Possibility of the Nets signing Collins?

[babyjax13]

I was reading through the reactions of as many NBA players as I could when Jason Collins came out, and recently it surfaced that the Nets might sign him. Almost every player on the Nets has played with him before or is friends with him including Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnett (twice), Jason Terry, Paul Pierce, Jason Kidd (coach, of course), Jerry Stackhouse (if resigned) and more. Andrei Kirilenko is also a long-time ally of the LGBT community. At this point, it may be a publicity ploy - which I find to be a shame. Hopefully someone comes out during the prime of their career...but how likely is it that the Nets sign him, and do you think he can be a contributor as a third string center?

Here are some Nets' reaction to the news, if it's interesting at all to you:

Joe Johnson: “Jason Collins was one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. I respect his tremendous courage to come out and will always support him.”

Jason Kidd: Jason’s sexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is a great friend and was a great teammate.

Brook Lopez: “It is an honor for me to call Jason Collins a friend. I admire his dignity as well as his courage to come out. I’ll always have his back.”

Jerry Stackhouse: "I just think in fear of possibly feeling that there's so much to lose -- trying to set a precedent that hadn't been set before. Or if there's a backlash. Or maybe, even though I set it there, talent wouldn't exceed. You don't know. That the league or players weren't ready to accept that. But I think we're in a better place now where we're more open and accepting to those issues. I don't know if I personally could have done it. That's why my hat goes off to him."

Jason Terry: Being a teammate of his, I know how hard he works. I know how dedicated he is to his craft and he was a great teammate, regardless of his sexual preference. It didn’t matter to me. I liked him as a guy, as a teammate, and I still do.

Paul Pierce: "“I had a chance to talk to Jason before the news even broke. I had actually mentioned to Doc that it was going to happen, that there was going to be a gay player in professional sports to come out. It just so happens he’s the first when I was one of his teammates. To each his own. It’s probably going to open the door to many more. There’s so many professional athletes, there’s so many human beings, that are scared to expose it because of the exposure of sports and what people may think about it. But I think what he did was a great thing, just to kind of open the door for other athletes who probably now are going to have the courage to come out.”

[jeff1624]

I like Collins a lot and I think he's under-appreciated by the common fan (I think he was the main reason Atlanta beat Orlando two years ago) but I just don't think he'd have any role on this team. Lopez will play 30 mins at center, Blatche will play the rest and if needed KG could possibly fill in a few minutes himself. Hell, Plumlee or even Evans can play a minute or two at center if we really need it. If we had a few more open roster spots and needed depth at Center then I'd be all for signing Collins to be our third big man... you could certainly do worse (Ryan Hollins).

[babyjax13]

I like Collins a lot and I think he's under-appreciated by the common fan (I think he was the main reason Atlanta beat Orlando two years ago) but I just don't think he'd have any role on this team. Lopez will play 30 mins at center, Blatche will play the rest and if needed KG could possibly fill in a few minutes himself. Hell, Plumlee or even Evans can play a minute or two at center if we really need it. If we had a few more open roster spots and needed depth at Center then I'd be all for signing Collins to be our third big man... you could certainly do worse (Ryan Hollins).

I'd forgotten about Blatche. I really do hope that he can find a spot, but likely he's going to open the way for a current NBA player to come out. Obviously I'm looking at this for its moral significance and not basketball reasons, but I don't know that a moral stand is worth a roster spot. I think it's an empty gesture for him to go to a team where he won't play, and at this point in his career it's hard to imagine that happening.

[serp]

If we hadn't this many bigmen i'd happily take Twin back but we just don't need him . If he was a swingmen yes but since he's not i don't think he comes here.

If he was interested in an assistant coach role on Kidd's bench hell yes but we don't need him as a player.

[NyCeEvO]

Like others have said, we don't really have a need for him on our roster.

If we did have a need, I'd like to think that management wouldn't have an issue signing him.