Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

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Jay-Z’s 40/40 club in NYC briefly closed for health violations

Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club was shut down for a slew of health-code violations just a day after its celebrity-drenched $10 million relaunch — and now it faces a dreaded “C” grade, The Post has learned.

An inspector found perishable food at dangerously warm temperatures inside the walk-in refrigerator and discovered “hot” food left out on the counter on Thursday, Health Department sources said.

A worker was also seen mixing salsa with his bare hands.

The refrigerator was at a rancid 60 degrees instead of 41 — jeopardizing the safety of 50 pounds of raw chicken wings, five pounds of raw shrimp and 100 turkey burgers, the sources said.

— Reported by Philip Messing and Kevin Fasick of the New York Post

UPDATE FROM TMZ: But Ron Berkowitz, a rep for the club, tells TMZ the motor in one of the refrigerators blew just moments before the health inspector arrived … causing the temperature in the fridge to rise. Berkowtiz says the staff identified the problem immediately and had no intention of serving the food from that fridge. Berkowitz says the fridge was fixed by noon the next day and the club was permitted to re-open.

Nets assign Jordan Williams to D-League

The New Jersey Nets have assigned rookie forward Jordan Williams to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Springfield Armor, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Williams was selected 36th overall by New Jersey in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft.  The Maryland product has appeared in six games for the Nets, averaging 1.0 point and 1.5 rebounds in 6.2  minutes per game.  He has shot .333 (3-9) from the field.

New Jersey Nets waive Dennis Horner, sign Larry Owens

The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on forward Dennis Horner and have signed free agent forward Larry Owens from the D-League’s Tulsa 66ers, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Horner, a 6-9 rookie from N.C. State, signed with the Nets prior to training camp on December 9, 2011 from the Nets D-League affiliate, the Springfield Armor.  He appeared in five games with New Jersey, scoring a total of four points in 16 minutes of action.

Owens (6’7”/210, Oral Roberts), appeared in 12 career NBA games during the 2010-11 campaign with San Antonio and Washington.  In seven contests with the Spurs and five with the Wizards, the undrafted rookie averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12 minutes per game.  He shot .469 from the field.

Owens has spent the last two-plus seasons with the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League.  In 10 games, seven starts in 2011-12, he averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks in 34 minutes.  He shot .453 (53-117) from the field and .944 (17-18) from the line.  In 103 career games in the D-League, all with Tulsa, he has averaged 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 34 minutes.

Nets offense stinks, says Deron Williams

Deron Williams

In a 101-90 loss to the Heat, the Nets offense sputtered through another slow start — with just 35 points in the first half — and ultimately another depressing evening.

“Our offense (stinks),” Deron Williams, who missed a game last week with a ribs injury, said after the Nets shot 33.7 percent with 22 turnovers Saturday. “We’re not very good right now. We’re not playing good. We’re not shooting good. I’m not shooting good. We’re turning the ball over.

“I like the offense. I like the system, I just think we’re not executing good, we’re not finishing, we’re not hitting shots, messing up plays, not in the right spots.”

The point guard’s statement is underscored by the stat sheet.

The Nets are shooting a league-worst 38.1 percent from the field. Their average of 85.44 points per game would be a league worst if not for the Detroit Pistons.

— Reported by Michael J. Fensom of the Newark Star-Ledger

Nets basketball leases Brooklyn office space

Nets Basketball has taken another major step toward its move to Brooklyn by signing a long-term lease for office space at 15 MetroTech Center to serve as the team’s corporate headquarters.

The 35,145-square-foot workplace occupying the entire 11th floor of the 19-story building will be the home office for 150 employees on the business side of NETS Basketball and Barclays Center. It is expected that the staff will begin its relocation process from its current offices in East Rutherford, NJ next month.

Serving as a convenient location for arena and team staff, MetroTech, developed by Forest City Ratner Companies, is just one stop to Barclays Center on several subway lines or an approximate 15-minute walk.

“Bravo to NETS Basketball for another great step in its move to Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Having the corporate offices of Brooklyn’s first professional sports team since 1957 downtown will be a ‘net positive’ for the neighborhood. And what better place to house those offices than MetroTech Center – the office complex that helped kick start the revitalization of our borough – making it a “slam-dunk” to bring the NETS to Brooklyn.”

“MetroTech is a terrific environment in the heart of Brooklyn’s business district and a convenient location for our corporate headquarters,” said NETS and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “We look forward to being part of the continued renaissance of downtown Brooklyn.”

Bruce Mosler, Chairman of Global Brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield, represented the NETS in the transaction.

The NETS basketball team will begin playing in the brand new Barclays Center, being developed by Forest City Ratner Companies, in the start of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Located atop one of the largest transportation hubs in New York City, Barclays Center will be accessible by nine subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road.

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.