East Rutherford, NJ - The New Jersey Nets have named Billy King as their next general manager.

King takes the reins from Rod Thorn, who is stepping down as team president and general manager after 10 years on the job. It is also expected King will assume the title of president, a dual position new owner Mikhail Prokhorov wanted to keep intact.

"I am very pleased Billy King is coming on board as Nets general manager, said Prokhorov. "He has all of the qualities we've been looking for in a candidate: professionalism, good relations with the league, players and agents, and strong communications skills."

King previously spent 10 years with the Philadelphia 76ers, first as vice president of basketball administration starting in 1997 before a quick ascent to the general manager's position and then to team president from 2003-07.

King was fired by Sixers chairman Ed Snider in December of 2007 and replaced by Ed Stefanski, who was general manager of the Nets at the time.

"I am very excited about joining the Nets organization," said King. "I want to thank Mr. Prokhorov and his executive team for the opportunity to oversee a franchise that has such a vibrant owner, an outstanding coach in Avery Johnson, and possesses the combination of young talent, cap space and draft choices that will allow us to build a squad that will be able to contend for an NBA title."


Nets sign Farmar, Outlaw and Petro
East Rutherford, NJ - The New Jersey Nets have signed guard Jordan Farmar, forward Travis Outlaw and center Johan Petro.

According to team policy, no terms of the deals were announced.

Farmar was a member of the Lakers' back-to-back NBA championship teams the past two seasons as a valuable contributor off the bench.

In 82 regular-season games last season, Farmar averaged 7.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 18 minutes per contest. The 23-year-old shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc, hitting 86 three-pointers.

Farmar added 4.6 points per game and 20 total threes during LA's 23-game march to its second straight title. The UCLA product has career per game averages of 6.9 points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 boards while shooting 35.9 percent on threes over his four-year pro tenure. He's made two starts in 301 career games.

The Newark Star-Ledger has reported that Farmar's deal is for three years and $12 million.

The 25-year-old Outlaw was taken with the 23rd overall pick in the 2003 draft by Portland and played six-plus seasons with the Trail Blazers before getting dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers in February.

In 34 games -- six starts -- with both teams in 2009-10, Outlaw combined to average 9.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.

For his career, he has appeared in 400 contests, starting 32, and has averaged 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds.

The 7-foot Petro is a five year NBA veteran with career averages of 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 306 games with Seattle/Oklahoma City and Denver. Last season, he posted averages of 3.4 points and 3.6 rebounds for the Nuggets.

The Star-Ledger reports Petro's deal is for three years and worth $10 million.


Basketball.com