<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If the Nets' brass wants to take the easy route in scouting the draft, all they have to do is follow a local team, says Steve Popper of MSG Networks. Popper says that UConn has everything the Nets need in a power forward, either Hilton Armstrong or Josh Boone, or backup point guard, Marcus Williams. And if that doesn't work, he says, don't dismiss Gerry McNamara of Syracuse, not project in the second round.</div> Source
I am intrigued by the prospect of Dee Brown of Illinois. He played phenomenal this year but even better his junior year with Deron Williams. Jason Kidd is aging and cannot up keep with faster points. I wonder if Dee at the shooting gaurd with Jason playing the point will help that. Mind you, Dee was the defensive player of the year for the Big Ten junior year and nearly won it again last year. I'm not saying Dee should start, but off the bench he could be valuable. He has the intangibles of bring spark and energy, much like Darrell Armstrong, Mike James, Bobby Jackson. I rather pick him than Marcus Williams, who I think tries to be a player he isn't more than not, as well as all his stupid off court decisions.
I'd like Hilton Armstrong or Marcus Williams, but I doubt they'll fall that far. Does anyone know if Tyrus Thomas is going in this draft, because he'd be valuable. I agree we should not get Boone, the kid plays D but he can't score.
I don't know why some of you guys wouldnt take Boone. He's what the Nets need right now; a tough, big athletic big, who can play D, grab boards, and get garbage points down low. He'll pay off for a low 20's pick. Hilton Armstrong would also help the Nets, giving them a shot blocking presence. He reminds me alot of Hunter, except hes a bit more polished and aware offensively, though thats not saying much. It's a good thing that the Nets have 2 first round picks this year, because it would help alot next year if they draft right and become rotation players. Cliff, 2 picks + Wright are a start for a bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know why some of you guys wouldnt take Boone. He's what the Nets need right now; a tough, big athletic big, who can play D, grab boards, and get garbage points down low. He'll pay off for a low 20's pick. </div> Have you seen Boone play? The guy is not tough at all. If by tough, you meant picks up touch fouls and gets dominated by smaller players, then sure. He should've came out last year when he still had a raw label on. Now, he just looks like the next Jerome Moiso.
Honestly, there is definately not a quick solution to the big man problems in this years draft. If the Nets got knocked out in the 1st round again this year, I definately can see a dramatic change being made, to add a proven bigman to the roster during the offseason. That dramtic change would likely come in the form of a trade of Carter or Jefferson. I think that Rod Thorn and the rest of the front office wanted to give it a full year to evaluate Carter/Jefferson together... so how far they go as a group in the playoffs will be a big part of that evaluation. If the team goes to say a game 6 or 7 of the second round or deeper then they will continue to try to build around the core 3. But if they lose in the 1st round to a team like Washington then I could see a big roster change being made. But as far as these big guys that you cats are talking about they wont put the Nets over the hump. New Jersey imo would still find themselves next year in the same postion as far as bigs are concerned that they are in right now, three ok bigs(This Year:Collins,Nenad,Robinson---Next Year:Collins,Nenad, Armstrong or Boone) but no go two or dominating pshycal pressence on the frontline. Boone and Armstrong are quality college shot blockers but with the college game being so different then it once was, since there are very few really good players especially bigs, on the college level, its hard to think that a great college shot blocker is going to be a great shot blocker on the next level, even if they play in the Big East which is considered to be the top conference by many. I think its time for the Nets to go the more proven route. Some cheap bigman free agent that I think would help the Nets would be Tony Battie, Fransico Elson, or maybe Wilcox. And then you draft another bigman as well. But most importantly I think they need that guy with NBA experience under his belt already. The Nets tried this last offseason but they went with a jump shooting bigman in Padgett and a non-athletic big in Jackson, so they diffently need some experienced athletism.
