Trail Blazers Press Release

Trail Blazers Acquire Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, And 2012 First Round Draft Pick From New Jersey

03/15/12

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    Portland sends Gerald Wallace to Nets, waives centers Greg Oden and Chris Johnson

    PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired center Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams and a 2012 first round pick from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for forward Gerald Wallace, it was announced today by the team.

    Portland also requested waivers on centers Greg Oden and Chris Johnson today.

    “This trade was very compelling to us because not only does it give us more flexibility in free agency, but we also acquire a very attractive first-round draft pick,” said Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. “I’d like to thank Gerald, Greg and Chris for all they’ve done for the franchise and hope for nothing but the best for them and their futures.”

    The draft pick is top-three protected, meaning the Trail Blazers will own the pick in 2012 as long as it is not in the top three of the NBA Draft.

    Okur, 32, has averages of 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 29.1 minutes in 10 NBA seasons with Detroit, Utah and New Jersey. An NBA All-Star in 2007 and a native of Turkey, Okur has appeared in 17 games for the Nets this season, averaging 7.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

    Williams, 26, has posted career averages of 5.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in parts of five seasons with Indiana, Dallas, New York and New Jersey. He has played in 25 games for New Jersey this season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds.

    Acquired in a trade deadline deal last season from Charlotte, Wallace has notched averages of 14.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.66 steals in 65 games (57 starts) with the Trail Blazers.

    Oden, an unrestricted free agent next season, averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.43 blocks in 82 games over four NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers.

    Johnson averaged 1.6 points, 0.9 rebounds and 4.7 minutes in 20 games for the Trail Blazers this season. He appeared in 10 games for Portland in 2010-11.
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