The Brooklyn Nets are shorthanded right now, and things are about to get worse.
Caris LeVert is going to miss some time due to a ligament issue with his thumb, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic (something he later said will mean LeVert will be out weeks, although the Nets are being secretive about the entire situation).
The Brooklyn Nets fear guard Caris LeVert has ligament damage in his right thumb and he is visiting specialists for further evaluation, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 13, 2019
LeVert has the starting two guard next to Kyrie Irving and is averaging 16.8 points per game and shooting 36.1 percent from three on a team that needs the floor spacing. The Nets have been +7.3 points per 100 possessions when LeVert is on the court this season.
Add to that Wilson Chandler is suspended after failing a league drug test, and of course Kevin Durant is still sidelined, and Brooklyn is short-handed. The Nets can add a 16th man to the roster for a while.
That man is Iman Shumpert, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Free agent guard Iman Shumpert is signing with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources tell ESPN. Nets have a 16th roster spot until Wilson Chandler suspension ends in mid-December
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 13, 2019
This is a short-term, stop-gap move, but a smart one. Remember Shumpert and Irving played together and won big together in Cleveland, and Irving is rumored to have recommended signing Shumpert to the Nets brass.
Here are the finances/roster info on Iman Shumpert and Brooklyn:
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 13, 2019
*$13,108 per day cap hit
* On the roster thru 12/14 (at Toronto) or further but Brooklyn would need to waive/trade a player.
* Wilson Chandler comes off the suspension list on 12/15 (vs. Philly)
Shumpert can step in now and help on the wing. He’s not the peak defender he once was but he can provide some solid perimeter play (even if he did shoot just 34.8 percent last season). He played in eight of the Rockets’ playoff games last season, and continues to be a respectable role player.
The Nets are 4-6 to start the season — scoring plenty (sixth-ranked offense) but struggling to get stops (26th ranked defense) — but now just need to hang in the playoff picture in the East until they can get everybody healthy, then ideally get on a run to climb up the standings.