Nets exercise options on Williams, Boone through '09

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets exercised the third-year options on the contracts of guard Marcus Williams and forward Josh Boone on Monday, keeping the players through the 2008-09 season.

"Both Marcus and Josh have consistently improved since joining our team," Nets president Rod Thorn said.

Williams and Boone were teammates at Connecticut and were selected by the Nets with the 22nd and 23rd picks in the 2006 draft. Williams averaged 6.8 points and 3.3 assists in 79 games, and Boone averaged 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds while limited to 61 games by a shoulder injury.