Woj: Trendon Watford returns to Brooklyn Nets on one-year deal
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Trendon Watford has accepted the qualifying offer, ending his restricted free agency and bringing him back to Brooklyn for a second season Trendon Watford is back.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first with the news that Watford has signed his qualifying offer from the Brooklyn Nets, ending his restricted free agency and bringing him back to the borough...
Brooklyn Nets F Trendon Watford has signed his qualifying offer, which will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, sources tell ESPN.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2024
The Nets subsequently confirmed the move in a press release.
This comes after Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported Brooklyn extended a qualifying offer to Watford on June 29, which meant they could have matched any offer sheet Watford received from another team in free agency. Ten days later, it appears Watford didn’t received any such offers, and has decided to spend another year as a Net before hitting unrestricted free agency next summer.
He will make $2.7 million in 2024-25, leaving the Nets around $8 million shy of the luxury tax, though you figure Sean Marks & Co. are not done re-jiggering the roster in light of the recent decision to rebuild.
Watford dipped in and out of the rotation early last season, but found a more consistent role by the spring time, ultimately appearing in 63 games. He emerged as a point-forward of sorts; at 6’8”, Brooklyn offered utilized him as the primary ball-handler when on the floor, where he displayed an ability to get to the rim off the dribble.
All in all, he averaged 6.9/3.1/1.3 on 53/40/79 splits, shooting a career-high from three on career-best volume. While his passing ability was often muted by turnovers, there is certainly potential in the 23-year-old that Brooklyn will look to pounce on as they begin their rebuild.
After all signs pointed to his departure toward the end of the season and beginning of the offseason, this may be Brooklyn’s first move that the Mikal Bridges trade is directly responsible for.
Brooklyn celebrated Watford’s return on social media by reminding the world of his connection to Cam Thomas, both LSU Tigers, and now, once again, both Brooklyn Nets...
From Baton Rouge to Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/xjuHSawzNj— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 9, 2024
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