Earlier this month, when the Brooklyn Nets struck a blockbuster deal to acquire James Harden, they gave up four players in the process – Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Taurean Prince and Rodions Kurucs – leaving them with only 13 players on the squad. Since the NBA requires each team to have a minimum of 14 players, Brooklyn eventually had to sign someone.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Nets are set to add veteran guard Iman Shumpert.
Before he was waived last season, the 30-year-old Shumpert actually last played in the NBA with the Nets, suiting up for 13 games off the bench. He went unsigned this offseason and has spent the interim working out, hoping for of a new opportunity which has now arrived.
Last season, Shumpert averaged 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 13 games. Brooklyn does not need much scoring from him now but will depend on his perimeter defense to address one of its weaknesses.
His last full season was in 2018-19 when he divided his time between the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. The Georgia Tech alum has been used primarily off the bench throughout his career.
Over the last five years, he has been a teammate of Kyrie Irving, James Harden as well as Joe Harris and Jeff Green. He was part of the Cavaliers 2015-16 NBA championship team. The Nets now have five players who’ve been to the NBA Finals for a total of 12 times.
