While we all are growing weary from the seemingly daily Dwight Howard free agency frenzy updates, there are a few players that have used the soap opera drama to their advantage like current Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez and forward Kris Humphries.
Even though promising big man Brook Lopez, the one crucial player linked to a potential deal to bring D12 to Brooklyn, was rewarded with a monster 4 year – $61 million deal, it was the bruising power forward Humphries who made out like a bandit when Howard couldn’t make up his mind on a final destination.
After toiling between 4 teams over his first 7 seasons and averaging no more than 8 points and 6 rebounds in a single season, the former University of Minnesota standout has parlayed back-to-back double-double seasons(10-10 and 14-11) into a whopping $32 million haul over the past 3 seasons as the low post dominating force for Avery Johnson’s rebuilding Nets.
While Lopez has potential as a prolific scoring big man, Humphries is a bit of a throwback, doing all the little things like rebounding, defending, and timely low post scoring. Virtually no one expected a player perhaps more well known for marrying reality star Kim Kardashian, than his on court accomplishments to real in a financial windfall directly linked to the Nets inability to acquire the best big man in the game.
Prior to last season, the Nets surprisingly gave Humphries a rather large 1 year – $8 million deal after Howard decided to remain in Orlando one more season, Humphries responded by averaging 11 rebounds per game, ranking 5th in the Association. Even though many still question giving “Hump” that lucrative of a deal, the Nets shored up 2 positions rather than just one, also aiding management in resigning D-Will, Gerald Wallace, and acquiring former Hawks star guard Joe Johnson, giving the Nets a solid core going forward.
Check out some Kris Humphries Highlights:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
