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: Andray Blatche.
Regular season stats:Â Averaged 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks per game. Shot 47.6 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from 3-point range, 74.2 percent from the foul line in 22.7 minutes per game over 73 games (seven starts).
Playoff stats:Â Averaged 6.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.2 blocks per game. Shot 44.8 percent from the field, 0 percent from 3-point range and 83.3 percent from foul line in 14.3 minutes per game over 12 games (no starts).
Contractual status: Holds player option worth $1,437,506 for 2014-15. Has said he will opt out.
Season Recap
For the second straight season since arriving from the Wizards, Blatche proved to be a reliable reserve big man. Blatche has become a fan favorite thanks to his impressive ball-handling skills for a big man and his scoring touch, both of which are on display in this highlight from a March game against Memphis that perfectly sums up the Andray Blatche Experience.
The Nets began the season employing the same traditional two big-man lineup they did for virtually all of last season, with Garnett and Brook Lopez in front of Blatche and either Reggie Evans or Mirza Teletovic. But after Lopez was lost for the season due to injury and the Nets switched to the smallball, four-perimeter-player look in January, Blatche’s ability to shoot from deep and handle the ball – as well as score in the post – made him a nice fit in the team’s new style.
Although Blatche, who was away from the team for four games for personal reasons back in December and early January, spent much of the latter part of the regular season as the third big man in the rotation, that changed once the playoffs came around.
Blatche wound up taking Mason Plumlee’s minutes during the playoffs, giving the Nets huge production in their final three postseason wins – going for eight points and seven rebounds and nine points and seven rebounds, respectively, in Games 6 and 7 of the first-round series victory over Toronto. He put up 15 and 10 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Heat. He struggled in the three losses in Miami, scoring four points in Game 1 before being held scoreless in Games 2 and 5.
Outlook for next season
Blatche’s future is very much up in the air heading into this offseason. The Nets control his Early Bird Rights, meaning they are able to sign him for up to $6 million per year over four years, the same salary cap exception the Knicks used a year ago to re-sign J.R. Smith. But with the emergence of Plumlee, the hopeful healthy return of Lopez and the likely return of Garnett for a 20th NBA season, Blatche could choose to find more playing time elsewhere – especially because he’s still owed the final year of his previous contract with the Wizards following their amnesty buyout.
If the Nets can bring Blatche back on a similar deal to last season’s – a one-year deal for slightly more than the minimum – it won’t be surprising to see him return. But a bigger, multi-year offer on the open market – entirely possible given his unique skill set – likely would lure Blatche away, which would leave the Nets with a scoring void off the bench that won’t be easy to replace.
Tomorrow: Jason Collins