Brooklyn Nets Sign Anthony Bennett, Joe Harris, Randy Foye, Caris Levert, Luis Scola, Greivis Vasquez, and Justin Hamilton

It is NBA free agency signing season and the Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forwards Anthony Bennett and Luis Scola, and guards Greivis Vasquez and Randy Foye. Additionally, the Nets have signed to multi-year contracts, guard/forward Caris LeVert, and free agents guard Joe Harris and center Justin Hamilton.

“Justin is an energetic big with the ability to stretch the floor,” said Nets’ General Manager Sean Marks. “He is coming off a successful season in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues and will add depth to our frontcourt rotation.”

“We are pleased to welcome Joe to the Nets family,” said Marks. “We are confident that Kenny and his staff will continue to create an environment in which Joe and our other young players will develop and thrive.”

Regarding Bennett, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Marks stated, "We have been excited to watch Anthony's progress this summer with his national team, and look forward to the opportunity of having Kenny (Nets head coach) and his staff work with him to continue his development.”

In consideration of Randy Foye who has been with the NBA for 10 seasons, Marks is focused on backcourt depth, “He is a veteran guard who will provide us with additional scoring and depth in our backcourt.”

Marks is also big on culture and leadership, which is demonstrated with his selection of Luis Scola and Greivis Vasquez.

“Luis and Greivis are ideal fits for the team culture we are building in Brooklyn,” Marks asserted. “Both are terrific competitors who will provide leadership and veteran experience to our locker room. Luis adds toughness, scoring and passing ability to our frontline, while Greivis is effective from either backcourt position, both as a facilitator and a scorer.”

PLAYER BACKGROUNDS

Justin Hamilton

Hamilton (7’0, 260) joins the Nets after spending last season with Valencia in Liga ACB, Spain’s top division, where he earned All-ACB first-team honors after averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game in 40 games with the club. Prior to heading to Spain, the 26-year-old appeared in 49 games in parts of two NBA seasons with Charlotte, Miami and Minnesota (2013-15), registering averages of 5.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game. In the 2014-15 season, Hamilton appeared in 41 games split between Miami and Minnesota, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game. He also saw action in 39 games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League during the 2013-14 season, posting averages of 19.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 35.6 minutes per game en route to D-League All-Star, All-NBA D-League first-team, and NBA D-League All-Defensive first-team recognition. Hamilton began his professional career with stints in Croatia and Latvia during the 2012-13 season. The Alpine, Utah native was originally selected with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and was traded to Miami on draft night before being waived by the Heat in advance of the 2012-13 season. Prior to beginning his pro career, Hamilton spent his first two collegiate seasons at Iowa State and his third and final season at LSU, where he earned All-SEC second-team honors.

Joe Harris

Harris (6’6”, 219) has appeared in 56 games in two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-16), averaging 2.5 points in 9.1 minutes per game. He also appeared in six games during the 2015 postseason. This past season, Harris saw action in five games with the Cavs and 10 games with Cleveland’s D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, registering averages of 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 33.1 minutes per game with Canton. The 24-year-old underwent right foot surgery in January before being traded to Orlando and waived by the Magic. Harris was originally selected with the 33rd pick (second round) in the 2014 NBA Draft by Cleveland after a four-year career at the University of Virginia. At UVA, the Chelan, Wash. native earned All-ACC first-team honors as a junior and helped lead Virginia to two NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior, Harris garnered All-ACC third-team recognition while leading the Cavaliers to their first ACC tournament title since 1976, first outright ACC regular season title since 1981 and first Sweet 16 appearance since 1995. He finished his collegiate career second in school history in three-pointers made (263) and three-point percentage (.407)

Anthony Bennett

Bennett joins the Nets after spending the 2015-16 season with the Toronto Raptors. In 19 games, Bennett recorded averages of 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.4 minutes per game. In 128 games in three NBA seasons split between Toronto, Minnesota (2014-15) and Cleveland (2013-14), the 23-year-old holds career averages of 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game. The Toronto native was originally selected with the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by Cleveland, becoming the first Canadian ever selected with the top pick in the draft. Prior to the NBA, Bennett spent one season at UNLV, registering averages of 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game in 35 games (32 starts) en route to Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year honors, as well as Associated Press honorable mention All-American recognition. Bennett is a member of the Canadian national team.

Randy Foye

Foye (6’4”, 213) joins the Nets after splitting the 2015-16 season with the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. In 81 games, Foye averaged 5.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 20.3 minutes per game. He also appeared in 16 games in the Thunder’s run to the Western Conference Finals. The 32-year-old has seen action in 683 career games (393 starts) in 10 seasons with Minnesota (2006-09), Washington (2009-10), Los Angeles Clippers (2010-12), Utah (2012-13), Denver (2013-16) and Oklahoma City (2016), owning averages of 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. He’s also seen action in 27 postseason games. Foye finished in the top 10 in the league in three-pointers made in three consecutive seasons (2011-14) and is a career .369 shooter from three-point range. The Newark, N.J. native was originally selected with the seventh pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by Boston and began his career with the Timberwolves after a draft-night trade. Foye garnered All-Rookie First Team honors after he posted averages of 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 22.9 minutes per game in his debut professional season. Prior to the NBA, Foye spent four years at Villanova (2002-06), leading the Wildcats to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2005 and an Elite Eight berth in 2006. In his senior season, Foye was named a consensus first-team All-American and the 2006 Big East Player of the Year.

Luis Scola

Scola (6’9”, 241) joins the Nets after spending the 2015-16 season with the Toronto Raptors. Scola appeared in and started 76 games, averaging 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game. In nine NBA seasons split between Houston (2007-12), Phoenix (2012-13), Indiana (2013-15) and Toronto, Scola owns career averages of 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 26.2 minutes per game in 707 games (504 starts). He has also appeared in 48 career postseason games, recording averages of 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game. The 36-year-old was originally selected with the 56th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by San Antonio but did not make his NBA debut until the 2007-08 season after his draft rights were traded to Houston. As a rookie, Scola earned All-Rookie First Team honors with averages of 10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 24.7 minutes per game. Prior to the NBA, the Buenos Aries, Argentina native began his professional career in his home country with Ferro Carril Oeste in 1995-96 at the age of 15. He played three years in Argentina before moving to Spain, where he played nine seasons with three clubs, including seven seasons with Tau Ceramica (2000-07). Scola earned Euroleague First Team honors in 2005-06 and 2006-07, was named the MVP of the Spanish League in 2004-05 and 2006-07 and garnered Rookie of the Year honors in 2000. Scola is also a decorated player on the international stage. Representing his native Argentina, Scola will become a four-time Olympian when he competes at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. He earned a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, as well as a bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Greivis Vasquez

Vasquez (6’6”, 217) has appeared in 398 games (157 starts) in six NBA seasons with Memphis (2010-11), New Orleans (2011-13), Sacramento (2013), Toronto (2013-15) and Milwaukee (2015-16), recording averages of 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 23.8 minutes per game. He has also appeared in 24 career postseason games, averaging 6.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 18.0 minutes per game. This past season with the Bucks, the 29-year-old saw action in just 23 games due to right ankle surgery, registering averages of 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 20.0 minutes per game. The native of Caracas, Venezuela was originally selected with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Grizzlies, becoming the first Venezuelan-born player drafted in the NBA. Prior to the NBA, Vasquez spent four years at the University of Maryland, helping to lead the Terrapins to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Vasquez earned All-ACC second-team honors as a sophomore and junior before completing his standout collegiate career by garnering ACC Player of the Year, All-ACC first-team and consensus second-team All-American recognition as a senior. Vasquez is a member of the Venezuelan team that will compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Caris LeVert

LeVert (6’7”, 205) played four seasons at Michigan and helped the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the National Championship game in 2013 and the Elite Eight in 2014. In 103 career games (70 starts) for the Wolverines, LeVert averaged 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. As a senior, the Pickerington, Ohio, native posted averages of 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per game while shooting .506 from the field and .446 from 3-point range in 15 games (14 starts) during an injury-shortened season. He earned 2014 All-Big Ten second-team and 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team honors following his sophomore season when he averaged 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 34.0 minutes per game in 37 games.