Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 91 – NBA Blog

Nets sign rookies MarShon Brooks and Jordan Williams

The New Jersey Nets have signed first round draft pick MarShon Brooks and second round draft pick Jordan Williams, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

Brooks (6’5”/200), was drafted by Boston in the first round (25th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft and then traded to New Jersey in exchange for the rights to the 27th pick, JuJuan Johnson, and the Nets’ 2014 second round pick on June 23, 2011. As a senior at Providence College, Brooks was named Third Team AP All-America and was a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award. He was also a First Team All-Big East selection and scored a Big East record 52 points vs. No. 9 Notre Dame, converting a league-record 20 field goals. The 52 points tied Jimmer Fredette’s performance vs. New Mexico for the most in Division I in 2010-11. Brooks averaged 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks in 32 contests for the Friars.

Williams (6’10”/260) was drafted by New Jersey in the second round (36th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft. As a sophomore at Maryland, he led the ACC in rebounding (11.8 rpg), ranking third nationally, and was second in Division I with 25 double-doubles, establishing a school record. A First-Team All-ACC pick and an AP All-America Honorable Mention choice, Williams was a midseason candidate for the Wooden and Naismith awards and was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team as a freshman. He is only the third Terp freshman in history with 250 points and 250 boards (Joe Smith, Buck Williams).

Nets sign three players to training camp roster

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agents JamesOn Curry, Dennis Horner, and Jerry Smith, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not released. All three players come from the Springfield Armor, the Nets D-League affiliate, after appearing in the Armor’s first three games of the season. The Nets training camp roster stands at 14 players.

Curry, a 6’4” guard, has spent the previous four seasons in the D-League with Iowa and Springfield. After being selected in the second round, 51st overall, by the Chicago Bulls in the 2007 NBA Draft, Curry spent time with Iowa on assignment during the 2007-08 season and rejoined the team during the 2008-09 campaign. The Oklahoma State alum was taken 14th overall in the first round of the 2009 NBA D-League Draft as the first selection in Springfield Armor history. Curry played in one game with the Los Angeles Clippers in January of 2010 after earning a 10-day contract. In three seasons with Springfield, Curry has appeared in 74 games and averaged 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 36.3 minutes. He is the Armor’s franchise leader in points, assists, steals and games played. In three contests in 2011-12, all starts, Curry has averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 assists in 38 minutes.

Horner, a 6’9” forward, is a New Jersey native who spent four years at N.C. State. After leaving school following the 2009-10 campaign, Horner joined VOO Verviers-Pepinster in Belgium’s First Division before moving to Hasapis Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus’ Division A. During the 2010-11 season, he averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 13 games with Hasapis Omonia Nicosia. Horner was selected by the Springfield Armor in the third round (47th overall) in the 2011 NBA Development League Draft. In three games with the Armor this season, all starts, he averaged 15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 30 minutes.

Smith, a 6’2” guard, played four years at Louisville before being selected by Springfield in the fifth round, 69th overall, in the 2010 NBA D-League Draft. Entering the 2011-12 campaign, Smith is ranked in the Armor’s top five all-time in points, assists, steals, and minutes played. In 49 career games with the Armor, Smith has averaged 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 25 minutes. In three contests this season, he has averaged 20.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 34 minutes.

Dwight Howard reportedly favors joining Nets

Dwight Howard is preparing to ask the Orlando Magic to trade him to the New Jersey Nets, according to sources close to the situation.

Howard’s representatives have told the Nets that they are his preferred destination.

Howard has yet to tell the Magic he will not re-sign with them after this season, but the sources said he will within the next few days, perhaps as early as Friday. There is also a chance that Howard will not attend the opening of training camp Friday, according to a source.

As ESPN.com reported last week, the Nets are ready to offer the Magic a package built around center Brook Lopez and two first-round draft picks, New Jersey’s own and one the Nets acquired from Houston in a previous trade, according to sources.

— Reported by Chris Broussard of ESPN the Magazine

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Nets hire P.J. Carlesimo and Mario Elie as assistant coaches

The New Jersey Nets have named P.J. Carlesimo and Mario Elie as assistant coaches, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Carlesimo and Elie join assistant coaches Popeye Jones and Tom Barrise and assistant coach/player development Doug Overton on Head Coach Avery Johnson’s staff. In addition, the Nets have named Dr. Jeremy Bettle as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

P.J. Carlesimo brings over 35 years of coaching experience to the Nets, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors in 2010-11. A three-time NBA head coach, Carlesimo previously held the top job in Portland (1994-97), Golden State (1996-2000) and Seattle/Oklahoma City (2007-09). In seven NBA seasons, Carlesimo had an overall NBA coaching record of 203-284 (.417). In addition, Carlesimo spent five seasons (2002-2007) as Gregg Popovich’s lead assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, where they captured three NBA titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Carlesimo began his coaching career as an assistant at Fordham University in 1971, before serving as head coach at New Hampshire College, Wagner College, Seton Hall University, where he guided the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament championship game in 1989.

Carlesimo served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball for the gold-medal winning team at the 1992 Olympic Games, the 1990 World Championships, the 1990 Goodwill Games and the 1988 Olympic Trials. In addition, Carlesimo was the head coach of three other U.S. Teams, including the 1991 World University Games squad, winners of the gold medal, and at the Olympic Festival in Norman and Oklahoma City in 1989.

A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Carlesimo graduated from Fordham University in 1971. He has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame (1992 USAB Dream Team), Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, the Wagner Hall of Fame and the Seton Hall Athletic Hall of Fame. His father, the late Pete Carlesimo, was the long-time executive director of the NIT. Between coaching stints, Carlesimo has been a broadcaster for NBC Sports, Turner Sports and Spurs Television.

Mario Elie comes to the Nets after spending the last two seasons as an assistant with Sacramento. Following an 11-year playing career, Elie entered the coaching ranks as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003-04. From there, Elie went on to serve as an assistant coach for Golden State (2004-06) and Dallas (2007-09), before joining the Kings in 2009.

Elie enjoyed a successful NBA playing career averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 732 regular season games with Golden State, Philadelphia, Portland, Houston, San Antonio and Phoenix. He also played in 116 career playoff contests, winning three NBA Championships with Houston (1994 & 1995) and San Antonio (1999).

A native of New York City, Elie was drafted in the seventh round by the Milwaukee Bucks (160th overall pick) in 1985 out of American International College – a Division II school in Springfield, Mass. Elie played in Portugal, Argentina, Ireland, the USBL, the WBL and the CBA before making his NBA debut with the Philadelphia 76ers in December 1990.

Dr. Jeremy Bettle joins the Nets after serving at UC Santa Barbara as Director of Sports Performance and most recently, assistant athletics director. At UCSB, he was directly responsible for the strength and conditioning of all 20 intercollegiate programs. Prior to joining UCSB, Bettle was the Director of Wellness and Athletic Programs for Hayashida Physical Therapy in Santa Barbara, while also serving as the regional strength and conditioning coach for USA Rugby.

Bettle has also held positions as a strength and conditioning coach at Middle Tennessee State University, a technical manager for USA Rugby, and a speed development consultant with Viadana Rugby, the premier professional rugby organization in Italy.

Bettle holds a Ph.D in Human Performance from Middle Tennessee State. He also has a Master’s in exercise science from Middle Tennessee State and earned a degree in sports and exercise science from Leeds University (England). He holds a CSCS certificate from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Spurs to use amnesty clause on Richard Jefferson

The Richard Jefferson era in San Antonio appears over.

According to an NBA source, the Spurs plan to exercise their amnesty provision on Jefferson’s contract, once that option becomes available to them upon completion of the new collective bargaining agreement. A source familiar with the Spurs front office’s thinking said the team is awaiting to see the finalized amnesty rule before coming to a final decision, but the team is strongly considering jettisoning Jefferson.

The move, first reported by Yahoo! Sports, would wipe from the books the remaining three years of Jefferson’s contract worth nearly $30.5 million, $9.2 million of which is due this season, and give the Spurs financial freedom to pursue a new starting small forward in free agency.

That replacement, in fact, might be already be in San Antonio.

Not long before word of Jefferson’s impending release broke, free agent Caron Butler wrapped up a visit in San Antonio his agent, Raymond Brothers, said “went flawlessly.”

— Reported by Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-New Blog

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Nets forward Travis Outlaw out 10 more days with hand injury

New Jersey Nets forward Travis Outlaw will be able to begin contact in 10 days after an examination today by Nets team physician Dr. Riley Williams III and hand specialist Dr. Andrew Weiland.

Outlaw fractured his right hand nine weeks ago and had surgery performed at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

Phoenix Suns likely to waive Vince Carter

Vince Carter isn’t a free agent yet, but sources close to the situation say the eight-time All-Star will be thrust onto the open market shortly after the end of the lockout.

Based on an amendment in his contract obtained by ESPN.com, Carter must be waived by the Phoenix Suns within 72 hours of the official start of free agency or his $18 million salary for the 2011-12 season becomes fully guaranteed.

The Suns, sources said, have already decided to waive Carter within that window.

The Suns and Carter amended the contract in June to delay the guaranteed-salary date in Carter’s final contract year until after the lockout ended.

— Reported by Marc Stein and Chris Broussard of ESPN.com

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Deron Williams will not sign extension with New Jersey Nets

Deron Williams’ agent said his client will play out this season and take his chances as a free agent.

“Deron will not be signing the extension,” Jeff Schwartz told The Record this afternoon. “Based on the new rules it doesn’t make any sense for him to sign the extension. It has nothing to do with how much he likes New Jersey. Because of the rules, he’s going to play the season out and opt out of his deal.”

As The Record reported in today’s editions, sources with knowledge of the Nets thinking had been resigned to the fact that the chances of Williams’ signing an extension were slim.

According to the new rules, Williams can get a two-year extension from the Nets for roughly $39 million that would be tacked on to the two years, $31 million he has remaining on his deal. If Williams opts out after the season, he could get five years, and about $101 million from the Nets or four years and $73 million from another team.

— Reported by Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record

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Kris Humphries files for annulment against Kim Kardashian, says he was defrauded

TMZ has learned … Kris Humphries just filed for an annulment against Kim Kardashian, on grounds Kim defrauded him into marrying her.

Sources close to Kris tell TMZ … Kris was not in on the alleged fraud, meaning he did not stage the marriage for Kim’s reality show. We’re told Kris wanted this to be a genuine marriage, but Kim was never really on board.

Kim has already filed for divorce — but according to the docs, obtained by TMZ — Kris wants Kim to pay his attorney’s fees.

— Reported by TMZ

Nets GM denies Dwight Howard trade talks

Nets general manager Billy King vehemently denied rumors Wednesday that he was in trade discussions with the Orlando Magic regarding All-Star center Dwight Howard.

“I’ll go on the record that I haven’t talked to Orlando about a trade since February, right before the trade deadline,” King said at a press conference at the team’s practice facility. “I have not had any conversations at all with my good friend Otis (Smith, the Magic general manager).

“So, I don’t know where that is coming from.”

There were published reports which stated the Nets were in talks with the Magic about trading two first-round draft picks and center Brook Lopez in return for Howard, who is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent next June.

King also promised that if a trade does happen involving any Nets, it won’t be a long, drawn-out process like the three-month pursuit of Carmelo Anthony was last season. Several Nets were subjected to daily rumors throughout the early part of last season and Anthony eventually ended up landing with the Knicks.

— Reported by the Associated Press

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