According to the Winston-Salem Journal, Eric Williams and Justin Gray of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have received NBA Summer League spots.

Williams, a big power forward, will receive his spot from the New Jersey Nets and Gray, a combo guard, will receive his spot from the Toronto Raptors.

"He's really happy about it," said Williams's agent Juan Davis. "It's the same money as a second-rounder, as long as he makes the team. Second round and undrafted get the same amount of money. He's going to a place where he's wanted and where he has a good chance to make the roster. He has family up in the New York and New Jersey area, and it's on the East Coast."

New Jersey Nets President Rod Thorn announced today that the team has declined to exercise the option on forward Clifford Robinson for the 2006-07 season, and has waived forward Scott Padgett.  

Robinson appeared in 80 games in 2005-06 for the Nets, averaging 6.9 ppg and 3.3 rpg.  He posted 23 double figure scoring games and twice scored 20-plus points.  The 17-year veteran has career averages of 14.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg in 1,330 games with five different teams.

Padgett, who signed as free agent with the Nets prior to the 2005-06 season, averaged 3.4 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 62 games last season.  He totaled five games of 10-plus points and had a season-high 15 points, shooting 5-for-5 from three-point range, on 12/16/05 vs. Denver.  In seven NBA seasons, Padgett has career averages of 4.4 ppg and 2.8 rpg in 417

While saying that Wednesday's draft may ultimately decide the Clifford Robinson situation, Rod Thorn said that the veteran will likely be back with the club.

"The odds are probably that we'll bring Cliff back. When you look at it, how are we going to get a big who can do what he can do still for us and have some experience?"

The Nets must decide by Friday on Robinson. They would like him back at less than the $2.5 million team-option price and will try to negotiate a deal.

Jeff McInnis picked up his $3.6 million option, but is very unlikely to return to the Nets next season.

The Nets are shopping him and if they can't find a taker, they may buy him out or pay him and order him to say away from the team.

Despite contrary rumors, the Nets are not shopping Richard Jefferson according to Nets General Manager Ed Stefanski.

"We talk to everybody," Nets GM Ed Stefanski said. "And they always bring up his name, I don't. Everyone likes Richard, for obvious reasons."

You can mark that down as a denial. The Nets aren't shopping Richard Jefferson. And along with that, Stefanski reiterated that it would take some colossal, unforeseen circumstance for his team to break up the core, writes Star-Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro.

The Nets had a successful 2005-2006 season, but Richard Jefferson is reportedly available.

"RJ's out there," one GM insists. "He's been out there for a while."

"They're quietly shopping him," a second GM said.

"I've been hearing that he and Jason aren't getting on too well," another said.

On Tuesday, the New Jersey Supreme Court said it would consider whether the manslaughter retrial of former NBA star Jayson Williams can include evidence of a what he did after the shotgun death of a hired driver.

The court rejected, in a related ruling, Williams' bid to appeal a ruling allowing his retrial on a charge of reckless manslaughter.

Marc Cornstein, the agent for Mile Ilic, expects his client to be bought out of his contract with FMP in Serbia in the next several weeks and in a New Jersey Nets' uniform by training camp, according to a report published by North Jersey.

The 7-foot-2 Ilic was the Nets' second-round pick last year.

"I think if the Nets want him here he'll be here and every indication I've gotten is the Nets want him here," Cornstein said. "I do believe [the buyout] is something that will happen shortly. I think it will be manageable.

"I would be disappointed at this stage if Ilic was not a Net come October."

The Jay Williams tour will make a stop for an audition with the Nets on June 17th.

Williams, the 2nd overall pick in the 2002 Draft, played one season with the Bulls but was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in 2003.

A memorial center dedicated to Drazen Petrovic opened Wednesday, the Associated Press is reporting, containing his No. 3 New Jersey Nets jersey and the watch that stopped when he died in a car crash 13 years ago.

Launched by Petrovic's mother and co-financed by the government, the center features 1,000 memorabilia items and a video of his basketball highlights. Petrovic died at 28 in Germany in 1993.