Newly acquired Nets guard Chris Quinn, left, watched the Nets' Keyon Dooling fly past him while with the Heat in 2008.Veteran point guard Rafer Alston, who started 13 of the first 15 games this season, filling in for an injured Devin Harris, was given his parole from the Nets, when the team reached a buyout agreement for the final season of his $5.25 million contract and waived him Tuesday afternoon.
In a separate transaction announced just before Tuesday night’s game against Milwaukee, the Nets acquired point guard Chris Quinn, cash, and a second round pick in 2012 from the Miami Heat for an exchange for a 2010 second round pick, which is pick is protected if it is between No. 31 and 50 overall.
Alston, 33, is expected to sign with Miami.
Nets GM/coach Kiki Vandeweghe had nothing but good things to say about Alston, who started 13 of the first 15 games of the season, filling in for injured point guard Devin Harris.
“I can’t say enough good things about Rafer Alston,’’ Vandeweghe said. “He was a consummate professional for us, he filled in for Devin Harris when Devin was hurt, played a lot of minutes, played very, very well – always enthusiastic, always performed very well.’’
But with Keyon Dooling returning to the lineup full time after missing 24 of the first 28 games following hip surgery, Alston had sat out four of the last five games. And that, Vandeweghe said, was a tough situation for the veteran from Queens.
“(Alston)’s been a star, he’s been a starter for most of his careerÂ… and played in the championship series (for Orlando) last year, and has a lot more basketball left in him,’’ Vandeweghe said. “And to be able to set up a situation where he, potentially, could get to a place where he wants to go – and out of a situation that’s not good for him, I think, is really good for everybody. Hopefully, it ends up good for him. We wish him only the best.’’
In 27 games this season (13 starts), Alston averaged 9.7 points, and he was second on the team in assists at 3.9 per game. He had $3.05 million coming to him for the remaining 49 games, and the Nets were able to convince Fegan to settle for roughly $2.1 million.
Forward Jarvis Hayes was asked what Alston will be able to contribute to another team.
“To a playoff team? He can contribute immensely,’’ Hayes said. “He’s got great awareness, he knows how to run a team – a good leader. I don’t know who’s going to get him, but he’ll be a great asset.’’
The 6-2 Quinn, in his fourth season out of Notre Dame, has been inactive for every game this season.
He has career averages of 5.6 points and 2.2 assists in 168 career games and is earning $1.05 million in the final year of his contract.
Josh Boone sat out the game with a sore left knee.
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