Sean Marks was just hired as the Nets’ general manager Thursday and started evaluating the roster. It didn’t take long for him to see Andrea Bargnani had to go, with his first order of business hammering out a buyout for the Italian big man.
Marks and Bargnani’s agent Leon Rose reached a deal Saturday and the Nets officially requested waivers on the 30-year-old former No. 1 overall pick. It left Brooklyn with 14 players, and an open roster spot for Marks to try out young players.
Brooklyn already had tried to deal Bargnani for a second-round pick before Thursday’s trade deadline, but The Post reported their proposal was “met with … disdain.” Unable to deal him, the Nets dumped him — but paid him in the process.
Bargnani was in the first year of a guaranteed two-year deal that pays him $1,362,897 this year and has a $1,551,659 player option next season. Clearly Brooklyn hoped to carry as little as possible of that next season on the salary cap, since they likely will have to rebuild through free agency.
Supposedly a stretch four, Bargnani is averaging 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game, shooting just 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from 3-point range. But in truth, his season has been even worse, seeing his playing time decrease.
He had back-to-back DNP-coach’s decisions leading into the All-Star break, missed Friday’s game with an illness and Saturday’s practice due to a “personal matter.”
Hours later, he became the first transaction of the Marks era, ending the former Knick’s stay in New York. He will clear waivers Monday and — if signed by March 1 — would be eligible for the postseason.
Bojan Bogdanovic has shot a scalding 54.9 percent from long range (28-of-51) in Brooklyn’s past 12 games, the best in the league over that span. He has averaged 11.0 points and shot 50 percent from the floor in that stretch.
“I get more comfortable,” Bogdanovic said. “We’re playing much better, we are creating a lot of points off of the opponents’ turnovers. I had a couple 3s [Friday] night. Also the turnovers and fast breaks so there is not any secret. We all share the ball much better.’’
Bogdanovic has hit 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) from deep in his past five games, including 4-of-5 in Friday’s win over the Knicks, thriving with the improved ball movement and quickened tempo interim coach Tony Brown has preached.
“He’s benefited from it,” Brown said. “The ball seems find him in areas he feels comfortable. His confidence level is really high and he knows these are shots he can make. We’re also trying to work with him on putting the ball on the floor and attacking, which you kind of see a little bit of that in the game [Friday]. But he seems to be more comfortable, which is good for our team.”