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Thursday, July 19, 2001
All three will play for Nets in Boston summer camp
Sports Ticker
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets on
Friday announced the signing of three first-round draft choices -- small forward Richard Jefferson, center Jason Collins and guard
Brandon Armstrong -- they acquired from the Houston Rockets on
draft day.
Terms were not disclosed, but Jefferson is eligible to earn $3.644 million over three years from the rookie salary scale as
the 13th overall choice in the draft under the collective
bargaining agreement.
Selected 18th overall, Collins can earn $2.820 million over
three years and Armstrong, the 23rd overall choice, is eligible to
make $2.287 million.
All three declared for the draft as underclassmen and will
participate in the Shaw Pro Summer League, which will be held at
the University of Massachusetts-Boston from July 16-22.
Nets president Rod Thorn selected Seton Hall forward Eddie
Griffin with the seventh overall selection and sent him to the
Rockets for their three first-round selections.
"We are very pleased to add these three players to our roster,"
Thorn said. "They add talent and depth to our team at three
different positions."
The 6-foot-7, 222-pound Jefferson played three years at Arizona and
is known for his athletic ability and defensive prowess. He
averaged 13.5 points and shot 50 percent from the floor during
Arizona's run to the NCAA title game and was an All-Final
Four selection after scoring 36 points against Michigan State
and Duke.
In New Jersey, Jefferson could step in at shooting guard for the
oft-injured Kerry Kittles or as a backup at small forward.
The 7-foot, 265-pound Collins should see part-time duty at
center for the Nets. He left Stanford after averaging 14.5
points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds as a junior, shooting 61
percent from the field.
The 6-5, 185-pound Armstrong averaged 22.1 points as a junior at
Pepperdine and his 684 total points was the fourth-highest total
in school history. He can back up both guard spots for the
Nets.
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