NEW YORK, March 7 (UPI) -- It looks like veteran point guard Chris Childs of New Jersey is being dumped.
The New York Times reported Friday that the team negotiated a buyout with Childs, and likely will waive him, pending league approval.
Childs, 35, was in the first year of a two-year, $3.5 million contract, but played in just 22 games, averaging 1.3 points in 8.8 minutes per contest.
"We have an agreement," New Jersey President Rod Thorn told the paper. "We just need the league to sign off on it."
Childs, signed in August to serve as a backup to Jason Kidd, immediately incensed the Nets when he reported to training camp overweight and was slowed by an Achilles' tendon injury. New Jersey suspended him for the first 18 games of the season, but that was only the start of his trouble.
Childs, who began his nine-year career with the Nets in 1994-95, was activated in January, but could not adjust to the motion offense of Coach Byron Scott. Also, he was held up at gunpoint outside a New York nightclub in December.
Known as a tenacious defender, Childs has averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 assists per contest in 529 career games, also playing for Toronto and New York.
He enjoyed his best season in 1995-96 with New Jersey, averaging 12.8 points and 7.0 assists, before signing a six-year, $24 million contract with New York.
