Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 86 – NBA Blog

Trail Blazers claim J.J. Hickson off waivers, and waive Mehmet Okur

The Portland Trail Blazers have claimed forward J.J. Hickson off waivers, it was announced Wednesday.

“We like J.J.’s energy and physicality,” said Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. “He’s a young, but experienced player who can help our frontline.”

The Sacramento Kings waived Hickson on March 19.

According to the Associated Press, “Golden State and Phoenix had also been reported to have interest in the 6-foot-9 Hickson, who had been bothered recently by back spasms and had played only six minutes in the past 10 games. Hickson was a first-round pick by Cleveland out of North Carolina State in 2008. For his career, he has averaged 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.”

In a separate move, the team has waived center Mehmet Okur, acquired in a March 15 trade with New Jersey.

Hickson, 23, averaged 4.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 18.4 minutes in 35 games (nine starts) for the Kings this season.

In four NBA seasons with Cleveland and Sacramento, Hickson (6-9, 242) holds averages of 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 20.5 minutes in 258 games (148 starts).

The Trail Blazers roster stands at 15 players.

Nets sign Gerald Green for remainder of season

Gerald Green

The comeback

The New Jersey Nets have signed forward Gerald Green for the remainder of the season, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Green, who signed the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts with the Nets on February 27, has played in 11 games, averaging 11.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. The 6-8 forward scored a season-high 26 points on two occasions this season and has reached double figures in scoring in each of the last five games.

Prior to joining the Nets, Green was named MVP of the 2012 D-League All Star Game and played in 22 games for the Los Angeles D-Fenders this season, averaging 19.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 30.6 minutes per game. The 6-8 forward was selected in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft (18th overall) by the Boston Celtics, entering the draft out of high school. Green played two seasons for the Celtics, having his best year in 2006-07 with averages of 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds over 81 games (26 starts), as well as winning the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Following his stint in Boston, Green appeared in a total of 30 games with Houston and Minnesota in 2007-08, and 28 games in 2008-09 with the Dallas Mavericks.

Nets sign Jerry Smith to 10-day contract

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Jerry Smith from the D-League’s Springfield Armor to a 10-day contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Smith, who is the Nets’ fifth D-League call-up to sign with the team this season, has played 32 games with the Armor in 2011-12. He is averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35 minutes per game.

The 6-2 point guard from Louisville was signed to the Nets’ 2011-12 training camp roster, and he participated in one of the team’s two preseason games, scoring one point in three minutes against the Knicks. Smith took part in the 2012 D-League All-Star Game, where he scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out six assists in 23 minutes.

He was named D-League Player of the Month for February, leading the Armor to a perfect 8-0 record while averaging 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 35.4 minutes. Smith scored in double figures in all eight games, recording back-to-back double-doubles on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 and finished with more than 20 points in five contests. In 78 career D-League games, Smith holds averages of 15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

Blazers trade Gerald Wallace to Nets, and waive Greg Oden

The New Jersey Nets have acquired forward Gerald Wallace from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for center Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams and the Nets’ 2012 protected first round draft pick, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

“We are excited to add Gerald’s experience and toughness at the small forward position,” said King. “His leadership and defensive prowess will be assets to our team going forward.”

Portland also requested waivers on centers Greg Oden and Chris Johnson today.

“This trade was very compelling to us because not only does it give us more flexibility in free agency, but we also acquire a very attractive first-round draft pick,” said Trail Blazers’ Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. “I’d like to thank Gerald, Greg and Chris for all they’ve done for the franchise and hope for nothing but the best for them and their futures.”

The draft pick is top-three protected, meaning the Trail Blazers will own the pick in 2012 as long as it is not in the top three of the NBA Draft.

Okur, 32, has averages of 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 29.1 minutes in 10 NBA seasons with Detroit, Utah and New Jersey. An NBA All-Star in 2007 and a native of Turkey, Okur has appeared in 17 games for the Nets this season, averaging 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Williams, 26, has posted career averages of 5.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in parts of five seasons with Indiana, Dallas, New York and New Jersey. He has played in 25 games for New Jersey this season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Wallace, a 2010 NBA All-Star, comes to the Nets after making 42 starts for the Blazers this season and posting averages of 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The 6-7 forward was selected by Sacramento in the first round (25th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft out of the University of Alabama and spent his first three NBA seasons with the Kings. He then began a seven-year stint with Charlotte after being selected by the Bobcats in the NBA Expansion Draft in 2004. Wallace enjoyed his best seasons in Charlotte in 2007-08, when he averaged a career- high 19.4 points per game and in 2009-10, with averages of 18.2 points and a career-best 10.0 rebounds, earning him NBA All-Star honors as well as a place on the NBA’s All Defensive First Team. Midway through the 2010-11 season, Wallace was traded to Portland, where he played parts of three seasons. Currently in his 11th NBA season, Wallace has played in a total of 657 games and holds career averages of 13.4 points on .475 shooting and 6.3 rebounds per game. Wallace has helped his teams reach the playoffs on five occasions and lists postseason averages of 7.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 25 games.

Okur, who was acquired from Utah on December 22, 2011, played in 17 games for the Nets this season, with averages of 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game. He missed a total of 27 games this season with a sore lower back. The 10-year NBA veteran from Turkey holds career averages of 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 634 NBA games with Detroit, Utah and New Jersey.

Williams, who signed with the Nets as a free agent on December 15, 2011, played in 25 games for the Nets this season, with averages of 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. He has missed a total of 19 games due to injury and underwent season ending left foot surgery on February 22. The five-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds over 215 games with Indiana, Dallas, New York and New Jersey.

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Dwight Howard tells Magic he won’t opt out of contract

Dwight Howard has told several teammates, as well as members of the Orlando Magic organization, that he will not opt out of his contract at the end of this season, sources close to the situation said.

That would mean Howard would remain under contract in Orlando through the 2012-2013 season.

Howard has not signed a waiver of his early termination option at this point, which means nothing is guaranteed yet. Both Howard and his representation must sign the documentation.

This latest development comes one day after league sources with knowledge of the situation said Howard’s public plea late Tuesday to remain in Orlando for the rest of the season only served to anger the Magic and has pushed them closer than ever to trading their superstar center.

Convinced that Howard, on the advice of his agent, is trying to manipulate the situation, the Magic are telling teams they will trade Howard before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline if he does not commit to them beyond this season, league sources said.

— Reported by Chris Broussard of ESPN the Magazine

Syracuse center Fab Melo ruled ineligible for 2012 NCAA Tournament

The following is a report from Syracuse Athletics:

Syracuse University sophomore men’s basketball center Fab Melo did not travel with the team to Pittsburgh, and will not take part in the NCAA Tournament due to an eligibility issue. Given University policy and federal student privacy laws, no further details can be provided at this time.

Kris Humphries reportedly wants $7 million from Kim Kardashian

Kris Humphries is secretly demanding $7 MILLION from Kim Kardashian to walk away from their marriage … TMZ has learned.

Sources directly connected to Kris tell TMZ … the bballer — through his Minnesota lawyer — has given Kim an ultimatum … either pay up, or endure an ugly, public trial.

Our sources say Kris and his lawyer have been told to pound sand, and with good reason.

For starters, even if there wasn’t a prenup, the marriage lasted a grand total of 72 days, so the community property wouldn’t be in the universe of $7 mil.

Second, there was an iron-clad prenup, which provided that Kim owes Kris zilch.

— Reported by TMZ

Nets sign Gerald Green to second 10-day contract

The New Jersey Nets have signed forward Gerald Green to a second 10-day contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Green, who signed his first 10-day contract with the Nets on February 27, has played in five games, averaging 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game.

The 6-8 forward was selected in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft (18th overall) by the Boston Celtics, entering the draft out of high school. Green played two seasons for the Celtics, having his best year in 2006-07 with averages of 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds over 81 games (26 starts), as well as winning the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Following his stint in Boston, Green appeared in a total of 30 games with Houston and Minnesota in 2007-08, and 28 games in 2008-09 with the Dallas Mavericks.

Nets center Brook Lopez out 3 weeks

The 12-16 New Jersey Nets have received more bad news on the injury front.

Nets center Brook Lopez has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Lopez, who was injured in the third quarter of the New Jersey/Charlotte game on Sunday, March 4, will have his foot placed in a walking boot as a precautionary measure. Lopez is expected to miss three weeks of action. The Nets will issue an update on his rehabilitation on March 23.

Lopez has played in five games this season, with averages of 19.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game. He missed the first 33 games of the season with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

The Nets are currently in 13th place in the Eastern conference.

Deron Williams scored 57 on Bobcats

Deron Williams’ eyes grew a little wider when he realized the Charlotte Bobcats had opted not to double-team him off pick and rolls.

It’s something he hadn’t seen all season.

“I’m used to getting double-teamed on those,” Williams said. “It’s kind of refreshing not to be.”

Williams took full advantage, scoring a franchise-record 57 points to lift the New Jersey Nets to a 104-101 victory over the Bobcats on Sunday night. That’s the most points scored in the NBA this season and breaks the team record of 52 points shared by Mike Newlin and Ray Williams.

It was the second-most points scored against the Bobcats, one shy of Kobe Bryant’s 58 in 2006.

Williams, who came into the game averaging 21.7 points per game, shot 16 of 29 from the field and was a perfect 21 for 21 from the free-throw line. He did miss one at one free throw, but the Bobcats were called for a lane violation and it didn’t count.

— Reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press