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New Jersey Nets change starting lineup

Avery Johnson

Nets coach Avery Johnson just announced he is making two changes to his starting lineup for the third game of the season tonight against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.

Sundiata Gaines will start in the backcourt with Deron Williams, and Mehmet Okur will start at the center position. Anthony Morrow and Johan Petro have been bumped to the bench.

Johnson said he made the change mainly because the team has started poorly in its first two games of the season, at Washington on Monday and against Atlanta in the home opener Tuesday.

— Reported by Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star-Ledger

Deron Williams and Dwight Howard grab dinner

Deron Williams

Deron Williams didn’t want to even address it, but Dwight Howard didn’t mind admitting that, yes, he and Williams went out to dinner Wednesday night when Williams arrived in town with the Nets.

“Since he’s been in the league, every time he comes to town, we go eat dinner and just kick it,” Howard said after the Magic’s shootaround today. “We’ve been friends since the Olympics, and so we go out to eat, have a bite.”

Earlier, Williams had stammered and said, “I don’t even know — I really don’t,” when asked if he had dinner with Howard.

— Reported by Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star-Ledger

New Jersey Nets sign guard DeShawn Stevenson

DeShawn Stevenson

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard DeShawn Stevenson, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. It is reportedly a one-year deal for $2.5 million.

“DeShawn is a veteran NBA player who brings a championship pedigree to our roster,” said King. “He is a tough defender who can stretch the floor, and will bolster our backcourt rotation.”

Stevenson (6’5”/218), an 11-year veteran who has played with four teams, holds career averages of 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23 minutes over 717 games, including 481 starts.  The California native was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round (23rd overall) in the 2000 NBA Draft out of Washington Union High School in Fresno, California.  Last season with Dallas, Stevenson helped the Mavericks win their first NBA championship, appearing in 72 games, 54 starts, while averaging 5.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 16 minutes per game.

In three plus seasons with Utah, Stevenson appeared in 222 games, 87 starts, while averaging 5.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17 minutes.  Midway through the 2003-04 campaign, Stevenson was traded to Orlando, where he spent the next two seasons.  With the Magic, he appeared in 243 games, 211 starts, while averaging 10.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 29 minutes per game.  Stevenson signed with Washington as a free agent before the 2006-07 season.  In three plus seasons with the Wizards, he appeared in 236 games, 202 starts, while averaging 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 27.5 minutes.  Midway through the 2009-10 campaign,Stevenson was traded to Dallas.  Stevenson appeared in 96 games, 59 starts, with the Mavericks, averaging 4.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 15 minutes per game.

According to the New York Daily News blog, “Stevenson will join a crowded backcourt that includes rookie MarShon Brooks, but is versatile enough to play the 3. Famous for his feuds with LeBron James — and for playing a pivotal role in Game 6 of Dallas’ championship-clinching win over the Heat — Stevenson was once the subject of a diss record by Nets minority owner Jay Z, who used the song to praise LeBron.”

Nets center Brook Lopez undergoes foot surgery, out 6-8 weeks

Brook Lopez

New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez underwent successful surgery today, December 23, to repair a non-displaced stress fracture of the 5th metatarsal of the right foot, Nets General Manager Billy King announced. The surgery, performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan by foot specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley and Nets team orthopedist Dr. Riley Williams III, involved the insertion of a screw in Lopez’s foot.

“A single screw was inserted into the bone to stabilize the fracture and speed up the healing process,” said Dr. O’Malley. “He was placed in a boot and will walk with the aid of crutches. Brook will begin his rehab in two weeks.”

Lopez is expected to return to game action in 6-8 weeks.

Jazz trade Mehmet Okur to Nets

Mehmet Okur

The New Jersey Nets have acquired center Mehmet Okur from the Utah Jazz in exchange for their second round draft pick in 2015, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Okur’s contract, which pays him $10.8 million in 2011-12, reportedly expires at the end of the season.

“Mehmet will give us added scoring and size,” said King.  “His ability to shoot the three will help space the floor.”

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, “The Jazz unexpectedly traded veteran reserve center Mehmet Okur to New Jersey on Thursday for a 2015 second-round pick and a trade exception. The exception is worth about $10 million, The Salt Lake Tribune learned, and is expected to expire in one year. The Tribune was informed Okur was completely caught off guard by the deal and unhappy about having to suddenly leave Salt Lake City. “It’s a lousy time to conduct business,” O’Connor said. “But the season’s starting when it is, and there was a necessity to do it now.”

Okur, a nine-year veteran from Turkey, holds career averages of 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in 617 NBA games with Detroit and Utah.  The 2007 NBA All-Star is a career .460 shooter from the field, while posting a .377 mark from long range. Okur averaged double figures in scoring in six of his last seven NBA seasons, including a career-best 18.0 points to go along with 9.1 rebounds in 2005-06. The 6-11 center played in just 13 games for the Jazz in 2010-11 due to Achilles and back injuries, averaging 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds.  Okur holds postseason averages of 8.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 71 career playoff games, including helping the Detroit Pistons win an NBA title in 2004.

More from the Salt Lake Tribune: “Okur’s sudden departure signals the end of an era: Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles are the only holdovers from a 2006-07 Jazz team that advanced to the Western Conference Finals.”

Brook Lopez suffers stress fracture in foot, needs surgery

Brook Lopez

New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez has been diagnosed with  a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the right foot, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

The injury occurred during the Nets preseason contest at New York on December 21.

Lopez will undergo surgery on Friday, December 23.

According to the Newark Star-Ledger, “The typical recovery period for such an injury is 4-6 weeks, and the Nets feel Lopez will return by early February, according to Yahoo Sports. The frame for recovery could extend much longer, however. Giants rookie Prince Amukamara suffered the same injury in training camp this season on Aug. 6 and did not play in a game until Nov. 20.”

Dallas Mavericks sign forward Sean Williams

Sean Williams

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed free agent forward/center Sean Williams. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, it is a two-year deal with the second season only partially guaranteed.

Williams (6-10, 235) was originally the first round pick (17th overall) of the New Jersey Nets in the 2007 NBA Draft. He spent three seasons in New Jersey and averaged 4.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 126 games as a Net.

Born in Arlington, Texas, Williams was a standout at Mansfield High School and attended Boston College. In his junior season at Boston College, Williams averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game. He set a school record when he recorded 13 blocked shots against Duquesne. Williams decided to forego his senior season and was an early entry candidate to the 2007 NBA Draft.

Williams spent last season in the NBA D-League where he was an All-Star and finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. In 49 games (46 starts) with the Texas Legends, Williams averaged 14.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per contest.

New Jersey Nets re-sign forward Kris Humphries

Kris Humphries

The New Jersey Nets have re-signed forward Kris Humphries, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. It is reportedly a one-year deal for around $8 million.

“Kris had a breakout season last year, and established himself as one of the premier rebounders in the league,” said King.  “We look forward to his continued progress and his addition will certainly add stability to our frontcourt rotation.”

Humphries rejoins the Nets after a career-year in 2010-11 that saw the 6-9 forward average personal bests of 10.0 points and 10.4 rebounds, while shooting .527 from the field in 74 games (44 starts). The seven-year veteran out of Minnesota ranked 5th in the NBA in rebounds per game last season, notched 29 double-doubles and grabbed a career-high 23 boards on March 23 at Cleveland.

Humphries originally came to the Nets as part of a mid-season trade in 2009-10.  In 118 games with New Jersey, Humphries owns averages of 9.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.  Selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, Humphries went on to play for Toronto and Dallas before joining New Jersey.  In 431 NBA games, Humphries holds career averages of 2.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.