Hello everyone, welcome to the New Jersey Nets debate. We'll kick the first round, with the following members, "The One & Only", "thedude990", and "Kobimel". This debate will begin once the first reply is submitted and will last approximately 48 hours. Here is a couple of rules to remember: 1. No one other than the people participating in this debate, can post in this thread. 2. Form your own opinion about the topic your discussing, don't steal material. 3. Keep it clean and intelligent. And the question is: In your opinion, what must the Nets do in the 2007-2008 season for it to be considered successful? Make the Playoffs? Make it to the Finals? What must the Nets do to make this a reality? Trade for a specific player, sign a key free agent? Good Luck.
It's tough to say what they must do in order to be successful. Truthfully if they keep Jason Kidd, the only real thing that can be looked at as being successful this late in his career would be getting a ring. So essentially making it to the Finals at the least can be seen as a success. In order to get to the Finals I don't think they necessarily need to overhaul the roster. You have to look at it in hindsight. They were missing their scoring big man in Nenad. However, they still need to sign some key FA's, though. I feel with the loss of Mikki Moore, it thins out the Nets front court even more. Naturally this leads to my suggestion. Sign a big man. Who? Darko Milicic. He would not only bring a good inside-outside scoring presence - which is invaluable with J-Kidd as your PG - but he would also give them that shot blocking presence they need. Maybe my Nets history is a bit outdated, but they haven't had a solid shot-blocking presence in the paint since K-Mart. If you add on the return of Nenad, you'd have a front court of two Serbians with plenty of upside. If that is too much, the Nets could go after Joe Smith. A servicable big man with range, who can rebound, as well as defend. Another FA signing I think the Nets could benefit greatly from is Devean George, or Jumaine Jones. Both are pretty versatile for their size, can rebound, and have an outside shot to help space the floor. In terms of trades, I always thought Artest would do good with the Nets. A potential trio of Kidd-Carter-Artest(RJ would probably be traded to even acquire Ron) seems pretty formidable to me. Any of the above to me, wouldn't necessarily make the Nets championship material, but it could be seen as highly successful imo.
That's a tough question which really depends on what the Nets do this offseason. If they bring in a big man and manage to keep at least two of the big three and some good role players (ex. Kidd/Carter/Magloire, Kidd/Carter/J. O'Neal), then anything less than reaching the ECF will be considered a failure, and only reaching the Finals will be considered a success. If the team reaches the ECF and loses to a GOOD team, not a weak one like Cleveland this year, nobody will complain too much, so that's the neutral area. Oh, and obviously, the Nets will need to win the division to be considered a success. Basically, this is what I'm trying to say: Failure: No playoffs, 1st/2nd round exit, no division title Decent: ECF exit+division title Success: Finals exit, Championship But, if the Nets fail to bring in help for the Big Three, I think reaching the ECF and losing will be a success. You can't expect a team with 3 guards and no post presence to conted for a conference title, even against a team like Chicago, Cleveland or Detroit. In that case, winning the division title will be a success as well, because Toronto are a pretty good team and it's not a given that they won't win 50+ games next season. In order to reach the Finals, the Nets need to make some changes: 1) Use the MLE/part of the MLE to bring in a decent/good (Jamaal Magloire, P.J. Brown, Joe Smith and Melvin Ely come to mind). Darko is an option and would be a good addition, but he is still unproven and would probably want more than the MLE anyway. 2)Sign another free agent with the LLE (which I believe the Nets have), veteran miminum or part of the MLE in order to bring in a hustle player who will come off the bench in a special situation (for quick points, stints of good defense etc). 3)Try to trade for Jermaine O'Neal or Kevin Garnett (unrealistic). If Rod Thorn will be able to do all three, then the Nets are a Finals contender. Obviously, and 1 and 3 don't go fully together, because if you have Jermaine O'Neal you don't need Jamaal Magloire, but Melvin Ely/P.J. Brown/Joe Smith would be great backups. As for Ron Artest, he isn't much better than RJ. Bringing him on board would do nothing in terms of becoming a contender. Nothing.
<div class="quote_poster">kobimel Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">1) Use the MLE/part of the MLE to bring in a decent/good (Jamaal Magloire, P.J. Brown, Joe Smith and Melvin Ely come to mind). Darko is an option and would be a good addition, but he is still unproven and would probably want more than the MLE anyway. </div> It's a long shot trying to get Darko with the MLE, but honestly, with the money his agent is shooting for, he's unlikely to get signed anyway. Like you said, he's unproved. What's most likely to happen to Darko anyway, is he'll probably sit in the market. No one wants, or even has the money, to sign him for what he's asking besides the Grizzlies and the Magic(when/if they do a S&T for Lewis), and from my understanding Pau Gasol of the Grizzlies dislikes him. Either he resigns with the Magic(unlikely if his agent is kept, or doesn't calm down), or he accepts taking the MLE to at least play and get known(which the Nets could do for him given they have an open PF spot). Being a Magic fan, I know what the kid is capable of. The MLE for him would be quite a bargain. Again, he is unproven, but the kid is a solid shot blocking presence, can play defense, is an excellent rebounder, and has a very good inside-outside game considering his age. If he submits to the MLE, Darko, without a question, should be the Nets target in FA. However, a person in particular just came to mind. Chris Mihm. Believe it or not, this guy is pretty good. Like most Laker fans will tell you, he was the most consistent guy behind Kobe a few years ago. He takes a lot of gambles, and may be foul prone, but I feel he would be a better and more servicable big than someone like Jamaal Magloire, Melvin Ely, and Joe Smith. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobimel:</div><div class="quote_post">2)Sign another free agent with the LLE (which I believe the Nets have), veteran miminum or part of the MLE in order to bring in a hustle player who will come off the bench in a special situation (for quick points, stints of good defense etc).</div> If the Nets required someone to come off the bench for good defense and quick points, Mo Pete comes to mind. Another mentionable would be Matt Barnes. Both can play defense, both have an outside shot, and both would be really good players to come off the bench for your second unit. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobimel:</div><div class="quote_post">As for Ron Artest, he isn't much better than RJ. Bringing him on board would do nothing in terms of becoming a contender. Nothing.</div> I strongly disagree. Richard Jefferson was assisted on a lot more of his scoring attempts than Ron Artest, yet Ron managed to score just as efficiently - if not more - on top of averaging more points. Artest is also a better rebounder than the numbers will give away. When played with the fact that he is almost always surrounded by bigger men(Jermaine O'Neal, Brad Miller/Kenny Thomas), he averages very decent numbers. If you want to look at it statiscally, his team does significantly better on the glass when he is on the floor than off. Artest(18.71) also holds a better PER than Richard Jefferson(13.97, which can even be argued that it is inflated because of Jason Kidd). Ron Artest is also a better defender by far. If you add on that Ron is highly versatile(can guard multiple positions, sizes, shapes, etc.), Ron is a much better player than Richard Jefferson in almost every aspect. The only problem with Artest, that I will agree with without qualm, is his character. However, given that he'll be on a team of J-Kidd and VC, he may just drop his act to help get what every player in the NBA is fighting for. The Championship.
In order for the Nets to be a success next year they HAVE to make the Finals. This will be the third year that the "Big 3" will be playing together. With all the hype that was around them at the begining of the Vince Carter trade and for a first round exit (i know Jefferson wasn't playing) and two second round exits isn't really great for all the hype that was put around these 3. In order to get to the Finals one thing must be done. And that is GET A LEGITMATE PLAY IN THE POST BIG MAN. Yes Nenad is a nice big man but he rather take the 15 foot jumper than bang down low. Unless Josh Boone or Sean Williams solidfy themselves as great down low offensive players we must aquire one through a trade. One big man that comes to mind is Pau Gasol. He is quietly trying to get out of Memphis, so we should try to acuqire him before the whole thing blows up. I see a trade of Jefferson and a pick or Boki could work. I think Jermaine and Garnett would obviously be better fits but they are probabaly more of a stretch. Gasol is a proven allstar big man who led a grizzlies team that was in the dumps to two or three 50+ seasons. Adding his leadership (world champion as well) rebounding and scoring will help a lot. Another thing the Nets must do is keep a consistant lineup. Coach Frank can't have Hassan Adams get 15 min. one game, then not play the next, then give Wright a 23 min. game. then not play him. He has to be consistant givnig the younger guys there minutes. Yea if Wright comes into the game doesn't defend, gives 3 turnovers and goes 0-8 don't play him, but if he comse in hustles goes 2-6 gets a few boards you have to continue to play him because he is still young and benching him may physcologically affect him. A few minor things the Nets should do, get it into Vince Carter's head hes a slasher not a shooter. Resign Eddie House because every team needs a deep threat off the bench and i don't think the Nets have that with him gone.
<div class="quote_poster">kobimel Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> 2)Sign another free agent with the LLE (which I believe the Nets have), veteran miminum or part of the MLE in order to bring in a hustle player who will come off the bench in a special situation (for quick points, stints of good defense etc). 3)Try to trade for Jermaine O'Neal or Kevin Garnett (unrealistic). If Rod Thorn will be able to do all three, then the Nets are a Finals contender. Obviously, and 1 and 3 don't go fully together, because if you have Jermaine O'Neal you don't need Jamaal Magloire, but Melvin Ely/P.J. Brown/Joe Smith would be great backups. As for Ron Artest, he isn't much better than RJ. Bringing him on board would do nothing in terms of becoming a contender. Nothing.</div> I have to disagree with what you said. I feel we have enough hustle players who will come off the bench. Antoine Wright comes in hustles plays hard defense (very well i might add) grabs a few boards and gets us about 6 points. Boki showed he can light it up as well as Eddie House if we resign. The big man situation i feel is off too. Yea bringing in the veteran leadership of PJ Brown would be nice, but Ely and Smith wouldn't help. Both aren't exactly winners (ELY was a reserve on the spurs title team but idk i dont feel that counts). Maglorie would be a good part if we aren't able to acquire a Allstar big, Magloire was a Allstar a few years back and would work nice in the East. And even though Artest is a nut case i would take him over RJ anyday. Artest in a top 5 (if not top 3) shut down defenders in the league (Ak, Kobe, Bowen all i can think of right now). bringing him in would take a lot of the defensive pressures off, and would also help because players wouldn;t get into the lane so easily and score on Collins (sorry i had to lol). The east also has gotten much stronger with the addition of Lewis, and Allen and Randolph (three potential allstars in the east) so the Nets need to make a roster change (aquire a Garnett, Arest, Jermain, Gasol for jefferson and boki) in order to be successful. Other than the 6ers (who ended strong so may be a good team) the Atlantic is pretty stacked. The Knicks aquired Randolph and i have to say they have the best inside ofensive game in the WHOLE LEAGUE with him and Curry. The Celtics got Ray Allen enough said. The Raptors just won the atlantic title with their roster (and Bosh nad Ford is a ince combo) And the 6ers have a triple double threat every night with Iggy.
