Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 90 – NBA Blog

New Jersey Nets sign forward Shawne Williams

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Shawne Williams, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. The contract is for two years and $6.1 million, reported the New York Post.

“Shawne is a versatile player who will add a needed dimension to our frontcourt,” said King. “He can play inside as well as shoot the three, and is a welcome addition to our roster.”

Williams, a 6-9 forward, comes to the Nets following a one-year stint with the New York Knicks where he played in 64 games and posted career-best averages of 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game, while shooting .401 from three point range. The University of Memphis product was chosen by Indiana in the first round (17th overall) in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Williams played two seasons in Indiana before being traded to Dallas prior to the 2008-09 season.

In January of 2010, Williams was acquired by New Jersey in a multi-player trade with Dallas, although he did not appear in any games with the Nets. Over his four-year NBA career, Williams holds career averages of 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds over 190 games. He appeared in four postseason games with New York last season, averaging 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting .429 from three point range.

Nets waive Travis Outlaw, via amnesty clause

The New Jersey Nets have waived forward Travis Outlaw and designated him as the team’s amnesty player, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Outlaw, (6’9”, 207) played in all 82 games, 55 starts, with the Nets last season, averaging 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in 29 minutes per game. The eight-year veteran was acquired by New Jersey as a free agent on July 14, 2010.

Outlaw has appeared in 482 career NBA regular season games with Portland, LA Clippers and New Jersey, averaging 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 22.9 minutes per game.

Nets sign forward Ime Udoka

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Ime Udoka, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. According to the New York Post, it’s a non-guaranteed contract.

Udoka (6’6”/215), a seven-year veteran who has played for five teams, holds career averages of 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 316 games. The undrafted Portland State product began his career with the Lakers in 2003-04, appearing in four contests. He then appeared in eight games with the Knicks during the 2005-06 campaign. In 2006-07 he played in 75 games with the Trail Blazers. After a full season in Portland, Udoka signed with the Spurs where he spent two seasons, 2007-08 and 2008-09. For the 2009-10 campaign he signed with Sacramento and appeared in 69 games. Last season, Udoka played in 20 games with the Spurs, totaling 14 points and 19 rebounds in 130 minutes.

Knicks hosting free open scrimmage Sunday

On Sunday, Dec. 18 the New York Knicks will open the doors of Madison Square Garden for an inside look at the team during the Knicks Orange & Blue Scrimmage.

This free event will give fans a chance to reconnect with the team and see Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and their teammates go through a workout and scrimmage, as the Knicks prepare for the 2011-12 regular season that will tip off on Christmas Day at noon against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.

There will be performances by the Knicks City Dancers, Knicks City Kids and King Charles Unicycle Troupe, music from DJ Clue of Power 105.1 FM, and more.

Doors will open at 11 a.m. ET.

Note to fans: You’ll be watching Knicks players. You won’t be trying out.

Rafer Alston seeks NBA comeback

Veteran point guard Rafer Alston seemed done with the NBA, but has apparently had a change of heart and is looking to extend his pro career.

Alston’s agent and long-time friend Eddie Lau on Wednesday told InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner that the guard, who last played in the NBA for the Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets in the 2009-10 season, wants to return to the league. Lau says he is in contact with multiple teams.

The 6-2, 175-pound Alston has an NBA career average of 10.1 points, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Lately, he’s been coaching at the high school level.

Nets rookie Jordan Williams suffering from severe dehydration

Rookie Jordan Williams is suffering from dehydration and will miss at least five days of practice, Nets coach Avery Johnson said. The 21-year-old Williams apparently succumbed after Tuesday’s practice, when he got ill after lunch. He spent this morning at the doctor’s office, getting intravenous fluids, Johnson said.

“He’s suffering from … severe dehydration, so he’s going to be out for a while,” Johnson said of Williams. “He’s had some issues in practice, in terms of breaking down, a little bit, so we’ve got to keep a close eye on him.”

— Reported by Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star-Ledger

Nets sign forward Shelden Williams

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Shelden Williams, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

“We are pleased to add Shelden to our roster,” said King. “He is a proven veteran who will add depth to our frontcourt rotation.”

Williams (6’9”/250), a five-year NBA veteran who has played for six teams, holds career averages of 4.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 303 games.

Selected out of Duke by Atlanta with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Williams played one and a half seasons with the Hawks before being traded to the Sacramento Kings during the to the 2007-08 season.

After splitting the 2008-09 season between Sacramento and Minnesota, Williams signed as a free agent with Boston for the 2009-10 season, where he appeared in 54 regular season games and eight postseason contests, helping the Celtics reach the NBA Finals.

Last season, Williams played in 42 games with the Denver Nuggets before a mid-season trade that sent him to New York, where he appeared in 17 games. Totaling 59 (38 starts) games in 2010-11, Williams had season averages of 4.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Dallas Mavericks sign guard Vince Carter

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed free agent guard Vince Carter. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Carter (6-6, 220) is an eight-time NBA All-Star who currently ranks 35th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (eighth among active players) with 20,250 career points. The former Rookie of the Year (1998-99) and Slam Dunk Contest winner (2000) holds career averages of 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 925 games (907 starts) with Toronto, New Jersey, Orlando and Phoenix.

Originally the fifth overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Carter was traded on draft day to the Toronto Raptors where he would help lead that franchise to its first Playoff appearance in 2000. In December of 2004, Carter was traded to the New Jersey Nets where he would team with current-Maverick Jason Kidd. Carter spent five seasons in New Jersey and is still ranked in the franchise’s Top 10 in 19 statistical categories.

The native of Daytona Beach, Fla., was traded to the Orlando Magic on draft day in 2009. Carter would play in his home state for a little more than a season, but in his short time there he helped take the Magic to the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals where they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics. In December of 2010, Carter was traded to the Phoenix Suns where he finished out last season and scored his 20,000th point becoming just the 37th NBA player to accomplish that feat.

Carter was a standout at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he led the Tarheels to two consecutive Final Four berths (1997, 1998). Carter declared himself eligible for the 1998 NBA Draft after his junior season in Chapel Hill.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov to run for Russian presidency

Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia’s richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday he will run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March presidential election.

Prokhorov has been cautious not to cross Putin’s path in the past, but the billionaire may pose a serious challenge to Putin, whose authority has been dented by alleged widespread fraud during Russia’s Dec. 4 parliamentary election.

Putin’s party only won about 50 percent of that vote, compared to 64 percent four years ago, and the fraud allegations have allowed opposition parties to successfully mount massive anti-Putin protests in Russia.

On Sunday, President Dmitry Medvedev promised on his Facebook page that the alleged vote fraud will be investigated. But Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, predicted Monday the probe will show that little vote fraud occurred and that it had no effect on the outcome of the ballot.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Mavericks sign forward Brandan Wright

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed free agent forward Brandan Wright. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wright (6-10, 210) is a former first round draft pick (eighth overall) and joins the Mavericks as a free agent from the New Jersey Nets. Wright was traded to New Jersey last February from the Golden State Warriors, where he began his career in 2007. He holds career averages of 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 12.6 minutes in 114 career games with 31 starts.

Wright was a standout at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he started all 37 games as a freshman and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and All-ACC Second Team. He was an early-entry candidate into the 2007 NBA Draft and was the eighth overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats. Wright was acquired by Golden State in a draft-day trade in exchange for Jason Richardson and the draft rights to Jermareo Davidson.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Wright was a two-time Parade All-American and was the first athlete in the state ever to earn “Mr. Tennessee” honors three times. He also led Brentwood Academy to four consecutive state championships.