Mar 16, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards power forward Andray Blatche (7) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith (5), small forward Tracy McGrady (1) and forward Ivan Johnson (44) during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE

Andray Blatche will accept a one year, non-guaranteed contract from the Brooklyn Nets, according to New York Post columnist Fred Kerber.

The Nets have been in pursuit of Blatche for weeks now, and have been competing with the Heat for the rights to sign the talented, but often troubled, 26-year-old.  The deal should be officially completed on Friday.

Blatche will provide front court depth for the Nets, who now have a potentially dynamic scoring forward to back up the far less explosive Kris Humphries.  Humphries will likely command the lion’s share of the minutes at the 4-spot, but having a (potential) bench scorer could do wonders for the Nets.

Since Blatche inked a non-guaranteed contract, this signing can certainly be dubbed as “low-risk”.  Should Blatche show up to the Nets uncommitted to the team, they can easily cut him prior to the season and move on.

If, however, he performs well in camp and makes the team, the Nets could benefit greatly. Blatche is only one full season removed from a stat line of 16.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg, a line that not just anybody can put up.  Granted he was the top option in Washington that season (as opposed to his situation in Brooklyn, where the 6th man role is likely his ceiling), but if he can revert to that form in 2012-13, the Nets just got themselves a steal.

New Brooklyn Net Mirza Teletovic, a Bosnian and Herzegovnian national, is currently averaging 23.6 ppg in the qualifying tournament for EuroBasket (a Europe-wide basketball tournament of nations).  Most scouts that have reported on Teletovic have concluded that he may struggle to do much else besides shoot at the NBA level, which makes his supporting stats in this particular tournament even more interesting (6 rpg, 1.6 spg, .6 bpg).

Stats such as those Teletovic has assembled throughout this tournament (and throughout his career with Vitoria, a Spanish League team) suggest that he is a prototypical international player, with the ability to stretch defenses with his 6’9” frame and downtown shooting ability.  While the stats from this tournament also suggest an ability to contribute on the defensive end of the floor, only time will tell if Mirza can have such an impact in the NBA.

From watching the Olympic Games and all other international tournaments where Team USA participates, it is clear that the NBA talent that fills the USA roster is by far the most athletically gifted collection of players in the world.  When European big men come to the NBA, an adjustment period to the speed and above-the-rim nature of the American game is usually needed, as it was with Andrea Bargnani and a young Dirk Nowitzki.  Luckily for Teletovic, the Brooklyn Nets employ a man named Reggie Evans that simply will not allow him to get pushed around.  Evans is as tough as they come and is a great teammate by all accounts, and should have Teletovic’s back during this upcoming season.

Another distinct advantage Teletovic has over most foreign players making the jump to the NBA (such as Bargnani and Dirk) is his experience, as he is a 26-year-old who has been balling professionally since 2004.  He’s played in the Spanish ACB League throughout his career, a league widely considered to be the second best in the world behind the NBA.  Ricky Rubio and Marc Gasol are two of the most recent stars to hail from the ACB League, which routinely produces players that can nail down a rotation spot in the NBA. Teletovic has been successful there for years, another trait that should positively impact his promising NBA career.