Shock sign free agent Merlakia Jones - Trade for first round draft pick
Published on February 17, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Detroit Shock News Release
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. â Detroit Shock Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel Bill Laimbeer announced today that the Detroit Shock have signed three-time WNBA All-Star (2001, 2000 and 1999) and 2001 All-WNBA First Team guard Merlakia Jones. In a related move, the defending WNBA Champions acquired the Houston Comets' first (11th overall) and third (32nd overall) round selections in the 2004 WNBA Draft in exchange for guard Kedra Holland-Corn and Detroit's second round pick (26th overall) in the 2004 WNBA Draft.
"We are very fortunate to be able to sign a three-time All-Star who has extensive playoff experience. Merlakia is a great person who will fit in well with the chemistry of our team," said Laimbeer, 2003 WNBA Coach of the Year.
"I'm very excited about the winning atmosphere in Detroit," said the three-time WNBA All-Star Jones. "The Shock have great players, knowledgeable coaches and an overall quality organization. Hopefully we can repeat as WNBA Champions in 2004."
Jones, 30, was drafted by Cleveland in the second round (13th overall) of the 1997 WNBA Draft and had played all seven years of her career for the Rockers before being signed by the Shock. Jones was ineligible for the 2004 WNBA dispersal draft when the Rockers franchise was officially disseminated due to the fact that she was an unrestricted free agent. She holds career averages of 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.01 steals in 26.8 minutes per game. She averaged 4.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.8 minutes per game in 2003. Jones is a three-time WNBA All-Star (2001, 2000 and 1999); her best season to date came in 2001 when she averaged a career-high 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 33.3 minutes per game and was named to the All-WNBA First Team. She led Cleveland to four playoff appearances (2003, 2001, 2000 and 1998) and holds career playoff averages of 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.5 minutes in 15 games. She is the Rockers' (2,173 points) and the University of Florida's (2,001 points) all-time leading scorer. Jones is in elite company as one of only 10 WNBA players (only four of them guards) to have recorded 2,100 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists in her career.
The Shock now own the rights to four total draft picks in the 2004 WNBA Draft â scheduled for mid-April â including the 11th and 13th overall selections in the first round. Detroit will pick once in the second round (23rd overall, obtained in last year's Holland-Corn trade with Sacramento). Detroit will pick again in the third round at the 32nd overall spot, a pick that was originally traded from Seattle to Houston in exchange for Rita Williams in 2003.
Holland-Corn, 29, is a former second round pick of the Sacramento Monarchs in the 1999 WNBA Draft and was acquired by Detroit along with a second round draft pick on April 29, 2003 in exchange for Kara Lawson. She appeared in 34 games with the Shock last season, averaging 9.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 20.4 minutes per game. She has never missed a WNBA game in her career. In 162 WNBA games, 130 as a starter, Holland-Corn has averaged 10.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.4 minutes per game. She ranked ninth in the league in three-point field goals (50) and tenth in three-point field goal percentage (40.3%) in 2003. A native of Houston, Texas, she boasts WNBA career playoff averages of 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 15 total playoff games (2003, 2001 and 2000 WNBA Playoffs). Holland-Corn played at the University of Georgia, averaging 12.5 points during her four year Bulldog career.
2004 home opener: 2003 WNBA Champion Detroit Shock will face the Los Angeles Sparks in a rematch of last year's WNBA Finals on Saturday, May 29 at 4 p.m. at The Palace. The Shock will receive their rings and watch the 2003 WNBA Championship banner raised before playing in front of an ABC national television audience.
Shock 2004 season tickets are available by calling 248.377.0100 or by logging onto www.detroitshock.com.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from February 17, 2004
- Comets Acquire Kedra Holland-Corn in a Trade with the Detroit Shock - Houston Comets
- Shock sign free agent Merlakia Jones - Trade for first round draft pick - Detroit Shock
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