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Tickets at Ticket Master
The New Jersey Nets waived Dikembe Mutombo, making the four-time National Basketball Association Defensive Player of the Year a free agent.
There have been reports that the Nets were trying to trade Mutombo, 37, who has two years and 37 million dollars remaining on his contract.
The Nets did not announce whether a buyout or settlement had been reached.
"Dikembe is a first-class individual, and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors," Nets president Rod Thorn said in a statement.
Thorn traded for Mutombo after the 2001-02 season, when the Nets reached the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise ticketmaster history but were manhandled by Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nets sent forward Keith Van Horn and center Todd MacCulloch to the Philadelphia 76ers for Mutombo, who in his prime was the most intimidating defensive player in the NBA. He often would block a shot and wag his finger at his foe as if to say, "Not on me."
After helping the 76ers reach the 2001 Finals, Mutombo signed a four-year contract worth an estimated 65 million dollars. Last December, he suffered a broken wrist that forced him to miss four months.
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Upon his return, the lumbering Mutombo found himself out of the rotation as
coach Byron Scott went with a smaller, ticketmaster quicker lineup. He averaged
career lows of 5.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in just 24 games.
The Nets returned to the NBA Finals, losing to San Antonio in six games. Mutombo had a minor impact with his defense in Game Two but otherwise was not a factor.
Thorn's decision to release Mutombo was made a bit easier by the offseason signing of free agent center Alonzo Mourning, who played collegiately with Mutombo at Georgetown. The Nets also have Jason Collins and Aaron Williams as options at center.
A future Hall of Famer who is building a hospital in his homeland of the Democratic Republic of Congo , ticketmaster Mutombo has averaged 12.2 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.33 blocks in 864 games with Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New Jersey. He is a seven-time All-Star.