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Nets Sign Rodney Buford

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., July 29 -- The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Rodney Buford, Nets CEO Rod Thorn announced today. As per club policy, terms of the contract we not released.


Buford
"We are pleased to add Rodney to our roster," said Thorn. "He is a versatile performer who will add depth to our team at both the two and three positions."

Buford, a 6-5 guard out of Creighton, joins his fifth NBA team, having previously played for Miami, Philadelphia, Memphis and Sacramento. The four-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 6.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.6 percent in 166 games.

Originally selected by the Miami Heat in the second round (53rd overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft, Buford averaged 4.3 ppg in 34 games as a rookie. Buford was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets as part of a nine-player deal on Aug. 1, 2000.

Waived by the Hornets prior to the 2000-01 season, Buford signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 23, 2000. Buford appeared in 47 games for the Sixers, averaging 5.3 ppg, as well as 15 postseason contests as he aided Philadelphia in its run to the NBA Finals, averaging 1.4 ppg.

Following a one-year stint in Philadelphia, Buford signed with the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 11, 2001, where he enjoyed his best season in the NBA, averaging 9.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 63 games during the 2001-02 season. After a year away from the NBA in 2002-03, Buford signed with the Sacramento Kings on Sept. 29, 2003, for the 2003-04 season, where he appeared in 22 regular season contests, averaging 1.9 ppg and five playoff games, in which he averaged 2.4 ppg.