Yahoo! Sports is reporting the Brooklyn Nets are now targeting Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history, for a return engagement with the franchise.
Collins, 34, previously played seven seasons with the team, a time when new coach Jason Kidd was the star player and top assistant Lawrence Frank was the head coach. He still has close ties to both, and management seems to think his physical style and defensive prowess make for a perfect fit as a key reserve.
According to Yahoo! there's also reason to believe that he'd have a strong comfort level returning to an organization that knows him well and values his tough, defensive-minded sensibilities.
Collins revealed his sexuality in a Sports Illustrated cover story last May. Yahoo! also reports management is hoping given all the team’s many story lines this season,--- Kidd’s first season as coach, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce’s first year in Brooklyn--- would likely make Collins’ personal life less of an everyday public focus.
Both Garnett and Pierce also played with Collins in Boston last season, and Yahoo! reports Garnett was extremely frustrated when Boston traded him to Washington at the February deadline.
The Nets also added Jason Terry in the Celtics deal and are said to have interest in sharpshooting free-agent Kyle Korver.
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