Duke basketball: Brooklyn Nets sign Lance Thomas as substitute player

Former Duke basketball standout Lance Thomas. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Former Duke basketball standout Lance Thomas. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Former Duke basketball standout forward Lance Thomas has signed a deal with the Brooklyn Nets as a substitute player.

Lance Thomas is back with the Brooklyn Nets as the franchise has signed the former Duke basketball player as a substitute player for the NBA’s restart in Orlando, Florida.

Thomas had previously signed with the Nets prior to the 2019-20 season but was waived by the team prior to the start of the regular season.

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Most recently, the 2010 National Champion played in 46 games for the New York Knicks in the 2018-19 season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 39.6 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from 3-point range.

Preexisting injuries coupled with players being diagnosed with the coronavirus have hit the Brooklyn Nets hard as one of their replacement players, Michael Beasley, has also tested positive for COVID-19, and his status for the remainder of the NBA season is in serious question.

Ian Begley of SNY was the first to report that Thomas was gathering interest from NBA teams, and he was also the first to report the Nets’ serious interest in the 6-foot-8 forward and the eventual signing.

The 32-year old has spent eight seasons in the NBA with three franchises, the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Knicks.

ALSO READ: Former Duke forward Lance Thomas gathering NBA interest

Brooklyn is currently in prime position to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs as the team currently holds a 30-34 record, which is good enough to be the No. 7 seed in the conference.

However, the Nets are only a half-game up on the Orlando Magic for the No. 8 seed and six games up on the Washington Wizards, who are currently holding the No. 9 seed in the East.

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The NBA will resume competition on July 30 at the ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex, inside Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, as the Brooklyn Nets will begin their eight-game regular season against the Magic on July 31.