Just heard from Natasha Corstein, who is the director of media relations at Pinnacle Management Corporation -- which represents Nenad Krstic.
She has various bits of news:
- Krstic has signed the offer sheet, and the Nets now have a copy in their possession. They have a week to decide how to respond. She did not speculate on what they would do, but the more I talk to people, and read, the more it seems like people expect the Nets to let Krstic go to Oklahoma City.
- Cornstein believes this is minor NBA history: the first time a restricted free agent has returned to the NBA mid-season.
- She says that Krstic was very happy at Triumph Moscow, and was paid in full. This isn't, she says, about fleeing a bad situation. He was in Moscow because he had a frustrating year recovering from injury with the Nets, and had been looking to re-establish himself as a player. But his long-term dream was always to play in the NBA, and when that opportunity arose mid-season, he jumped on it. Cornstein acknowledges that businesses the world over are feeling the financial pinch, but says reports that Kristic was not paid in Moscow are false. "We have another client on that team," she says, "and are looking to place another one there now to replace Nenad." Krstic's departure, she says, has been amicable.
