Two parties wanted their marriage annulled and they got just that Thursday afternoon.
The Nets took advantage of the new clause in the CBA that allows teams to waive players signed prior to the lockout. Billy King did just that with Travis Outlaw, and the Nets will save $7 million in cap space thanks to the amnesty clause.
Avery Johnson and King curiously waited until after practice to give Outlaw the bad news. He will be seeking employment elsewhere after a nightmarish 17 months with the organization.
He was signed after a successful stint with the Portland Trail Blazers where he served mainly as the sixth man. Still boasting youth and a strong pedigree, the Nets gambled on Outlaw after missing out on all the blue chip free agents in the summer of 2010.
The Nets lost that gamble, but the league gave them a get out of jail free card.
"Travis was amnestied,'' Johnson said after practice. "He'll be moving on. We wish him the best. He played hard for us; he's very coachable... He's a good kid.''
The Nets waived Outlaw with four years and $28 million left on his contract.
On the same day that the Nets bid farewell to one small forward, they welcomed another.
The Nets agreed to a 2-year, $6.1 million contract with 25-year old forward Shawne Williams. The former Knicks averaged 40.1 percent shooting from three last year.
Williams made a stop in New Jersey as part of the Kris Humphries trade in 2010, but he was released amid a felony drug investigation.
The Knicks wanted Williams back but were offering nearly $2 million less. He also was not thrilled about the Knicks preferred pursuit of Jamal Crawford.
While the Nets are used to striking out, their cross-river rivals came up empty Thursday as Crawford signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.
With the newfound cap space, the Nets will continue to fill out their roster in preparation for their Dec. 26 season opener.
Kris Humphries is still in the Nets plans, as is Russian forward Andrei Kirilenko. The Nets would like to sign one or both at one-year deals to save cap space.
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