Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 110 – NBA Blog

Nets sign rookies Derrick Favors, Damion James

The New Jersey Nets have signed first round draft picks Derrick Favors and Damion James, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released. They are both signed to standard rookie deals.

Favors (6’10”/246) was selected third overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. He played one season at Georgia Tech and was named ACC Rookie of the Year. The Atlanta, Georgia native averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 36 games for the Yellow Jackets.

James (6’7”/225) was selected 24th overall by Atlanta in the 2010 NBA Draft and later traded to New Jersey in exchange for the draft rights to Jordan Crawford and Tibor Pleiss. He played four seasons at the University of Texas, averaging 18.0 points and 10.3 rebounds in 34 games as a senior. He holds Big 12 conference records for rebounds (1318) and double-doubles (55) and school career records for games started (140) and rebounds, while earning Third Team AP All-American accolades as a senior in 2009-10.

Nets sign Jordan Farmar, Travis Outlaw, Johan Petro

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Jordan Farmar, forward Travis Outlaw and center Johan Petro, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

Farmar, 6’2”/180, is a four-year NBA veteran with career averages of 6.9 points and 2.1 assists in 18.1 minutes over 301 career games with the Los Angeles Lakers. The UCLA product was selected by the Lakers in the first round (26th overall) of the 2006 NBA draft. Farmar helped the Lakers win back-to-back championships in 2008-09 and 2009-10. In 69 career postseason contests, Farmar holds playoff averages of 5.9 points and 1.4 assists in 15.0 minutes per game Last season, Farmar appeared in all 82 games for the Lakers, posting averages of 7.2 points on 43.5% shooting and 1.5 assists in 18.0 minutes per game.

Outlaw, 6’9”/207, is a seven-year NBA veteran with career averages of 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22 minutes over 400 career games. He has shot .441 from the field and .363 from behind the arc. He played in 34 games last season for the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. On February 16, the Starkville, Mississippi native was traded from Portland to Los Angeles along with Steve Blake in exchange for Marcus Camby and cash considerations. In 11 games with Portland, Outlaw averaged 9.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 minutes before being traded. In 23 contests, including six starts with the Clippers, he tallied 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 22 minutes per contest. Selected out of Starkville High School in Mississippi, Outlaw was chosen by Portland in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft. In six career playoff games, Outlaw holds averages of 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 28 minutes per contest.

Petro, 7’0”/247, is a five year NBA veteran with career averages of 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.7 minutes in 306 career games with Seattle/Oklahoma City and Denver. A native of Paris, France, Petro was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics with in the first round (25th overall) of the 2005 NBA draft. After three and a half seasons with the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise, Petro was dealt to Denver during the 2008-09 season. Last season, Petro posted averages of 3.4 points on 53.5% shooting and 3.6 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game for the Nuggets.

Nets hire Billy King as new general manager

The New Jersey Nets have named Billy King as the team’s new general manager, Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced today. King succeeds Rod Thorn, who is stepping down as the team’s president after 10 years at the helm. As per club policy, terms of King’s contract were not released.

“I am very pleased Billy King is coming on board as Nets General Manager,” said Prokhorov. “He has all of the qualities we’ve been looking for in a candidate: professionalism, good relations with the league, players and agents, and strong communications skills. He will be an excellent fit with Head Coach Avery Johnson. Most importantly, Billy is ambitious. He wants to win. This is what I felt when I met with him and why he will be a strong addition to the Nets organization.”

“I am very excited about joining the Nets organization,” said King. “I want to thank Mr. Prokhorov and his executive team for the opportunity to oversee a franchise that has such a vibrant owner, an outstanding coach in Avery Johnson, and possesses the combination of young talent, cap space and draft choices that will allow us to build a squad that will be able to contend for an NBA title.”

King replaces Rod Thorn, who took over the reins of the team on June 2, 2000, and during his tenure, led the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances, two Eastern Conference titles and four Atlantic Division titles, the most successful stretch in the team’s NBA history.

“Rod Thorn is a legendary figure in the NBA, a man of true character and class,” said Prokhorov. “He has been nothing but committed and supportive during the transition to new ownership, and continues to share his wisdom and provide guidance for the Nets. I wish him all of the wonderful things he deserves. I will always consider him a great friend of the Nets.”

King joins the Nets after spending 10 years with the Philadelphia 76ers organization, serving as the team’s president from 2003-2007. King joined the 76ers on June 2, 1997 as vice president of basketball administration, a role in which he served as the point person for basketball operations. Less than a year later he was promoted to general manager, a position he held until being promoted to team president following the 2002-03 season.

During his 10-year tenure, King guided the team to five consecutive playoff appearances (1999-2003), including the 2000-01 season in which the Sixers captured the Atlantic Division Title on the heels of a 56-26 season and went on to win their first Eastern Conference Championship since 1983, to advance to the 2001 NBA Finals.

Before joining the 76ers, King served as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers under Larry Brown for four seasons. He joined the professional ranks after spending four seasons as an assistant at Illinois State University under Head Coach Bob Bender. He also spent one year as a color analyst for ESPN’s basketball coverage of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Holding several roles within the USA Basketball program throughout his career, King has served as a member of USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team Program Advisory Panel, on USA Basketball’s Board of Directors, as treasurer of USA Basketball and as an athlete representative on the 1997-2000 executive committee. King also served on the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team Committees for the 1997-2000 and 2001-04 terms.

During his collegiate career, King was an outstanding defensive player on Duke University’s nationally ranked teams in the late 1980s and received the Henry Iba Corinthian National Defensive Player of the Year award following his senior season. King helped the Blue Devils to a 112-27 record, an average of 28 wins per season as Duke went to the Final Four twice, won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship and two ACC Tournament titles. In 1987, he helped the USA Basketball Men’s World University Games silver-medal squad to a 7-1 record.

Warriors trade Anthony Morrow to Nets

The New Jersey Nets have acquired guard Anthony Morrow from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the Nets 2011 second round draft pick (protected 31-55), Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

“We felt that outside shooting was a primary concern during this offseason,” said Thorn. “Anthony is one of the premier young shooters in the league and we are very pleased to add him to our roster.”

Morrow, 6’5”/210, is a two-year NBA veteran with career averages of 11.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 26.0 minutes over 54 career games with the Golden State Warriors.

The four-year senior out of Georgia Tech, was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft and later signed with the Warriors as a free agent. Morrow led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage in 2008-09, becoming the first Warrior and first rookie to lead the NBA in the category.

Last season, he appeared in 69 games, including 37 starts for Golden State, posting averages of 13.0 points on 46.8% shooting, including a 45.6% mark from downtown (fifth-best in the NBA) and 3.8 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game.

Shooting .460 (226-491) from downtown in his two seasons, Morrow holds the highest three-point field goal percentage in the NBA among players with at least 200 three-pointers made.

Bobcats re-sign Tyrus Thomas

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has re-signed restricted free agent forward Tyrus Thomas to a multi-year deal. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details later today.

“Re-signing Tyrus was one of our top offseason priorities,” Higgins said. “In his short time with us last season, we saw the contributions he could make to our team and we are confident he will continue to improve and play an important role for us moving forward.”

The Bobcats acquired Thomas from Chicago on February 18, 2010, in exchange for Acie Law, Ronald “Flip” Murray and a future first-round draft pick. In 25 games with the Bobcats, Thomas averaged 10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, while scoring in double figures 14 times. In four playoff games against Orlando, Thomas averaged 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 17.0 minutes, including a 21-point, nine-rebound performance in Game Four.

The fourth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, the 6-10 Thomas has appeared in 279 career NBA games with averages of 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. In 21 career playoff games, Thomas has averaged 7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

Thomas last month received the Jefferson Award as the Outstanding Athlete as a Newcomer in Service and Philanthropy for the work of his non-profit organization, Tyrus Thomas Inc., which focuses on youth outreach, community development and organizational support in cities including his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th team when they joined the league in 2004-05, finished the 2009-10 season with a franchise-best 44-38 overall record (31-10 at home) and first-ever playoff appearance.

Jordan Farmar will join Nets

The New Jersey Nets have reached an agreement in principle with free agent guard Jordan Farmar, Nets President Rod Thorn announced tonight. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released. The agreement is contingent on the passing of the required physical.

The deal is for three-years, $12-million, reports the Los Angeles Times.

“Jordan will be an excellent complement to Devin in the backcourt,” said Thorn. “He comes to the Nets with championship pedigree, which will prove to be invaluable to his teammates.”

Knicks sign-and-trade David Lee to Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have acquired All-Star forward/center David Lee in a sign-and-trade deal with the New York Knicks, in exchange for Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and a 2012 second round draft pick, the team announced today. Per team policy, financial terms of Lee’s deal were not released. We’ll post contract details tonight.

Lee, 27, appeared in 81 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 20.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.05 steals in 37.3 minutes per contest, while shooting 54.5% (686-1,258 FG) from the field and 81.2% (268-330 FT) from the line en route to being named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. One of only three players in the NBA last season to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds (joining Chris Bosh and Zach Randolph), Lee ranked fourth in the league in rebounding, fourth in double-doubles with 53 (trailing only Dwight Howard, Zach Randolph and Carlos Boozer), ninth in field goal percentage and 15th in scoring.

“David Lee is a terrific basketball player and an All-Star,” said Warriors’ General Manager Larry Riley. “His skill-set addresses two areas where we need to improve: rebounding and passing, plus, we know he will score. He is a proven talent in this league and we like the way that his talents fit with the other core players on our roster. We thank Kelenna, Anthony and Ronny for their contributions to our team and organization during their time here, and wish them nothing but the best. This decision was not easy, but, at the end of the day, we feel that this was the right move for our organization and we are excited that David Lee is now a member of the Golden State Warriors.”

A five-year NBA veteran, Lee owns career averages of 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 30.0 in 368 games (all with New York), while shooting 55.7% from the field and 77.4% from the free throw line. Following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Florida, Lee has continued to improve each year of his NBA career, including an increase in scoring every season – averaging 5.1ppg as a rookie in 2005-06, 10.7 in 2006-07, 10.8 in 2007-08, 16.0 in 2008-09, and 20.2 last season. In fact, over the last four seasons (not counting rookie year of 2005-06) the 6’9’’ forward/center has averaged 14.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, making him one of only seven players in the NBA to average at least 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds over that four-season span (joining Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph). Lee is currently a member of the 2010-12 USA Basketball Men’s National Team program alongside Warriors’ guard and teammate Stephen Curry.

Lee scored 20-or-more points 46 times last season (including five 30+ games), grabbed 10-or-more rebounds 54 times, 15-plus boards 23 times and had three 20-plus rebound efforts. He posted 20-points & 10-rebounds in the same game 31 times, including his first career triple-double with a career-high 37 points, 20 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists at Golden State on April 2 to become the first NBA player to register at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did so in March of 1976.

Azubuike, 26, appeared in nine games (seven starts) with Golden State last season, averaging 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.7 minutes. He missed the final 73 games of the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee on November 14 at Milwaukee and undergoing surgery for the injury on November 18. Originally called-up from the NBA D-League by the Warriors on July 17, 2007, Azubuike owns career averages of 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 24.4 minutes in 205 regular-season games over three seasons with Golden State.

Randolph, 20, appeared in 33 games (eight starts) last season for the Warriors, averaging 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.55 blocks in 22.7 minutes per contest. He missed 48 games due to injury, including the final 47 contests of the season due to a sprained left ankle that occurred on January 8 vs. Sacramento. Originally selected by the Warriors with the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Randolph owns career averages of 9.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.30 blocks and 19.6 minutes in 96 games over two seasons with Golden State.

Turiaf, 27, appeared in 42 games (20 starts) with Golden State last season, averaging 4.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.29 blocks in 20.8 minutes per contest. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (37th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft and signed as a restricted free agent by the Warriors on July 10, 2008, Turiaf owns career averages of 5.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.42 blocks and 17.9 minutes in 294 regular-season games over five seasons with the Lakers and Warriors.

Bulls, Nets Clippers statements on not getting LeBron James

Following is a statement from Neil Olshey of the Los Angeles Clippers regarding tonight’s decision by LeBron James: “Our goal remains unchanged. We will continue to be exhaustive and use every available resource to assemble an exciting and successful team. We have a dynamic new head coach who will lead the very talented roster we already have in place. We will use the free agent market to enhance that roster. We expect to compete at a very high level.”

The following statement was issued by Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov: “We have a vision of a championship team and need to invest wisely and for the long term. Fortunately, we have more than one plan to reach success, and, as I have found in all areas of my business, that is key to achieving it. To Nets fans past, present and future, the goal of making the playoffs this season remains intact and we reiterate our commitment to winning a championship within five years.”

Gar Forman (Chicago Bulls) statement regarding LeBron James: “I remain convinced that this organization made the strongest of bids to acquire LeBron James during this free agency period. While we’re disappointed he chose to go to another franchise, our strategy for the future competitiveness of this organization did not begin or end with James, and we feel today’s addition of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer significantly strengthens our team’s already talented roster. It is our goal to keep exploring every avenue that it may take, whether through trades or free agency, to continue to build this team to compete at a championship level.”

LeBron James signs with Miami Heat

LeBron James announced on national television Thursday night that he is signing with the Miami Heat

The free agent NBA superstar forward has spent his entire career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he’s decided to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach.

It’s a gathering of two superstars in LeBron and Wade and a star in Bosh.

The three know each other’s games quite well and familiar with their strengths and weaknesses.

Nets agree to sign Travis Outlaw

The New Jersey Nets have reached an agreement in principle with free agent forward Travis Outlaw, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released. The agreement is contingent on the passing of the required physical.

According to the New York Post, “Multiple sources have confirmed The Nets agreed to a five-year, $35 million deal with Travis Outlaw.”

“We are very pleased to add Travis to our roster,” said Thorn. “He is a young, athletic player who will fit in very well with the style of play that Avery has installed.”

Outlaw, a seven-year NBA veteran, played in 34 games last season for the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. On February 16, the Starkville, Mississippi native was traded from Portland to Los Angeles along with Steve Blake in exchange for Marcus Camby and cash considerations. In 11 games with Portland, Outlaw averaged 9.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 minutes before being traded. In 23 contests, including six starts with the Clippers, he tallied 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 22 minutes per contest. Selected out of Starkville High School in Mississippi, Outlaw was chosen by Portland in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft. Over his seven NBA seasons, he has played in 400 career games, averaging 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22 minutes while shooting .441 from the field and .363 from behind the arc. In six career playoff games, Outlaw holds averages of 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 28 minutes per contest.