Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 82 – NBA Blog

Jason Kidd may stay with Mavericks

Jason Kidd appears prepared to end his career where he started it — with the Dallas Mavericks.

The 39-year-old is closing in on a multiyear deal, a source close to the situation said. The source said the deal is not completed, but barring any snags, Kidd will close out his career alongside Dirk Nowitzki.

The value of the contract was not known.

After a rough few days that saw prized free agent Deron Williams opt to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets, Jason Terry agree to terms with the Boston Celtics and then another Mavs target Steve Nash stunningly get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavs are finally nearing their first positive move of a so-far frustrating free-agent period by bringing back Kidd.

— Reported by Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas

Nets sell 500 season tickets on Tuesday, before D-Will decision

Even before Deron Williams announced his decision on Twitter early Tuesday evening, the Nets had put together a terrific day at the box office.

“We sold approximately 500 full season seats today, and obviously it was a seven figure day for us in revenue,” Nets CEO Brett Yormark said shortly before Williams made his announcement. “It’s a great day. The fans in Brooklyn are excited about the possibilities.

“I think we are hitting our stride now, and I would hope this momentum will continue, and I anticipate it will.”

Tuesday’s success, both at the box office and with the signing of Williams, continues what has been an impressive run since the team officially was unveiled as the Brooklyn Nets within the shadow of their new arena, Barclays Center, on April 30.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Blog)

Deron Williams will re-sign with Brooklyn Nets

By InsideHoops.com

The Nets are moving to Brooklyn starting in the 2012-13 season, and they’re taking their star point guard with them.

According to multiple reports, free agent Deron Williams, one of the lone bright spots the Nets have been able to enjoy in recent seasons, has decided to re-sign with the team. According to David Alridge of Turner Sports, the deal is for five years and the league maximum salary of $100 million.

In 55 games for the Nets last season, Williams averaged 21.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.22 steals per game, though he struggled with his shot and hit just 40.7% from the field and 33.6% from three-point range. His career shooting average is better, at 45.5%.

The Nets are also expected to trade for shooting guard Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, and re-sign small forward Gerald Wallace.

They are also reportedly in the mix to trade for superstar center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic. Howard has named the Nets as the team he wants to play for, though it will take a lot of work to make that materialize in the form of a trade this summer.

Gerald Wallace to re-sign with Nets

The Brooklyn Nets reached a verbal commitment with swingman Gerald Wallace on a four-year deal worth $40 million, according to sources close to the process.

The Nets have been openly confident in their ability to re-sign Wallace, who opted out of the final year of his contract last month with the intent of staying with the Nets.

No new contracts in the NBA can be officially signed until July 11, but sources told ESPN.com that Wallace — originally expected to land a three-year deal worth $24 million — will instead land the four-year deal.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

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Dwight Howard wants trade to Nets, again

Dwight Howard met with new Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan on Friday and told him he wants to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Howard and Hennigan sat down face to face in Los Angeles, meeting for the first time since Hennigan became Orlando’s GM nearly two weeks ago.

Hennigan was noncommital when Howard told him he wants to be traded to Brooklyn, sources said.

Hennigan did not tell Howard whether he would trade him. His intentions were merely to hear the thoughts of the Magic superstar.

Howard picked up the option for the final year of his contract with Orlando on March 15. But since then, he has grown increasingly disgruntled with the organization, even telling people close to him that he feels the Magic blackmailed him into signing the “opt-in” clause.

— Reported by Chris Broussard of ESPN.com

Jordan Farmar exercises option, stays with Nets

Jordan Farmar has opted into the final year of his contract, guaranteeing he will earn $4.25 million this season and eating into a bit of Nets’ cap space this summer.

Farmar, 25, averaged 10.4 points and 3.3 assists in a little over 21 minutes per game in 39 games with the Nets last season, his second since signing with them as a free agent in 2010. Farmar spent much of last season dealing with nagging groin injuries that kept him out of the lineup for large stretches of the shortened season, including the final 16 games of the season.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Blog)

Deron Williams and Jason Kidd might sign with same team

Deron Williams, the most coveted player in this summer’s free-agent class, will meet with representatives from the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks on Monday before deciding which team to sign with this July, according to a source privy to Williams’ plan.

Mavericks free-agent point guard Jason Kidd will also join whichever team Williams chooses, sources said.

Williams is spending the weekend playing golf with Kidd in New York’s Hamptons, sources say, yet one more indicator that the Nets have at least a fighting chance to keep Williams and add Kidd sometime after free agency begins Sunday.

— Reported by Ric Bucher of ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets acquire 3 in draft

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired the draft rights to Tyshawn Taylor, the 41st selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, from the Portland Trail Blazers and Tornike Shengelia, the 54th pick, from the Philadelphia 76ers, both in exchange for cash, Nets General Manager Billy King announced tonight. In addition, the Nets selected Ilkan Karaman with the 57th overall pick.

Taylor (6’3”/185) was a four-year starter at Kansas scoring 1,580 career points, 14th most in KU history. The Hoboken, New Jersey native averaged a career-best 16.6 points, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals as a senior. He was a 2011-12 AP Third Team All America selection and an All Big 12 First Team pick.

Shengelia (6’10”/230) has been a member of the Republic of Georgia’s National Team since 2008. He played the 2011-12 season for Belgacom Spirou where he averaged 8.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 18.4 minutes in 20 Belgium League games. He helped his team qualify for Euroleague play, and posted 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds during nine games over the season. Shengelia represented the Republic of Georgia at 2011 Eurobasket, averaging 8.8 points and 4.6 boards for the Senior National Team.

Karaman (6’10”/236) is from Istanbul, Turkey and played for Galatasaray of the Turkish League. In 2011-12, he averaged 10.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23 minutes per game.

Deron Williams prefers Nets, Mavericks

When NBA free agency begins at midnight July 1, Brooklyn Nets star guard Deron Williams will be choosing from a two-team list that only features the Nets and the Dallas Mavericks, according to sources close to the situation.

Sources told ESPN.com on Saturday night that, while this summer’s No. 1 free agent remains “up in the air” about which team he’ll ultimately chose, Williams already has made the decision to narrow his list of potential destinations to those two franchises.

Other teams, including the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, had been hoping to lodge their own bids for Williams once free agency begins, sources said. The Los Angeles Lakers, likewise have continued to express interest in a sign-and-trade package built around Pau Gasol for Williams, sources say, despite the Nets’ longstanding insistence that they have no interest in Gasol and would only consider such a move if they were getting back All-Star center Andrew Bynum, whom the Lakers have not made available.

Sources say Williams, in any case, already has instructed his representatives to advise any team that calls starting at 12:01 a.m. July 1 that he intends to either re-sign with the Nets or return to his hometown with the Mavericks after a glittering high school career in the Dallas area.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Kris Humphries having trouble with ex-girlfriend Myla Sinanaj

Kris Humphries’ ex-flame Myla Sinanaj threatened to release sordid details about her relationship with Kris … and TMZ has the voicemail.

Sources say … after photos of Myla and Kris began leaking, Kris broke off all contact with her. Myla became enraged after trying in vain 17 times to reach Kris and then called one of his friends.

Myla left a message, demanding that Kris stop stonewalling her and return her calls.

Myla says, “If he’s going to play me like that, I have way more sh*t I can put out.”

The voicemail does not show alleged extortion on Sinanaj’s part, as Humphries claims. Nonetheless, we’re told Kris’ lawyers gave it to the FBI when they made their extortion complaint.

— Reported by TMZ