NBA

Nets’ Lopez shrugs off trade rumors

Deron Williams spotted his center, Brook Lopez, at the start of the first day of Nets training camp yesterday and had a simple message.

“I told him it was good to see him here,” Williams said.

Lopez has been the subject of trade rumors, with reports sending him to Orlando as part of a package for Magic stud Dwight Howard. But the fourth-year center insisted he does not let any of it bother him — he went through the same thing last season.

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“I don’t read a lot,” Lopez deadpanned when asked for his reaction. “It comes with the business. It was a crazy enough summer to begin with. There’s rumors everywhere. I guess it’s a good way for the start of the season after no basketball, the lockout the whole summer, to throw all this stuff out at the beginning of the season and get the NBA name back in the papers.”

So folks talked to Lopez, who according to coach Avery Johnson was “fired up” for the first day back after a summer that included work with Hall of Fame legend Hakeem Olajuwon. Williams’ advice was “just a lot of keeping coming out here working, ignore the rumors and everything like that,” said Lopez, who repeated a willingness to move to power forward if needed.

* The Nets officially brought their two rookies into the fold, signing Providence’s MarShon Brooks, the 25th pick who starts off making about $1.1 million this season, and Maryland rebounder deluxe Jordan Williams, who’ll earn about $473,000.

* The popularity of the Williams name continues for the Nets as 6-9 Shelden Williams, who finished up last season with the Knicks is expected in tomorrow. Williams agreed to a one-year deal ($884,000) yesterday.

* Travis Outlaw didn’t want to talk about how he broke his right hand, as well as the question about becoming an amnesty clause victim (the Nets have until Friday to decide). Outlaw, who skipped physical contact, admitted he broke his hand working out while boxing, refusing additional details “’cause it’s kind of embarrassing.”