The Brooklyn Nets head to Orlando to restart without Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving … and now Wilson Chandler has also chosen not to participate.
The veteran and free agent who will be this offseason decided not to cite family considerations, reports ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
Wilson Chandler has informed the Nets that he is choosing not to play in Orlando, the forward tells ESPN.
– Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 28, 2020
“As difficult as it will be not being with my teammates, my family’s health and well-being have to come first,” said Wilson. “Thanks to the Nets organization for understanding and supporting me in this decision, and I will be observing and supporting our team in Orlando.” https://t.co/bN37YdF9zX
– Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 28, 2020
“As difficult as it will be not being with my teammates, my family’s health and well-being have to come first.”
No one should question a player who puts his family and health first, especially when entering an untested arena like the bubble / NBA campus in Orlando. Chandler also said he agreed with Kyrie Irving, who questioned the NBA’s return to the game and the impact it would have on the Black Live Matters movements and social justice. Chandler will not be paid for the restart games now.
The pay loss for Wilson Chandler will range from $ 200K to $ 350K depending on the number of games Brooklyn will play. In total, Chandler will lose a minimum of $ 1.2M (suspension, escrow, and payment reductions) from his $ 2.3M salary this year.
– Bobby Marks (@ BobbyMarks42) June 28, 2020
On the court, this hurts the Nets’ depth. Chandler was playing 21 minutes a night coming off the bench at four behind Taurean Prince, with Rodions Kurucs as the only other guy to get quality minutes there. Chandler had become very important to the defense of the Nets, and it is at that end of the floor that we will miss him the most.
Chandler’s decision seems to have caught the Nets’ main office by surprise. They recently signed Tyler Johnson for the reboot and had to let Theo Pinson go to create the spot on the list; If the Nets knew about Chandler’s plans, they could have signed with Johnson without releasing Pinson. Brooklyn is reportedly signing Justin Anderson to fill the spot on Chandler’s list.
Free agent Justin Anderson is signing with the Nets, agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2020
Off the court, Chandler is a free agent and the league rumor is that he will likely move out of Brooklyn this offseason.
