The Brooklyn Nets have signed former No. 1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani to a two-year veterans minimum deal with a player option after one season.

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The Sacramento Kings, who were offering more money over the next two seasons, were closing in on a deal with Bargnani when the Nets swiped him away.

However, Bargnani preferred the "fit" with the Nets.

Bargnani was not the only player the Kings recruited who eventually chose to play elsewhere else for less money. 

Before him Corey Brewer, Monta Ellis, Patrick Beverly and Wesley Matthews all spurned the Kings' bigger offer, although Matthews subsequently got a max deal.

The 7-foot Italian forward became a free agent July 1 after playing out the last season of his contract with the New York Knicks.

He played in just 29 games for the Knicks in 2014-15 due to hamstring and calf injuries. 

The 29-year-old Bargnani had 14.8 points per game while shooting 45.4 percent for the season while grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game and connecting 36.6 percent of his 3-point attempts.

He played in just 71 of a possible 164 games for the Knicks, which payed him $22.3 million for two years.

Bargnani missed 160 games over the last three seasons with the Toronto raptors and the Knicks.

His supposed scoring prowess should have covered up for mediocre defense and rebounding.

But the player  once thought to be the next Dirk Nowitzki, never turned into a consistent scorer in nine season thus far.

Nonetheless, the Nets could use him to provide some veteran presence behind newly re-signed Brook Lopez.

The Nets also re-signed Thaddeus Young  but bought out Deron Williams and is reportedly looking to deal Joe Johnson's $25 million pay for financial relief.

Meanwhile, the Kings freed some cap space during the summer by unloading serviceable players Carl Landry, Jason Thompson and Nik Stauskas to the Philadelphia 76ers.


Bargnani got the attention of the Kings as it was looking for shooters and have nabbed ex-NBA 3-point shootout champion and Marco Belinelli in free agency.

The Kings have also re-signed forwad Omri Casspi, took Willie Cauley-Stein as sixth overall pick in the recent NBA draft and are about to sign Rajon Rondo, Kosta Koufos and Caron Butler.

TagsNo. 1 draft pick, Andrea Bargnani, sacramento kings, NBA contracts, NBA transactions