1:24 pm Sep. 18, 2012
The Nets extended training camp invitations to three players on Monday, none of whom are particularly likely to make the team, agreeing to terms with guard Stephen Dennis, along with forwards Carleton Scott and James Mays.
But the effort underscores the lengths to which the Nets will go to tap every available talent stream this offseason, and possibly to find an out-of-nowhere talent like the Knicks did with Jeremy Lin.
Both Dennis and Scott were members of the 2012 Nets' summer league team, while Mays is new to the organization. But all three have had unorthodox paths to training camp.
Dennis was the Division II Player of the Year back in 2010, before spending time in the N.B.A. Development League, and last season, in Germany. He's a combo guard without a true position, but can score in bunches.
Scott was a strong defender/slasher for Notre Dame, but lacked the perimeter shot to become a professional prospect. His numbers last season, playing professionally in Austria, don't suggest that has changed. However, Scott shot the ball well enough this summer to impress the New York Post's Tim Bontemps, and apparently, the Nets as well.
Mays is more of a rebounder, who spent time after a collegiate career in Clemson playing in China, Turkey and Puerto Rico.
The Nets have 15 players already signed to guaranteed contracts. With a max roster size of 15, that means either an injury or abject failure in training camp by anyone in that group is the only path to Brooklyn on opening night for these three. More probably, like Lin, they will first head to the D-league.
