Here's why... 1. Thorn "strongly disputed" reports Krstic will be traded in Kerber's story. "I don't think that's true at all by no means," Thorn said. "In fact, I think the opposite is true. I think he's more likely to be here." I cannot imagine the ever-careful, conservative Thorn making that statement without a very high comfort level. The reports of an impending trade came from Krstic's agent and COULD be a negotiating ploy. I think dumping Krstic at this point would be highly risky. You won't get anywhere near full value for him and if his head is finally clear of knee issues, he could make another team very happy. 2. There is indeed wiggle room on the two-year contract maximum. Writes Dave D: "The Nets' payroll restrictions are a bit more flexible than agents were led to believe when the free-agent market opened. For example, the Nets believe they still remain in the running for the likes of Eduardo Najera and Keyon Dooling -- two of the very few players they agree deserve three-year commitments". I am not crazy for Najera, think Dooling is fine. The bigger issue, however, is that there are fewer restrictions, as an agent noted: "I don't think the two years is a hard and fast rule, and that's especially true if they can make a trade." 3. They are willing to take on Andres Nocioni's four-year commitment. While I am not crazy about Najera, I am crazy about his Latin American colleague, Nocioni. He is the perfect sixth man in the system the Nets want to run. Nocioni wins. Who would go? If the Bulls want to cut salary, there is always KVH's contract plus Ager. If they want a good young player, there is Boone. The Nets have that 2010 Mavs pick. 4. The possibility of getting something back for Diop. The DallasBasketball.com report makes perfect sense. Dallas desperately needs that MLE for someone other than Diop. They don't have the trade assets to pursue someone like Posey. They just signed Gerald Green and Juan Jose Berea. Big whoop. (By the way, Nocioni for Diop works perfectly in a sign-and-trade. Do it Cuban.) 5. Buried in a Nets website q-and-a with Brook Lopez is a discussion of how Sean Williams is mentoring Lopez on the NBA game. (Hold the jokes for a minute, please). That would be a nice indicator of Williams' maturity.
And all hopes and dreams are shattered when the only thing we do is sign Brown. I kid. So the end isn't near then?
well i feel better about things now i guess, I just wanna see what the nets have in plan to do with this crowded front court.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (soul driver @ Jul 4 2008, 09:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And all hopes and dreams are shattered when the only thing we do is sign Brown. I kid. So the end isn't near then? </div> I would have NO problem with the Nets signing Kwame Brown, but the only way I could see that happening is if they traded Krstic and they felt they needed some rebounding and defense. Take a look at who is interested in Brown: the Spurs, the Heat, the Nets....pretty good talent evaluators.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Jul 4 2008, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>5. Buried in a Nets website q-and-a with Brook Lopez is a discussion of how Sean Williams is mentoring Lopez on the NBA game. (Hold the jokes for a minute, please). That would be a nice indicator of Williams' maturity.</div> Or of Lopez's intelligence. Half a dozen in one hand, six in the other. Either way, not a lot of eggs in those baskets.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng @ Jul 4 2008, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Jul 4 2008, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>5. Buried in a Nets website q-and-a with Brook Lopez is a discussion of how Sean Williams is mentoring Lopez on the NBA game. (Hold the jokes for a minute, please). That would be a nice indicator of Williams' maturity.</div> Or of Lopez's intelligence. Half a dozen in one hand, six in the other. Either way, not a lot of eggs in those baskets. </div> Yes indeed. That's why I was happy to see Thorn say he thought it "likely" Krstic will resign.
In regard to Krstic's trade status, I'm afraid the Nets could very well just be trying to represent a strong hand. We have 6 other game-ready PFs and Cs on the roster, and they've mostly got Krstic's skillset covered. If Lopez was a big, athletic, physical guy, then things might be different, but right now it seems like the Nets are going to have choose between keeping Nenad or sacrificing the young guys (Williams, Anderson, Lopez, Yi's) development. I'm confident Nenad can return to form, but the injury concerns linger and he costs money. By strongly indicating they want to keep him, the Nets are increasing the chances of getting something for him in a S/T. I'd expect nothing less from our front office. It's really unfortunate we went so PF/C heavy in the draft. I was hoping Thorn would deal our picks more backcourt talent.
As reported in today's paper Lopez is finding the NBA to be very fast. He could very well struggle adapting and that is the exact reason I want to see the Nets keep Nenad around for the year. What if Lopez is a bust and Nenad regains his pre-injury form on another team? That would be a disaster. I know it's a worst case scenario, but it could easily go down that way. Have to protect ourselves from that happening.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng @ Jul 4 2008, 11:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Jul 4 2008, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>5. Buried in a Nets website q-and-a with Brook Lopez is a discussion of how Sean Williams is mentoring Lopez on the NBA game. (Hold the jokes for a minute, please). That would be a nice indicator of Williams' maturity.</div> Or of Lopez's intelligence. Half a dozen in one hand, six in the other. Either way, not a lot of eggs in those baskets. </div> I'm loving the decision to draft him more and more each day.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netted @ Jul 4 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>As reported in today's paper Lopez is finding the NBA to be very fast. He could very well struggle adapting and that is the exact reason I want to see the Nets keep Nenad around for the year. What if Lopez is a bust and Nenad regains his pre-injury form on another team? That would be a disaster. I know it's a worst case scenario, but it could easily go down that way. Have to protect ourselves from that happening.</div> Even if Lopez struggles with NBA speed, I don't think it's going to matter. I think that Frank will try to help Lopez to develop the kind of BBIQ that Twin had, and that is great. It should compensate for any athletic shortcommings he may have in his first year. Though I happen to think there is no way he's a bust. He was the best C in the draft.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Jul 4 2008, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nocioni for Diop works perfectly in a sign-and-trade. Do it Cuban.</div> It does for the Nets, but I don't know what the Mavs would give the Bulls.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jerkstore @ Jul 4 2008, 12:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Even if Lopez struggles with NBA speed, I don't think it's going to matter. I think that Frank will try to help Lopez to develop the kind of BBIQ that Twin had, and that is great. It should compensate for any athletic shortcommings he may have in his first year. Though I happen to think there is no way he's a bust. He was the best C in the draft.</div> I second this post. Seriously, why does every NBA center have to be a thoroughbred athlete? Yes it's beneficial but knowing how to use what you have is just as important. Thing I like about Lopez, even if he may not be ready to see serious minutes for a half a season, is that he's constantly mentioning how he's watching and listening to others in the areas he himself knows are thing he needs to work on. That is a very nice thing to hear from such a young kid. Sean should be killing him in camp as he's a very mobile 4 with a year of NBA experience. To hear that he's giving the rook pointers is really good to hear even if he's still got alot to learn himself.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rollydog @ Jul 4 2008, 12:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In regard to Krstic's trade status, I'm afraid the Nets could very well just be trying to represent a strong hand. We have 6 other game-ready PFs and Cs on the roster, and they've mostly got Krstic's skillset covered. If Lopez was a big, athletic, physical guy, then things might be different, but right now it seems like the Nets are going to have choose between keeping Nenad or sacrificing the young guys (Williams, Anderson, Lopez, Yi's) development. I'm confident Nenad can return to form, but the injury concerns linger and he costs money. By strongly indicating they want to keep him, the Nets are increasing the chances of getting something for him in a S/T. I'd expect nothing less from our front office. It's really unfortunate we went so PF/C heavy in the draft. I was hoping Thorn would deal our picks more backcourt talent.</div> I don't buy the poker playing aspect of this. Thorn almost never says things as definitively as he did yesterday. He couches things in terms that are not easily interpreted. For him to say it's likely he will be staying suggests to me he is staying. He could have used a lot of different phrasing other than disputing that Krstic will be traded. Instead he was much more definitive than normal. Yes, he did say in April that he wouldn't be surprised if the team returned intact, but he didn't say it was likely. And this is a dynamic process...things change. Maybe they took a look at Lopez the last few days and thought he is going to take longer than we expected. Maybe they're worried that Yi is going to be exhausted by the Olympic experience or that he will be better suited as a combo forward rather than a power forward. Or maybe, and I think this is the most likely scenario, they just realize they can get Krstic cheap right now and if things don't work out, it's a limited risk. It is always better to have a lot of assets when rebuilding...particularly young ones. A lot of people are saying the Nets are out there cutting, cutting, cutting salary. It's not that simple. Since February 1, the team has taken on almost $25 million more in long term salary commitments that it's dumped. Yeah, Kidd will make three times what Harris does this year, but Harris is owed twice what Kidd is...unless Cuban gives Kidd an extension. And while Jefferson's $15.2 million is off the books for 2010-11, the combined salaries that season of newly acquired Harris, Yi and Anderson (the pick added through the Kidd trade) is $14.7 million. They don't want to take on any MORE salary commitments for that year and they want to have smaller, more easily moved pieces. They can pay Krstic a reasonable salary. There are other issues here. They wanted rid of Kidd and Jefferson. They also wanted to dump them while they had value. THAT more than anything has been Thorn's genius, knowing when to dump someone. And they wanted Yi...and obviously not just for his on court skillset. Remember, they talked to Toronto about Bargnani. (Talk about a team with a lot of bigs!) I've gone back the last couple of days and read what people I respect were writing about Yi early in the season. David Thorpe of ESPN, who trains NBA players, felt early on in the season that Yi had as much potential than Durant! But he became mentally tired, Thorpe wrote, then physically tired and got hurt. And I didn't notice you mention Boone in that mix. I wouldn't either. I think he is gone. His lack of offense, compared to the guys they acquired on Draft Day, should be a signal.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Jul 4 2008, 01:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And I didn't notice you mention Boone in that mix. I wouldn't either. I think he is gone. His lack of offense, compared to the guys they acquired on Draft Day, should be a signal.</div> I agree with most of what you wrote save the quoted passage. I think Boone will only be moved if it's to bring back a significant piece for the backcourt or 3 position (like a Nocioni). Boone's hands, defense, and inside finishing continually improved last year, as did his passing and decision making as part of a team. He is probably the smartest front-court player the Nets have (though I haven't seen enough of Yi or Anderson to rule them out for that title). Most importantly, other than Krstic and discounting Swift, he is also the most experienced front court player. He won't be moved unless it's for real value at other positions. And, if he's still on the roster next year, I expect him to start.
Yeah, Boone was probably our best big last year, but I think he's also the closest to hitting his ceiling (he averaged 11/10 in Jan, before slowing down a bit). If any of our bigs should be traded it should be him, because IMO his market value is highest relative to his abilities and potential. Still, I'm not too high on a future featuring Lopez and Krstic at C, as they are VERY similar from what I've read and seen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rollydog @ Jul 4 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, Boone was probably our best big last year, but I think he's also the closest to hitting his ceiling (he averaged 11/10 in Jan, before slowing down a bit). If any of our bigs should be traded it should be him, because IMO his market value is highest relative to his abilities and potential. Still, I'm not too high on a future featuring Lopez and Krstic at C, as they are VERY similar from what I've read and seen.</div> Brook Lopez is barely 20 years old. Throwing him into the mix right now might not be the smartest strategy for him or the Nets. If you give Krstic a two or three year contract which is all that he reportedly wants you allow Lopez to benefit from playing behind him, giving him a rest or playing the two of them together. Lopez doesnt have Lopez's range or fluidity on his jumper. Yi doesn't have Krstic's bulk or post moves. Krstic doesn't have Yi's athleticism. There should be plenty of minutes for all of them. I can also see Sean Williams playing a bit more of a 3/4 role. Ryan Anderson has the best range of all of them...and there is a place for a role-player like him. Boone does rebound better than any of them, but I think if he gets you Nocioni, you do it. Could use the leadership he would bring too.
It would be a bad idea to move Boone even if his value is high, I think it would be very bad for this team. Boone is a great garbageman, as far as getting his points, but I feel that the one knock on him is that his rebounding numbers are 1-2 higher that they really are b/c he gathers his own tip ins and misses. I think we'd do better to develop Anderson and see what we get, maybe move Boone next offseason where we have a chance of landing better fa's
If Boone is traded, i will personally take my season tickets with me, my nets stuff will be trashed and i will make sure that POS ROD gets the notice. THE Nets are not winning anything ever anyway so may the rot in hell.
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