3 points in 26 games and scoring more than 20 points six times.
He didn’t have the same impact during the playoffs — he didn’t play at all in two games and played less than 10 minutes in four others – but he was excellent in the biggest game of the season, scoring 17 points to help the Nets win Game 7 of their first-round series in Toronto.
Outlook for next season
Thornton restored his reputation with his play down the stretch, shooting 38 percent from 3-point range and, while rarely passing, showing he can be a player who can carry a team for stretches offensively.
With another year left on his contract, Thornton – who turned 27 on Thursday – will likely slot into the same role next season. Along with Mirza Teletovic, he provides additional scoring off the bench, and coach Jason Kidd can look for one of them to get hot from 3-point range each night.
Tomorrow: Deron Williams