The New Jersey Nets completed their deal with the Dallas Mavericks, sending Eduardo Najera and a trade exception to Dallas in exchange for Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams.
The Nets, as expected, released center Sean Williams. The surprise comes in Rod Thorn's announcement that the team will not buy out Shawne Williams' contract. Williams, Chris Douglas-Roberts' teammate at Memphis, will be retained for the immediate future. Thorn made no long-term promises, however.
"[He's a] talented player, good size, good all-around player," Thorn told The New York Post's Fred Kerber. "We're going to take a look at him."
The trade was thought to center around Humphries, an energetic forward off the bench that will help the Nets' woeful rebounding (New Jersey set an NBA record for getting outrebounded in the most consecutive games). The 6-foot-9 Williams looked to be Thorn's way of taking a headache off of Dallas' roster and then buying him out.
The move is surprising because Sean Williams' release was an attempt at purging the locker room of any possible negative influences going forward. Williams was a likable guy in the locker room, but he never had his head on straight. His future with the Nets' was on borrowed time after he refused to play in the NBDL after New Jersey sent him there to get significant playing time.
The Nets will hold onto a forward that John Calipari once praised as a sleeper in the 2006 draft. Shawne Williams has had continuous run-ins with the law, however. The Star-Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro chronicles the laundry list of encounters Williams has had with police.
Williams resided on the bench in Dallas, and New Jersey might feel he can help its front-line. The additions of Humphries and Williams make the Nets more athletic and more physical. Humphries will be around for the rest of the season, the jury is still out on Williams.
Humphries and Williams will both take physicals and are expected to be with New Jersey for its game against division-rival Boston on Wednesday night at The Izod Center.
Other Williams news
Former Net Jayson Williams finally accepted a plea deal for the shooting of his limo driver, Costas Christofi.
He is expected to serve at least 18 months as part of a deal. He had been fighting the charges for eight years and was recently involved in a DUI crash.
For the full story and more sports news, visit Paula Duffy's page.
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