Sasha Vujacic, who was acquired Wednesday by the Nets, will be in the rotation tonight against the Wizards.Sasha Vujacic had some extra work to put in after his new teammates were finished with shootaround this morning at the PNY Center. About an hour after the Nets wrapped up their morning workout, Vujacic emerged from the film room, where he had been having a one-on-one catchup session with assistant coach Popeye Jones, to talk to the reporters who were waiting around for him.
After a round of introductions and hand-shaking, Vujacic -- acquired officially Wednesday in the three-team deal that sent Terrence Williams to Houston, Joe Smith and a pair of second round draft picks to the Lakers, and brought back two first round picks and Vujacic to the Nets -- Vujacic smiled and said he was excited to be in New Jersey, where he will step right into the rotation, after playing just 10 games for the Lakers this season.
"I had a talk with the coach (Johnson) and he told me I’m going to play tonight – all the physicals went through and everything,'' said Vujacic, who joined the Nets from Indianapolis, where he was Wednesday with the Lakers. "They obviously need some shooting, but whatever is needed, you know, defense, and like I said, everything I’ve learned the past seven years, I’ll give them.''
Vujacic mentioned Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, general manager Billy King and Johnson, and talked about the Nets' vision for the future, saying hopefully he can be a part of it. Chances are, he won't -- he is operating on an expiring contract, after all -- but he said all the right things.
"I’m honestly really excited,'' he said. "I’m really excited about (being traded). Like I said, I’ll do my best to bring whatever is needed to a team that is in a little struggle right now. I remember, we played them a couple of nights ago, and they just couldn’t finish… They just need a couple of things. It’s a young team, and I think they’re heading in the right direction.''
Vujacic was given jersey No. 20. He said there was some significance to the number, but wouldn't elaborate.
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Vujacic's ex-Lakers teammate, Jordan Farmar, will take Anthony Morrow's place in the starting lineup, but that's the only change from the last game, Johnson said. Quinton Ross gets his third straight start at the small forward position and with Nets having only 14 players on their roster, Morrow (strained hamstring) and Damion James (broken foot) should be the only inactives for the game. Troy Murphy, who has not dressed for the last two games (sitting out Tuesday's game in favor of Joe Smith, who'd already been traded) should be in uniform.