Two NBA veterans have found new teams to continue their career and also be eligible to participate in the playoffs.
Corey Brewer was bought out by the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. He has agreed to join the Oklahoma City Thunder once he clears waivers on Friday.
Also on Wednesday, Trevor Booker was released by the Philadelphia 76ers in order to create a roster spot for the recently signed Ersan Ilyasova. He has agreed to join the Indiana Pacers once he clears waivers.
Brewer hopes to help fill the void from Roberson’s injury
Brewer, who turns 32 on March 5, was not seeing much playing time with the Lakers, and as they have fallen out of playoff contention he has even had games where he didn't come off the bench.
In 52 outings (two starts) this season, Brewer was playing 12.9 Minutes Per Game and averaging 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.8 steals. All those numbers (other than steals) represent career-lows for the Florida product who is in his 11th season.
The Thunder are hopeful that he can help out on the defensive end since 2016-17 Second Team All-Defensive member Andre Roberson ruptured his patellar tendon and will miss the remainder of the season. Since his injury occurred on January 27, Oklahoma City has gone 6-6 (they have four wins in their last five games, but they have all come against bottomfeeders).
Much like Roberson, Brewer is not a great shooter and has been more of a mainstay in the league due to his defensive work.
He is only 8-43 on three-point tries this season and has a career mark of just 28.0 percent from downtown.
He could even be looked as a starter eventually as the team has gone with Terrence Ferguson and Alex Abrines as the starting shooting guard before recently moving Paul George there and inserting Josh Huestis as the starting power forward.
Brewer is capable of matching up with both shooting guards and small forwards.
Booker provides more depth to Pacers frontcourt
Starting off the season with the Brooklyn Nets, Booker was acquired by the 76ers in the Jahlil Okafor deal. He saw a decrease in his role once he joined Philadelphia. In 33 outings with the 76ers, the 30-year-old power forward averaged 15.0 minutes per game, 4.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.
He shot 56 percent from the field as he does much of his work for inside (attempted only seven threes).
Booker should be able to help a Pacers team that ranks 22nd with 42.3 rebounds per game. He has averaged 9.8 rebounds per 36 minutes this season with the Nets & 76ers and 9.7 for his career.
He has a good chance at becoming the main source of minutes off the bench at power forward backing up Thaddeus Young.
