EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Nets, who recently addressed their need for an inside presence by acquiring center Dikembe Mutombo, Wednesday added some frontcourt scoring as they signed free agent forward Rodney Rogers.
Terms of his deal were not released.
Rogers split last season between the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. He averaged 10.7 points in 27 games with the Celtics, shooting 41 percent from three-point range. Rogers averaged 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in the Eastern Conference finals, where the Celtics lost in six games to the Nets.
"We are very pleased to add Rodney to our roster," said Nets General Manager Rod Thorn. "He is a seasoned NBA veteran with valuable playoff experience who will add depth and versatility to our frontcourt rotation."
The 6-7 Rogers has averaged 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 671 career games with the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix and Boston. Denver chose him with the ninth overall pick in the 1993 draft.
New Jersey had the best record in the Eastern Conference, setting a franchise record with 52 wins last season. The Nets reached the NBA Finals for the first time, but were swept by Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers.
They pulled off perhaps the biggest trade this offseason on Aug. 6, sending forward Keith Van Horn and center Todd MacCulloch to the Philadelphia 76ers for Mutombo, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
