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Brooklyn Nets Set To Sign Syracuse Guard Trevor Cooney

By Kenneth Teape

Mar 18, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Trevor Cooney (10) reacts during the second half of the first round against the Dayton Flyers in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Trevor Cooney (10) reacts during the second half of the first round against the Dayton Flyers in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets plan on signing undrafted free agent Trevor Cooney with the intention of having him eventually join their NBA D-League affiliate.

The Brooklyn Nets were very active in the offseason even though they didn’t land any top flight free agents. They went into the offseason with a plan to revamp their backcourt and have done exactly that.

First, it was Jeremy Lin in free agency, then the Nets signed Greivis Vasquez, Randy Foye, and Joe Harris. In the 2016 NBA Draft, the Nets also selected Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead. They also got to work on the undrafted free agent market, signing Beau Beech and Yogi Ferrell.

They did not stop there, as they added Trevor Cooney to the mix as well. The fifth-year senior from Syracuse went undrafted in June, but the Nets intend to sign. International journalist David Pick announced the news via his Twitter account.

Pick didn’t share any more details about the signing, but the deal is more than likely a minimum deal with little to no guarantees. That would be the smart guess because the Nets already have 15 players under contract with guaranteed deals. So why would players continue to agree to deals with the Nets if they have a minuscule chance of making the roster?

It’s quite simple actually. It is because the Nets can use their new NBA D-League team to grow younger talent.

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The thinking behind the Nets signing Cooney is that they are hoping to have him join their D-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, as an affiliate player. Cooney will join the Nets in training camp, then they will waive him. The Nets are then hoping he clears waivers and they can claim his D-League rights.

Teams are limited to four released players being given affiliate designation. An affiliate player cannot be subject to the NBA D-League draft or waiver system they have in place for the regular season.

Cooney wrapped up his career this past season at Syracuse with a trip to the Final Four. In his final season, Cooney averaged 12.9 points on a 34.8/.35.4/80.6 percentage slash line. He also averaged 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

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Cooney will have a difficult time adjusting to the NBA game at first. He played in a zone at Syracuse, something he won’t be doing in the NBA. He will have to get up to speed playing man-to-man defense to hold his own at this level. Three-point shooting is his calling card, but he will have to raise his efficient overall if he has any chance of sticking with the Nets at any level.

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