HoopsHype.com Rumors

Brooklyn’s biggest free agent is Andray Blatche, who sat down for an interview today and joked that he shouldn’t have to remove his shades – “I’m a free agent, y’all should be buttering me up.” More seriously, Blatche said he plans to re-sign. ... BUT, “I can’t tell you 100 percent yet. …I gotta take my time.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

Blatche reiterated that money isn’t such a big deal to him because he was amnestied and is still getting paid by the Wizards. We went over the whole situation in March, when Blatche said he’d be inclined to take less money just to stick it to his former team. “He’s not going to make more money,” Billy King said Sunday. “Hopefully he likes the situation and wants to be here.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

The Nets will not have salary-cap space and do not own Blatche’s Bird Rights. But the enigmatic 26-year-old is thankful the Nets let him revive his career after he was waived last offseason by the Wizards, and both Blatche and general manager Billy King said they hope to see him back in Brooklyn next season. “That’s the plan,” Blatche said. “I’m not sure yet right now. I can’t tell you 100 percent yet, but that’s the plan for me.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

Unless Blatche gets a deal with at least a guaranteed third year, what he makes the next two seasons mostly just offsets the Wizards’ salary commitments. Blatche has said he is not inclined to make things easier for his former employer, and added yesterday he might take less money to stay in a good situation in Brooklyn. “Yeah, I thought about that idea. I like it here, I got my second chance here and I’m loyal to being here. We just have to see what happens,’’ he said. “With the money situation, that makes it easier for me to stay here. I don’t have to take nothing huge. I can take less. It’s going to be based on what’s best for me.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

Rod Boone: Andray Blatche said the plan as of now is for him to re-sign with #Nets. Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

While the consistent storyline of the series is that the Nets are more talented and the Bulls are tougher, Blatche was adamant Saturday that the latter was false. “I feel like we’re definitely physically tough, we’re definitely more physical, we’re tougher than that team (the Bulls),” Blatche said. “For us, being behind 3-1 and for us to come back and tie it up shows how tough we really are, and shows how guys want to compete every night, which we’ve done.” New York Daily News

Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche 

Andray Blatche, while noting that he doesn’t know whether he’d return as a free agent after the season, echoed Johnson’s sentiment. “As far as the job he’s done, he’s done a great job,” Blatche said. “The whole coaching staff in preparing us and getting us ready for these games. Our scouting report has been pretty good, that’s what has helped us in getting back from 3-1.” New York Daily News

Washington Wizards, Coaching, Andray Blatche, PJ Carlesimo 

As raucous Bulls fans tried every method possible to distract him, Blatche calmly stepped to the free-throw line with 19.2 seconds left in regulation. A 68.5 percent free-throw shooter during the regular season, Blatche looked flawless as he made both shots. "Those were the biggest free throws I've ever shot in my career,'' Blatche said. "It was beyond loud. Even C.J. (Watson) said his ears started ringing. "Those free throws meant a lot to us. I just focused and stuck to my routine. I didn't let it bother me. I just shot the ball like I would any other time.'' Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche 

Rod Boone: I asked Dray about his right calf. "It's all right," he said. "It's sore, but it's all right though." Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche, Injuries 

Rod Boone: Dray Blatche said he's dealing with a right calf strain. Hopes he can get himself to about 90 percent with treatment today and tomorrow. Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche, Injuries 

Rod Boone: P.J. said Dray Blatche's calf is "very sore." Said he thought about taking him out late in 4th, but Dray wanted to play through it. Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche, Injuries 

After couple years of having his fitness criticized while playing with the Wizards – and logging an infamous DNP- Conditioning last season – Andray Blatche was lauded for getting himself into shape during the summer before signing his one-year deal with the Nets. But the backup center was called out Monday by coach PJ Carlesimo for his conditioning, following a game when Blatche played 37 minutes and looked winded. “Dray was the only one I felt bad about (playing a lot of minutes). And frankly, he needs conditioning,” Carlesimo said “So I thought it was okay. He needs some conditioning and he obviously wants to play against (the Wizards) because he played there. … We thought Dray was going good and the conditioning is good for him.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche, PJ Carlesimo 

Stefan Bondy: Andray Blatche on the altitude in Denver: "When I tell you I thought my lungs were going to explode. ...I thought I ran about 10 miles." Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche 

Rod Boone: Dray was asked what #Nets can take from tonight's loss: "Put it in a box, throw it in the ocean and keep on going for the game tomorrow." Twitter @rodboone

Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche 

Andray Blatche will be a free agent at season's end, but the 26-year-old backup center wants to remain a Brooklyn Net. "Most definitely. I love it here," Blatche told ESPN NewYork.com on Saturday. "We've got a great team here, a great staff. The fans are crazy. I mean, everything about this organization is great, so hopefully I can come back. "I feel like this is my new home, now, really. I feel comfortable with everything that's going on." ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche 

Mike Mazzeo: With no Bird Rights, #Nets can only offer Blatche up to the taxpayer midlevel: about $9 million for three years. Twitter @MazzESPN

Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche 

The event at Brooklyn Bowl drew Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Andray Blatche, Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace. All seemed to have a good time, even though D-Will did compare Kris Humphries to a "robot" ... and then thought better of it. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Andray Blatche, Kris Humphries, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

In other words, Brooklyn – which won’t have cap space and doesn’t own Blatche’s Bird Rights – has an opportunity to re-sign its top free agent. “I’m very aware (of my unique situation),” Blatche told the Daily News. “That’s what I’m saying. Everybody is probably thinking I’m looking to get that big check. I’m not. Not at all. I’m looking at what’s best for me.” So what is best for the 26-year-old center? “An opportunity to continue to play and win.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

Blatche even said that gives him incentive to take less money. “If I get a lot (in my next contract), yeah, it’s going to take pressure off the Wizards,” he said. “But that’s why I’m not going to do that.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andray Blatche 

For the third time in four games Sunday, Lopez was a non-entity in the fourth quarter (he did play seven seconds in one of those games, but that doesn’t count). And interim coach P.J. Carlesimo acknowledges the move, based on the flow of the game and usually by the play of Andray Blatche is something he must actively seek to avoid. “It's probably something that I don't want to do in the future,” Carlesimo said. “I created the situation and it’s not a good situation. So yes, I worry about it that I need to address it and I worry about it that I need to watch what I do going forward.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Andray Blatche, Brook Lopez, PJ Carlesimo