By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Latvian forward Rodions Kurucs signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets, the club announced.
The Nets and Barcelona had agreed on buyout deal earlier this month so that Kurucs would become cleared to join Brooklyn. Barcelona retained the 20-year-old player’s rights if he ever returns to Europe.
Kurucs becomes the second European addition this summer following Bosnian forward Dzanan Musa. The Nets had selected Kurucs with the 40th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Per Nets.com:
The Brooklyn Nets have signed Rodions Kurucs, the 40th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Kurucs (6’9”, 220), a forward from Cesis, Latvia, played the past three seasons for FC Barcelona II of Spanish LEB Gold. In 2017-18, the 20-year-old appeared in 16 games, averaging 10.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 20.8 minutes per game. Kurucs has also had stints with FC Barcelona in both ACB and Euroleague competition. He began his professional career with VEF Riga in his native Latvia.
Kurucs has represented Latvia in international competition, including being selected to the All-Tournament team after leading Latvia to the final of the FIBA U16 European Championship in 2014.
Photo: @BrooklynNets