Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports
Nostalgia has its perks, but that doesn’t mean the Brooklyn Nets should look to reunite with free-agent center Jason Collins, as some rumors have suggested.
Collins, a seven-footer who was drafted in 2001 by the Nets back when they made New Jersey their home, had a very successful run playing alongside current head coach Jason Kidd until 2008. The Nets reached the Finals in both 2002 and 2003.
Nowadays, however, most of his fame relates to how he grasped America’s attention back in late April, when he became the first active male professional athlete in a major American team sport to publicly announce he is gay.
Although bringing back Collins would be great for the Nets in terms of public relations, the signing likely wouldn’t have too much of an impact on the actual court. Collins will be 35 in December, he is considerably limited on the offensive end and the Nets’ bench won’t lack that sort of size next season.
Brooklyn’s backup center last season, 6-foot-11 Andray Blatche, is an unrestricted free agent but is expected to re-sign. If he doesn’t, though, the Nets should be able to use their recent draft pick, Mason Plumlee, in the reserve center role. Plumlee was a four-year college player at Duke, which should have him more than prepared to immediately play at the next level.
So since there isn’t a pressing need for a player like Collins, the Nets would be better off investing that money into a different type of free agent.
Mike B. Ruiz is a Brooklyn Nets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikebruiz and “Like” him on Facebook.
