The New Jersey Nets stymied the rival Detroit Pistons' hopes of re-signing the recently traded Elden Campbell by claiming the 7'0" center off waivers from the Utah Jazz late Friday.

"Campbell's the best big [man] available, so I feel he can come in, play minutes for us and help us. We're not going to punt the season and give up," Nets chief executive Rod Thorn said. "We still have a very good opportunity in our division. We've got a couple of top-flight players here and we feel he can be an asset to us."

Campbell was hoping to clear waivers so that he could return to the Pistons, much the same way Lindsey Hunter did last season after being traded to the Boston Celtics in the deal that netted Detroit Rasheed Wallace. Thorn, who had to use a $5 million exception for the right to claim Campbell off waivers, will speak with him on the phone Saturday morning and try to convince him to prolong his career. If he doesn't, the Nets would lose the $5 million regardless.

"I don't have any indication one way or the other right now, but I assume that he will join the team," Thorn said. "As far as I'm concerned, he's property of the Nets. Obviously, he has the prerogative of retiring, but we're going to have a conversation with him and see what transpires. I don't think he wants to retire."