As Thursday wore on, Jorge Gutierrez wasn’t sure what his future would hold. In the final day of his second consecutive 10-day contract with the Nets, the 25-year-old point guard was waiting to find out whether the Nets would sign him for the remainder of the season.
“It’s a little tough [waiting] after the second 10-day,” Gutierrez said with a smile Friday morning before the Nets beat the Cavaliers 108-97.
“But I’m good now.”
He was good because Gutierrez had been officially enrolled for the remainder of this season, as well as for next season with a very nominal guarantee, after performing well whenever he got a chance during his 20-day stint with the Nets.
“He’s been great,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Tough kid … sprained his ankle and kept playing, he knocked down shots. … For the 20 days he’s been here, he’s been awesome.”
Gutierrez, who finished with two points and three assists in the win, has played well in his limited opportunities over the course of his two 10-day deals, and especially during his second one. After Kidd made a point of saying Gutierrez would play more than the one game he appeared in during his first 10-day, Gutierrez played in four of the six games during the second one, including scoring six points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting to go with two rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes in Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Bobcats.
“They signed me for a reason,” Gutierrez said. “I’m not just going to come here and practice, and that’s it.
“I figured I was going to play a little bit, and I’m glad I did.”
Gutierrez’s day lost a bit of its luster, however, when the NBA announced Friday afternoon he had been fined $15,000 for his flagrant two foul against Charlotte’s Cody Zeller during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s loss, a play that resulted in him being ejected.
“It was a decision that I don’t have control over,” he said. “So I don’t really have an opinion about it.”