EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jeff McInnis signed a two-year deal with the New Jersey Nets on Thursday to back up Jason Kidd. "I still think I am a starter in this league," McInnis said by telephone from Charlotte, N.C. "The short-term contract will give me an opportunity to be a starter in this league, whether with New Jersey or not." The former 30-year-old North Carolina star said he's looking forward to a fresh start after a tumultuous exit from Cleveland. He was benched by coach Paul Silas on March 20 for a game in Toronto, a day before Silas was fired and replaced by assistant coach Brendan Malone. McInnis did not accompany the team to its final regular-season game, also in Toronto, because of an unspecified and unexplained "viral syndrome." The day before, at a game in Boston, he remained in the locker room for part of third quarter and sat on the bench for the rest of the game with a towel wrapped around his head. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 42-40 record and missed out on the final Eastern Conference playoff spot in a tiebreaker with the Nets. "The Cleveland thing is in the past," McInnis said. "I'm just happy go be a Net. I just want to move forward." McInnis has averaged 10.6 points and 4.6 assists in eight seasons with Denver, Washington, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland and Cleveland. Last year with the Cavaliers, he averaged 12.8 points and 5.1 assists. Nets President Rod Thorn has said McInnis will back up Kidd at point guard and also play shooting guard, a prospect McInnis said was appealing. "Playing behind Jason Kidd, or just to go against him every day in practice, you can learn," McInnis said. "I'm really excited about it." McInnis qualifies as the Nets' major offseason acquisition after a deal for Portland forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim fell apart when Abdur-Rahim failed a physical. On Tuesday, New Jersey used the trade exception it had planned to use in that deal to acquire 76ers forward Marc Jackson instead. The team also re-signed veteran forward Cliff Robinson, who played in 29 games for the Nets last season after being acquired from Golden State midway through the season. -- 大家祝福他吧!! --

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