The Nets made a move to shore up its roster for the future on Tuesday, exercising options on the rookie contracts of Brook Lopez and Terrence Williams through the 2011-12 season.
Lopez, the 10th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, has blossomed into one of the league’s most promising young big men. In his first two seasons with the Nets, he’s averaged 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. His option will pay him $3 million in the fourth and final year of his first Nets contract.
Williams, whose option will pay him $2.3 million in during his third NBA campaign, was the 11th pick in 2009. During his rookie season in 2009-10, he posted averages of 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game and figures to play a big role in the Nets’ backcourt this season.