NBA

Nets at tipping point facing Knicks today

When last we checked in on professional basketball on the court in the New York-New Jersey area, the Knicks were ending their playoffs in a sweep by the Celtics long after the Nets had shut it down.

One lengthy lockout, some free-agent signings and the Knicks’ trade for a defensive center later, the game returns today — in preseason form — at Prudential Center in Newark, where the area rivals meet for the first of two exhibition games.

The familiarity between the teams goes beyond geography: While the Knicks reportedly are interested in recently amnestied Nets forward Travis Outlaw, the Nets have added two free-agent forwards, Shelden Williams and Shawne Williams, both of whom played with the Knicks last season. Shelden will start today for the Nets. Shawne’s impact could come later in games.

Nets guard deluxe Anthony Morrow remembers last season when games were close late. It could be different this year with Shawne Williams helped spread the floor.

“I remember I was real popular with defenses late,” laughed Morrow, second all-time in 3-point shooting percentage. “With Shawne, it’s going to help the team. It’s going to help me. He can really play and he knows the game. He’s a guy who can stretch the floor.”

Shawne Williams, who shot .401 on threes last season, opted for the Nets rather than returning to the Knicks and he could get some minutes today. Williams, an option at either of the forward spots, sees himself playing anywhere. He saw an opportunity for more minutes with the Nets — and more money (two years, $6.1 million).

“Coach [Avery Johnson] said he sees me playing the three,” Williams said. “I’ll play anywhere, whether it’s 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. I just want to play and I just want to win.

“I’m not saying like I wouldn’t have had any minutes in New York, there were minutes there, too. I just feel like it was the best decision for my career and bettering myself as a player trying to take it to the next level.”

And the bank account didn’t take a hit, either.

“It was a career decision, mostly a business decision, but I want to thank the Knicks organization,” Williams said. “It was a hard decision to make, but I feel like I made the right decision for me, my family and my career. … I was waiting on the Knicks so long, they [Nets] came in and it was kind of appealing to me. “

And to the Nets, who are still very much a work in progress. For now, the Nets are using versatile guys who can play multiple spots. Damion James will start at the three today and is seen as a situational four. Shawne Williams, same thing. Shelden Williams, today’s starting power forward, also is viewed as a backup center. And Johnson frequently has spoken of Lopez and center backup Johan Petro playing four and five.

“We’ve got a lot of versatile guys who can play multiple positions, which I think is a plus,” Deron Williams said, noting one of those versatile types is Shawne Williams. “He looked good. He looks to be in shape. He can shoot the ball. He’s a smart kid, too, so he’s picking up on things pretty fast.”

This is Shawne Williams’ second tour with the Nets. He came over with Kris Humphries from Dallas in 2010, and was waived four days later in light of a checkered past, which included two drug possession arrests and a guilty misdemeanor plea.

“You take that into consideration, but I think we’re going to put a good support system around him and I think he proved it last year, that he’s on the right track,” general manager Billy King said. “I don’t look at somebody’s past and judge them. … He’s got a fresh start.”