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Report: Nets Interested In Bringing Back Center Jason Collins

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It just keeps getting more and more interesting in Brooklyn.

One night after acquiring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry from the Celtics in a blockbuster trade, Nets general manager Billy King is interested in signing free-agent center Jason Collins, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Collins, of course, made history in April when he became the first active male athlete in the four major American pro sports to come out as gay.

The 34-year-old was drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and played in New Jersey from 2001-2008. According to Wojnarowski, he has a very good relationship with Nets head coach Jason Kidd and Lawrence Frank, who is now an assistant under Kidd.

Adrian Wojnarowski

Frank coached Collins -- first as an assistant and then as a head coach -- during Collins' entire tenure in New Jersey.

The 7-footer played alongside Garnett and Pierce with the Celtics last season. According to Yahoo! Sports, the former was very displeased when Boston shipped Collins to the Wizards on February 21.

Collins played in 32 games for Boston in 2012-13, averaging 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.2 assists in just 10.3 minutes per game. In six games for Washington, he averaged 0.7 points, 1.3 boards and 0.3 assists in 9.0 minutes per game.

The NBA veteran came out in a first-person account posted on Sports Illustrated's website. He marched in Boston's gay pride parade on June 8.

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