EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - The New Jersey Nets signed veteran free agent forward Joe Smith to a one-year contract and hired Milton Lee as director of basketball operations on Friday.
Smith received the veteran minimum of $1,352,131, the team said.
The first pick overall in the 1995 draft, Smith is joining his 11th team in a 15-year NBA career. He appeared in 64 games with Atlanta last season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Smith has career averages of 11 points and 6.5 rebounds in 1,014 games with Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. His best season was in 1996-97 with the Warriors, when he averaged a career-best 18.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 80 games.
Lee will oversee the statistical and analytical efforts, while helping assistant general manager Bobby Marks with player personnel.
Lee worked as a skills coach with several NBA players, including current Net Troy Murphy. He also served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers summer league team in 2008 and 2009. He's been a consultant to the NBA at the past five pre-draft combines.