The Nets cut ties Monday with their troubled former first-round pick, Sean Williams, and sent oft-injured backup Eduardo Najera to Dallas for two backup players, Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams. The release of Williams and the minor trade had been reported over the weekend.
Najera's contract has another two years left on his contract, at $5.4 million, while Humphries is signed through next season at $3.2 million, and Shawne Williams doesn't have a contract beyond this season. So the Nets could pick up more cap space for the summer of 2011 if they part ways with Shawne Williams.
Sean Williams played in 126 games after the Nets took him with the 17th pick overall in 2007. He gained notoriety for having been arrested twice last season. He was primarily a backup in New Jersey, averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 126 games.
Humphries, who turns 25 next month, has been a disappointment since being the 14th player drafted overall in 2005 by Utah. During his first six years in the NBA, he's been a backup forward with Utah, Toronto and Dallas. During his one season with the Mavs, he played in 25 games, averaging 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game.
While Sean Williams had his share of off-court troubles in his three seasons with the Nets, their new Shawne Williams comes to New Jersey with his own rap sheet. The Pacers' top pick in 2006 was arrested in Sept. 2007 on a marijuana possession charge during a traffic stop. One of the passengers in the SUV Williams was driving in Indianapolis took responsibility for the drugs. A second passenger was arrested for carrying a 9mm handgun without a license, which also had been stolen.
Shawne Williams, who turns 24 in February, ended up pleading guilty to several driving offenses and was sentenced to 40 hours community service and fined $400. He was traded to Dallas in Oct. 2008 for Eddie Jones. A forward, he had been on the Mavs' inactive list for every game this season.
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