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Swingman Josh Childress has reached a one-year deal to join the Brooklyn Nets with the hopes of winning a rotation spot behind Gerald Wallace at the small forward position in training camp.
Childress averaged a minimum of 10 points and 4.9 rebounds in his first four seasons out of Stanford after the Atlanta Hawks drafted him at the No. 6 spot. After his rookie deal with the Hawks expired, the 6-foot-8 Childress made a risky decision to take bigger money to play for Olympiacos in Greece rather than re-signing. After his three-year deal expired there, he returned to the United States, preferring the NBA, and signed with the Phoenix Suns. Childress never seemed his old self, though, playing a reserve role for two seasons and averaging only 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds this past year. The Suns opted to use the amnesty clause on Childress rather than keep him on the roster where he would take up $7 million of cap space.
The Nets' final few roster spots will likely be devoted to veterans such as Childress who can fill backup roles behind the team's strong starting lineup. The 29-year-old Childress certainly fits that bill as an effective athlete at 6-foot-8 with a lot of NBA experience and a proven record of scoring, even if he hasn't necessarily shown star credentials since returning to the league from Greece. The Nets are also taking a flyer on another amnestied player, Andray Blatche, who agreed to a one-year deal after being cut loose by the Wizards this summer.
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