In response to losing nine players to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, including Kevin Durant, James Harden and now Kyrie Irving, the Nets have reportedly signed Wenyen Gabriel to a 10-day contract as part of the league’s hardship exception, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
In addition, Brooklyn announced that it has also signed James Ennis III and Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts.
Gabriel, a 6-foot-9 forward, was signed by the Bucks in October and has been playing for the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G-League affiliate. The 24-year-old went undrafted in 2018 before signing on with the Kings, appearing in just 11 games before finishing the 2019-20 season with the Trail Blazers. Last season, he appeared in 21 games for the Pelicans, shooting 40 percent from the field while averaging 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 11.5 minutes.
The NBA’s hardship exception pertains to teams with at least three players unable to play due to injury or illness. The hardship exception allows a team to sign a player while temporarily exceeding the 15-man roster limit. Currently, the Nets have Durant, Irving, Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bruce Brown, DeAndre’ Bembry, James Johnson and Paul Millsap, while Joe Harris remains out following ankle surgery.
Ennis III has appeared in 388 career games across seven seasons with Orlando, Philadelphia, Houston, Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans and Miami, recording averages of 6.7 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, 36.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and 79.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.5 minutes per game.
Harrison, 28, split the 2020-21 season between Utah and Denver, appearing in 34 games and averaging 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. He has appeared in and started seven games for the Delaware Blue Coats in the G-League this season, averaging 19.6 points on 52.0 percent shooting from the field, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.9 steals in 32.2 minutes per contest.
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