Mercer signs with New Jersey

[Mikki]

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets signed free-agent guard Ron Mercer to a two-year contract worth just over $3 million Thursday.

The seven-year veteran fills the team's hole at two guard and adds another scoring threat to go alongside Jason Kidd.

"I'm definitely glad to have this opportunity to come here and play hard and do the things this team needs me to do," Mercer said. "I'm ready to start immediately, ready to play right now."

The 6-foot-7 Mercer played with San Antonio last season, averaging a career-low 5.0 points and 13.2 minutes a game. He joins his seventh NBA team, having previously played for Boston, Denver, Orlando, Chicago, and Indiana.

Mercer has averaged 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 414 career games, while shooting 43 percent from the field.

"He will compete immediately for the starting position at the two spot," Nets general manager Ed Stefanski said. "He gives us scoring ability. He can handle the ball. He's a scorer."

Stefanski said the team had Mercer undergo an MRI on his ankle, which showed no evidence of a past injury. Mercer missed several games last season with a left ankle injury.

Drafted by Boston with the sixth overall pick in 1997, Mercer won NBA All-Rookie first team honors.

"I just think right now at this part of my career I'm ready to go out and do all the things I'm capable of doing," Mercer said. "The last two or three years I haven't had the opportunity because of playing time to show what I'm capable of doing."

Mercer said he was contacted by five or six teams, but wanted to play for coach Lawrence Frank.

"He tried to recruit me while I was in high school," Mercer said. "He was a funny, good guy, just like he is now. He hasn't changed at all. He still looks the same. That's one guy that I trusted over the years."

Mercer helped Indiana reach the playoffs in each of his two seasons with the Pacers. In 11 playoff games with Indiana, Mercer averaged 7.1 points and 2.1 rebounds. In their first-round series against New Jersey in 2002, Mercer averaged 7.8 points while shooting 50 percent from the field in five games.

It looks like the Nets are really getting cheap players.

[Jay-Peso]

I'd have to agree with that

Cheap compared to everyone else in the league

[Jackal]

They still have a wide open front court & even in the weak East, that wont cut it.

Maybe they'll start one of the three draft-picks they acquired.

[Carlos Boozer]

He is good scorer They need some quality front court players too

[Andrew]

I guess it's a fairly good move by the Nets, though it doesn't make up for the talent they've basically thrown away this summer in the name of cutting costs.

The 6-foot-7 Mercer played with San Antonio last season, averaging a career-low 5.0 points and 13.2 minutes a game. He joins his seventh NBA team, having previously played for Boston, Denver, Orlando, Chicago, and Indiana.

Only his seventh team? I could have sworn it was more. Nevertheless, Ron Mercer is quickly becoming the Jim Jackson of the 21st Century.

[Stevan]

Only his seventh team? I could have sworn it was more. Nevertheless, Ron Mercer is quickly becoming the Jim Jackson of the 21st Century.

Don't insult Jimmy like that!
I always like Mercer, pity he didn't become the player he was supposed to be. You never know what can happen when you play with Jason Kidd (If Kidd is still around).
Now we just have to see whether Mercer disappeared the last two seasons because he couldn't get playing time on his teams, or because he just plain sucks.

[Andrew]

I thought the JJ comparison was more flattering than Tony Massenburg or Chucky Brown. To be fair to Jackson, he has bounced around a few lottery bound teams that have no clear rebuilding plan...or been left unsigned to cut costs.

[ATTENTIONWHORE]

I thought the JJ comparison was more flattering than Tony Massenburg or Chucky Brown. To be fair to Jackson, he has bounced around a few lottery bound teams that have no clear rebuilding plan...or been left unsigned to cut costs.

Ahem....*Cough* Bulls *Cough*.

[Andrew]

JJ's never been a Bull, not even momentarily as far as I can remember.

Selected after junior season by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round (fourth pick overall) of the 1992 NBA Draft...Traded by the Mavericks with Sam Cassell, Chris Gatling, George McCloud and Eric Montross to the New Jersey Nets for Shawn Bradley, Ed O'Bannon, Robert Pack and Khalid Reeves on 2/17/97...Traded by the Nets with Eric Montross and the draft rights to Tim Thomas and Anthony Parker to the Philadelphia 76ers for Michael Cage, Lucious Harris, Don MacLean and the draft rights to Keith Van Horn on 6/27/97...Traded by the 76ers with Clarence Weatherspoon to the Golden State Warriors for Joe Smith and Brian Shaw on 2/17/98...Signed as a free agent by the Portland Trail Blazers on 2/2/99 ... Traded by the Trail Blazers with Isaiah Rider to the Atlanta Hawks for Steve Smith and Ed Gray on 8/2/99...Traded by the Hawks with Anthony Johnson and Larry Robinson to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Brevin Knight on 1/2/01...Signed as a free agent by the Miami Heat on 12/2/01...Signed as a free agent by the Sacramento Kings on 11/30/02 ... Signed as a free agent by the Houston Rockets on 9/30/03.

[ATTENTIONWHORE]

he has bounced around a few lottery bound teams that have no clear rebuilding plan...or been left unsigned to cut costs.

That surely sounds like Mercer here in Chicago...I know JJ didn't play here; I was just backing up your statement.

[Andrew]

My apologies, I misunderstood your post - I thought you were referring to JJ. My mistake.