Nets sign forward Luis Scola to 1-year deal

Luis Scola (NBA.com)

The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran forward Luis Scola to a 1-year contract. multiple sources confirmed on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old Scola is a seasoned NBA veteran who started 76 games for the Toronto Raptors last season, averaging 8.7 points per game.  He struggled in the playoffs for the Raptors and found himself in and out of the rotation.  He is a capable shooter, proving that by making 40.4 percent of his 3-point shots last season.  He should be able to stretch the floor while playing alongside Brook Lopez.

Scola will also help provide veteran leadership in a young locker room.  He is currently the oldest player on the team by seven years.  The Nets signed guard Greivis Vasquez, 29, on Monday.

Sean Marks has spent the Nets’ money well since free-agency began.  Since Brooklyn lost out on many of the top young free-agents, Marks has decided to add players on shorter deals in order to maintain salary-cap flexibility moving forward.  The Nets should be among the league leaders in salary cap space in 2017, when the free-agent pool is much deeper and more talented than this summer’s class.

The Nets now have 12 players under contract.  They should still have money to spend in order to reach the NBA-mandated salary floor, but the exact amount won’t be determined until we know how much Scola will earn this season.

Scola will battle Chris McCullough and veteran Trevor Booker for minutes at the power forward position.