NETS Acquire Gerald Wallace from Trail Blazers

Send Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and Draft Pick to Portland

March 15, 2012

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—The New Jersey Nets have acquired forward Gerald Wallace from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for center Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams and the Nets' 2012 protected first round draft pick, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

"We are excited to add Gerald's experience and toughness at the small forward position," said King. "His leadership and defensive prowess will be assets to our team going forward."

Wallace, a 2010 NBA All-Star, comes to the Nets after making 42 starts for the Blazers this season and posting averages of 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The 6-7 forward was selected by Sacramento in the first round (25th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft out of the University of Alabama and spent his first three NBA seasons with the Kings. He then began a seven-year stint with Charlotte after being selected by the Bobcats in the NBA Expansion Draft in 2004. Wallace enjoyed his best seasons in Charlotte in 2007-08, when he averaged a career- high 19.4 points per game and in 2009-10, with averages of 18.2 points and a career-best 10.0 rebounds, earning him NBA All-Star honors as well as a place on the NBA's All Defensive First Team. Midway through the 2010-11 season, Wallace was traded to Portland, where he played parts of three seasons. Currently in his 11th NBA season, Wallace has played in a total of 657 games and holds career averages of 13.4 points on .475 shooting and 6.3 rebounds per game. Wallace has helped his teams reach the playoffs on five occasions and lists postseason averages of 7.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 25 games.

Okur, who was acquired from Utah on December 22, 2011, played in 17 games for the Nets this season, with averages of 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game. He missed a total of 27 games this season with a sore lower back. The 10-year NBA veteran from Turkey holds career averages of 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 634 NBA games with Detroit, Utah and New Jersey.

Williams, who signed with the Nets as a free agent on December 15, 2011, played in 25 games for the Nets this season, with averages of 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. He has missed a total of 19 games due to injury and underwent season ending left foot surgery on February 22. The five-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds over 215 games with Indiana, Dallas, New York and New Jersey.

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