Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 104 – NBA Blog

Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets visit Newark and get rocked by Nets

Monday night in Newark, New Jersey, Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets visited a team that lately has stepped up to show some pride. Despite 37 from Melo, the Nets were hot from the start and came away with a 115-99 win.

New Jersey led by 10 after the first quarter and 13 at halftime. The Nuggets stepped up in the third, but the Nets controlled the fourth for a satisfying win.

Shooting 53.2 percent from the field, winning the rebounding battle 38-27 and the assists category 30-20, the Nets were led by Brook Lopez, who shot 11-of-18 for 27 points (but just four rebounds). Travis Outlaw was on fire in the first half and finished the game with 21. Anthony Morrow was a perfect 6-of-6 off the bench for 18 points. Reserve Kris Humphries scored 15. And starting point guard Devin Harris only scored nine but dished an amazing 18 assists.

The Nuggets got 37 points (12-of-22) from Carmelo Anthony, but he didn’t receive enough help. Chauncey Billups scored 17 but had more turnovers (7) than assists (5). Nene scored 16 but only grabbed three rebounds. Off the bench, J.R. Smith scored 10.

The real story of this game, though, wasn’t the game. It was Carmelo Anthony seemingly no longer being a possibility for the Nets in trade. His quotes after the game were pretty safe; Melo will not say that he’s leaving the Nuggets. Nor that he’d reject the Nets extension desire should they trade for him. He basically made it clear that his future is wide open and still being decided. Melo did want everyone to know that he does consider Denver one of his homes, and he’s perfectly happy there.

But those in the know still consider the Knicks as the most likely destination for Anthony, likely as a free agent this summer, if not in trade before the February deadline.

The Nets can be proud of their win yesterday. And with Melo out of town, it’ll be easier to focus on the actual players on the team, rather than what the roster may someday look like.

Nets sign Orien Greene to 10-day contract

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Orien Greene to a 10-day contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

The 28-year old averaged 18.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals in 24 games with the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League this season. In 2005, he was drafted by the Celtics in the second round, 53rd overall, out of Louisiana-Lafayette.

In 128 career NBA games, including seven starts in three seasons with Boston (2005-06), Indiana (2006-07) and Sacramento (2007-08), Greene holds career averages of 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 12.1 minutes per game.

Orien Greene to Nets

The New Jersey Nets will sign guard Orien Greene to a 10-day contract, reports Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record.

Iannazzone reports that the Nets need point guard insurance because of Jordan Farmar’s back injury and that Greene is averaging 18 points and 5.1 assists for the Utah Flash in the D-League.

Nets have Troy Murphy just stay home

Ever dream of being paid millions of dollars to sit around the house, maybe watch some TV, and keep in good shape just in case you have to actually go do something fun that you’d happily do for free anyway? That’s Troy Murphy’s job right now.

Of course, I’m sure Murphy would rather be an active piece of an NBA rotation and be playing basketball. Still, the average fan out there probably doesn’t feel too bad for him.

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports:

The on-going confusion regarding Murphy’s status resurfaced when Nets general manager Billy King spoke about the possibility of Murphy rejoining the team. In the morning, coach Avery Johnson was unaware of any impending move and said he would address the matter with King. Last night, he claimed it’s not happening.

“Billy said we’re just going to stay along the same path,” Johnson said of Murphy, who has been told to stay home in case the Nets try to trade him — or hang on to him in case Denver calls back about Carmelo Anthony. “He will not be joining our team.”

Murphy last played on Jan. 7 and basically has been a non-entity. Johnson acknowledged he has no spot for him.

“We tried that [playing him],” Johnson said before the Nets’ 93-88 victory over the Grizzlies last night.

“Right now there’s just no minutes there to play,” said Johnson, who starts Derrick Favors and brings in Kris Humphries off the bench.

Murphy’s NBA career average is 11.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He’s still useful to any team who needs a big guy who can shoot and rebound.

Kidd says players need to see arena in Brooklyn

The AP reports:

Jason Kidd says the Nets will have to finish building their arena in Brooklyn, N.Y. before free agents consider joining them there in 2012.

Kidd, who led the Nets to consecutive NBA finals in 2002 and ’03, says not having a building causes players to wonder whether it will ever be completed.

Kidd made his comments before his Dallas Mavericks played the Nets on Saturday night.

InsideHoops.com editor says: At the very least, free agents would probably want to be one hundred percent convinced that the building will be completed on time and the Brooklyn move is happening as scheduled. So far everything seems to be a go.

Nets hosting first Social Media Night

The New Jersey Nets are hosting their first-ever social media night tonight, Friday, January 21 as the Detroit Pistons come to town and play in Newark at the Prudential Center.

Fans part of “Nets Nation” who follow the team on Facebook and/or Twitter have an opportunity to receive 50 percent off of select tickets for the game.

Fans who purchase their tickets through the Nets on Facebook or Twitter will also receive a Nets gift bag that will include a Nets Nation t-shirt, a voucher to a future game, Nets branded items, a 15 percent discount at the team’s merchandise stands, and exclusive access to a post-game autograph session with select Nets players.

As a special offer, two fans which purchase the Social Media Night package will be selected to be upgraded to courtside tickets, and one fan who purchases the package will win a player-autographed item.

It’s cool of the Nets to keep using the web to stay in touch with loyal fans, so check out the offers. The team’s Twitter account name is “NetsBasketball.”

Nets trade Terrence Williams to Rockets; Nets get Sasha Vujacic, Lakers get Joe Smith

April 07, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams brings the ball up the court, Williams had 6 points coming off the Nets bench..Milwaukee Bucks won over the New Jersey Nets 108-89. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Joe Smith from the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. New Jersey will also send the Lakers Golden State’s second round draft choice in 2011 and Chicago’s second round draft choice in 2012. The Lakers will also receive the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk from Houston, as well as a trade exception. In return, New Jersey will receive guard Sasha Vujacic and a protected 2011 first round draft pick from the Lakers. New Jersey will receive a protected 2012 first round draft pick from Houston, while the Rockets will receive guard Terrence Williams from New Jersey.

Smith, currently in his 16th NBA season, was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft, after averaging 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in two seasons with the University of Maryland.

After garnering multiple National Collegiate Player of the Year awards, being named First Team All-America by the AP, and being selected ACC Player of the Year after his sophomore season with Maryland, Smith finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named All-Rookie First Team after averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in his first NBA season with Golden State.

In 1,018 career games (619 starts), Smith is averaging 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Signed by New Jersey as a free agent prior to the 2010-11 season, Smith has played in four games this season (three starts), averaging 0.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.

Lishouk, a 6-11 forward from Ukraine, was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft, was traded to Houston in 2008 and currently plays for Valencia in Spain (ACB).

Vujacic, currently in his seventh season, was originally selected by the Lakers in the first round (27th overall) of the 2004 NBA draft after playing three seasons for Snaidero Udine of Italy’s top professional league. In 420 career games (12 starts), Vujacic is averaging 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.3 minutes.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Damion James out 6-8 weeks after foot surgery

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Damion James #5 of the Texas Longhorns looks on while taking on the Baylor Bears during the quarterfinals of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 11, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

New Jersey Nets forward Damion James underwent successful foot surgery today, December 13, to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal of his right foot, Nets General Manager Billy King announced.

The surgery, which involved the insertion of a screw in James’ foot, was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan by Dr. Martin O’Malley, and Nets team physician Dr. Riley Williams III.

James will be on crutches for two weeks after which time he will begin rehabilitation. James is expected to be out of action for a period of six to eight weeks.

Currently in his rookie season out of the University of Texas, James has played in 17 games, with averages of 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

Damion James suffers broken right foot

New Jersey Nets forward Damion James has suffered a broken right foot. It is not yet known how much time he’s expected to miss. More details on the injury will be added to this page later today.

The 6-7, 220-pound rookie, who attended Texas, has played limited minutes in his first professional season, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

The 6-17 Nets currently have the worst record in the Eastern conference. They have a higher winning percentage than the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, who are all in the West.

Have an opinion? Share it on the New Jersey Nets message board.

Nets recall Terrence Williams from D-League

The New Jersey Nets have recalled guard/forward Terrence Williams from their NBA Development League affiliate, The Springfield Armor, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

In three games with the Armor, all starts, Williams averaged 28.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 41.7 minutes per game. He shot .426 (29-68) from the field, .500 (10-20) from behind the arc and .800 (16-20) from the free throw line. Williams recorded two triple-doubles, while scoring 30+ points twice. The Armor went 1-2 with Williams in the lineup.

Williams has played in eight games with the Nets this season, averaging 6.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 19.9 minutes per game.

What’s your opinion? Share it on the New Jersey Nets forum.