The AP reports: The Nets will play most or all of the 2009-10 N.B.A. season in New Jersey instead of in their new arena in Brooklyn, a team spokesman said Thursday. The spokesman, Barry Baum, said the Nets could begin the 2009-10 season at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., and then move to Brooklyn in the first half of 2010. The Nets had planned to play in their new arena starting in 2009. But in October, the Nets’ principal owner, Bruce Ratner, said the arena, to be called the Barclays Center, probably would not be ready by the start of that season.
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Nets name Kiki Vandeweghe ‘special assistant to president’
InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The New Jersey Nets have named Kiki Vandeweghe Special Assistant to the President, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. His duties will include working closely with Thorn in preparing for the 2008 NBA Draft and in the evaluation of current and future player personnel.
“We are very pleased to welcome Kiki to the Nets,” said Thorn. “Kiki has been a mainstay in the league for almost two decades, first as an All-Star player and then as a front office executive. His experience in both areas will be an invaluable asset to the franchise, and we look forward to his contributions.”
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Nets sign Billy Thomas
The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Billy Thomas, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
The 6’5” Thomas played in 12 games this season for the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, averaging 14.9 points 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Now in his second stint with the Nets, Thomas played in 25 games with New Jersey in 2004-05, averaging 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. The following season (2005-06), Thomas appeared in 17 games with the Washington Wizards. Over his two NBA seasons, Thomas has posted career averages of 3.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in 42 games.
Following his four-year career at the University of Kansas, Thomas’ basketball travels have included stops in Argentina, the IBL, the Philippines, Italy, the CBA, and a previous two-year stint in the D-League with Greenville.
Nets waive Eddie Gill
The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on guard Eddie Gill, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.
Gill, who signed with the Nets on November 16, 2007, appeared in 13 games, averaging 2.9 points 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
76ers finally boot Billy King, hire Ed Stefanski
Years after many expected, the Philadelphia 76ers have finally fired general manager Billy King, and have replaced him with Ed Stefanski, who had been the Nets general manager for the last nine seasons.
King seemed to be content building the 76ers around players that are nice, but not true building blocks. Allen Iverson was never really surrounded with anything close to top talent, and the current Sixers basically have to build around Andre Iguodala, who is a budding star but isn’t expected to ever be a top-tier superstar.
The team is in full rebuild mode — or at least they should be — and Stefanski is a good hire.
Check the regular non-blog portion of InsideHoops.com for more details about this news.
Nets need more home fans
The Newark Star-Ledger reports: Entering the weekend, the Nets were 22nd in home attendance — their average draw being 14,770, which represents an average capacity of 73.9 percent at Izod Center. And as further proof that the Nets are less appreciated by New Jersey basketball enthusiasts than by others around the league, consider this: They are also third in road attendance (average: 18,347), and second-best in the NBA in filling buildings, with an average capacity of 95.5 percent.
Kenyon Martin knee issues continue: MRI scheduled for Monday
Nuggets F Kenyon Martin did not play in the second half of last night’s game in Houston due to a right knee strain. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, after which his status will be determined.
Martin this season in 13 games has been averaging just 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 22.2 minutes. Injuries limited him to just 56 games in 2005-06 and only two in 2006-07.
Nets sign Eddie Gill
The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Eddie Gill, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Gill, a member of the Nets’ 2007 training camp roster, appeared in four games during the preseason, including two starts, and averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds. He was waived by the Nets on October 25, 2007 and was then selected Number One overall in the 2007 NBA Development League Draft by the Colorado 14ers.
A five-year NBA veteran, Gill began his career by appearing in eight games for the Nets during the 2000-01 season before making stops in Memphis, Portland and Indiana. The 6’0” guard has averaged 3.1 points and 1.1 assists in 167 career games. While playing for the Nets in 2001, he was credited with scoring the eight millionth point in NBA history during a game against the Boston Celtics on 4/15/01.
The Nets love your children, want world greener and cleaner.
The Nets do not want your great grandchildren to have to walk around wearing gas masks. Here’s what the team said today:
The Nets are committing to a comprehensive “greening” program for the franchise and have tipped-off a broad environmental assessment of their operations with the goal of adopting sustainable practices in the operations they control. The Nets are targeting to become the first NBA team to become carbon neutral.
Initiatives will include improving energy efficiency, recycling rates, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and establishing green procurement policies the Nets use on a regular basis, such as paper and cleaning supplies.
The Nets have retained two firms, e4, inc. and The CarbonNeutral Company to assist in evaluating and executing their greening goals.
Kidd an assists king
NBA News: New Jersey’s Jason Kidd is averaging 10.5 assists, second only to New Orleans’ Chris Paul (11.1 apg). Kidd has ranked in the top five in assists 12 straight seasons, making him one of only two players in NBA history to finish the season ranked in the top five in at least 12 straight campaigns (Bob Cousy finished in the top five in assists 13 straight times from 1950-51 to 1962-63). Kidd has led the league in assists five times.