The banged-up Brooklyn Nets apparently have some reinforcements coming.
According to multiple reports, the Nets will sign guard Mike James, pending James clearing the NBA's health and safety protocols. According to the New York Post, James has been in the protocols since Sunday, meaning he will clear the protocols Friday and be free to sign.
There have been conflicting reports on the contract – NBA Insider Shams Charania says it's a 10-day deal, while the New York Times reports it will be a two-way contract – but either way, the Nets can open a roster spot by officially waiving the retired LaMarcus Aldridge.
James, 30, had been playing for CSKA Moscow in Russia and averaged 19.3 points and 5.7 assists, shooting 35.4 percent from three, in 27 EuroLeague games. However, CSKA Moscow released him from his three-year deal to join the Nets, as James was suspended indefinitely last month after getting into an altercation with coach Dimitris Itoudis.
The guard has a recent history of coach clashes, also leaving Italy's Olimpia Milano in 2019 due to a spat with then-coach Ettore Messina – a huge loss for that team, as James had won the EuroLeague's Alphonso Ford Trophy, awarded to the top scorer, the previous season.
James, who went undrafted out of Lamar in 2012, has played 36 career NBA games – all in 2017-18, 32 for the Suns and four with the Pelicans – and averaged 9.3 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 boards in 19.1 minutes over those games.
He will join a Nets squad that is without Spencer Dinwiddie, Tyler Johnson, Chris Chiozza, and, of course, James Harden in the backcourt, and would be the record 27th player to suit up for Brooklyn in a game this season.
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