The Nets say hello to Keyon Dooling and say goodbye to one of the true good guys in their locker room in recent years, Boki Nachbar.
Nachbar, a 6-9, 28-year-old forward, has agreed to a three-year offer — “a once in a lifetime deal,” Nachbar said — with Dynamo Moscow, which apparently is trying to become the Yankees of Russia.
“They’re really trying to put together a top-flight, high-caliber team committed to winning,” Nachbar said today. “They’ve got some of the best European players.”
And they’re paying the big bucks. Nachbar is getting three years at $14.3 million, but he estimates it’s more like three years for $30 million due to exchange rates and tax implications.
“For starters, here you lose half to taxes,” he said.
And they’re paying him in Euros.
The move, though, is decidedly bittersweet for Nachbar, who truly wanted to remain a Net but saw his chances diminish with each new acquisition as the Nets go through their own summer Extreme Makeover, Meadowlands Edition.
“I’m happy with this deal, extremely happy. It’s a once in a lifetime deal,” Nachbar said. “I just couldn’t turn it down even though I always wanted to stay in the NBA and I wanted to remain with New Jersey.”
And despite the Nets’ movement, the NBA remained Nachbar’s preferred choice. There were offers he weighed then two days ago, Moscow came calling.
“Honestly, I wasn’t even considering it. We had other European offers and I said no, it was not even an option even though a bunch of teams called,” Nachbar said.
Then he heard “one helluva deal.” Call him Comrade Boki.
Nachbar, though, has not given up his NBA dream. His deal is structured, he said, so he can get out after two years and return to the NBA.
“I’ll still be a young guy, 30, 31 and maybe I’ll get back to the NBA,” he said. “If I can finish in the NBA, why not?”
Assuming he hasn’t lost any body parts to frostbite.
Nachbar said he intends to call Nets teammate Nenad Krstic sometime today to chat. He said Krstic wants to stay in the NBA but some European teams are “really, really showing how much they want him.”
Krstic is receiving some healthy offers overseas.
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So while Nachbar ties up loose ends stateside, the Nets were finalized the deal for Dooling with Orlando. Dooling was flying up from Florida on another matter anyway. How fortuitous.
The teams agreed to the deal — in which the Nets send a $3.3 million trade exception and cash to Orlando — last Friday but needed league approval to finalize the swap. The last hurdle will be Dooling passing his physical Tuesday. The Nets plan a Wednesday introductory press conference.
Dooling will get a three-year deal, the first two years guaranteed, starting at $3.3 million. The third year is guaranteed for about half a million.