Nets, Humphries agree on two-year deal
Kris Humphries #43 of the New Jersey Nets enter the game against the New York Knicks during their pre season game on Wednesday, December 21 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York.(Photo by Jim McIsaac) Credit: Photo by Jim McIsaac
After an offseason of uncertainty, the Nets will reunite Kris Humphries with Brook Lopez in the starting frontcourt for the 2012-13 season.
As first reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com and later confirmed by the team, the Nets and Humphries came to terms on a two-year deal worth $24 million.
The Nets acquired Humphries during the 2009-10 season in a package deal for Eduardo Najera. Humphries broke into the starting lineup the following year, and averaged a double-double. He returned on a one-year, $8 million deal for the 2011-12 season, and averaged career highs in points (13.8) and rebounds (11.0).
Humphries' name was floated around as part of a Dwight Howard mega-deal earlier in the offseason, with the 6-9 power forward reportedly set to be sent to the Cavs. According to reports, Cleveland wanted Humphries on a one-year deal, while Humphries would only agree to a sign-and-trade if he inked a multi-year contract, causing the trade to fall apart.
Next to Lopez, Humphries will be relied upon to shore up the Nets' presence on the glass. Lopez, a 7-footer, averaged just six rebounds per game during the 2010-11 season. Then, during an injury-plagued 2011-12 season, Lopez pulled down just 18 rebounds in 136 minutes, a career-worst 4.8 boards per 36 minutes.
Humphries was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. He played in Utah for two seasons and Toronto for three before landing in Dallas at the start of the 2009-10 season.
