The Nets are finalizing a new contract with two-way forward Tyrese Martin ahead of Thursday night’s game against Cleveland, sources told The Post.
With Martin no longer eligible to appear in games for Brooklyn under his current two-way contract, they had no choice but to convert him to a standard deal.
They had an open roster spot after buying out Ben Simmons, and it fittingly went to Martin in a move first reported by The Post.
“Nobody deserves it more than him,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “He’s worked the whole summer. He’s about what we’re trying to build here. He helps us build the culture.
“He’s had big games, but the most important thing is he’s about the right things. Working every day, getting better, and we love him. We love him around here. So that’s the reason why, and I’m very, very proud of him and happy for him.”
Brooklyn also waived injured Bojan Bogdanovic after he opted to have season-ending foot surgery.
The move was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.
It left the Nets with two open standard roster spots, and they filled one with Martin and the other by handing Killian Hayes a 10-day contract, per ESPN.
Martin had reached the limit of 50 games active with the Nets permitted for two-ways, so to use him in the second half of the season they had to convert him to a standard deal.
He’d worked himself into being a valuable rotation piece — seventh on the team in appearances (36) and ninth in minutes (757), right behind the departed Dennis Schroder and Simmons.
“[Martin] has got to continue to do what he’s doing. That’s why he’s earned what he’s earned. We don’t need to see anything completely different,” Fernandez said. “It’s just keep working, and keep working along the lines that we established with his agreement. I think that’s what we need. We need continuity, and that’s why we reward continuity, because that’s what we’re all about.”
Bogdanovic hasn’t played since last April 28, when he suffered a left foot injury during Game 4 of the Knicks’ first-round series win over Philadelphia.
He’d already been suffering with a wrist injury and had surgery to repair both.
In July, Bogdanovic was included as salary filler in the Mikal Bridges trade.
But he never suited up for the Nets, only recently progressed to even doing on-court work and still nowhere near playing.
Turning 36 on April 18, Bogdanovic opted for season-ending surgery.
“He’s done a great job showing up here every day, trying to get healthy,” Fernandez said. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t get to that point, and he made the decision to get surgery. … and we obviously fully support him.” And sometimes it’s not the way we want to go.“He tried to do it the way that he got surgery, he wanted to get back, he worked, he was around the team, he was a great energy, a great advice for the guys. He really was, he’s been part of this group. At this point, he had to make this decision. Again, He has our full support, and we believe he’s going to get what he wants, what he needs.”
What the Nets need is more help at backup point guard.
Since the Simmons buyout, they have been using forward Trendon Watford to back up starter D’Angelo Russell.
Two-way point guard Reece Beekman wasn’t able to seize the position — averaged 2.2 points in 10.9 minutes over 20 appearances since arriving on Dec. 15 — so sources told The Post that he will get sent down to Long Island to get playing time and develop.
Meanwhile, Hayes will get signed to Brooklyn.
The 23-year-old point guard had been improving in the G-League, and averaging 21 points and 8.3 assists for Long Island.
But with Hayes ineligible for a two-way based on having too much service time, the Nets added the former No. 7 overall pick on a 10-day contract.
