Sergey Karasev to Join Team Russia This Weekend

Sergey Karasev, acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the three-team trade that sent Marcus Thornton to Boston and also brought back Jarrett Jack from Cleveland, will join the Russian National Team this Friday, prior to two international friendlies, according to NetsDaily. Karasev’s status for those games is unknown as of now.

The 20-year old guard/forward played one game for the Nets in the Orlando Summer League, scoring 11 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists in a 101-75 loss to the Houston Rockets’ Summer League team. Karasev seldom played for the Cavaliers last season, spending almost equal time with the NBA squad and with the Cavaliers’ D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge. In the NBA, he averaged 1.7 points per game on 34% shooting, and with Canton, he averaged 13.5 points per game on 45% from the field and 42% from deep, while also pulling in 5 boards per game.

Sergey Kushchenko, owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s number one sports advisor and a member of the Nets’ board of directors, raved about one of the newest additions to the team, saying:

“We wanted to get him last year, said Kushchenko, talking about the 2013 draft, also via NetsDaily. "But we were a little late - Cleveland got him, but last season was not a success. I think that the current philosophy of the [Nets] will allow Sergei to develop. But much depends on him, if not all. Now, you will have to see Sergei show diligence, to prove to himself, 'I can do it.'. He has everything needed for this -- the talent, a good head, a father who was himself one of the best to play in Europe. Sergei just needs time to step up to the next step. We would like to have Sergey play with us until the end of his career."

Karasev’s fellow Nets teammate Mirza Teletovic will be participating in the FIBA Qualifying Tournament, representing his home country of Bosnia. New Nets signee Bojan Bogdanovic and point guard Jorge Gutierrez will play for Croatia and Mexico, respectively, at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.
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