The big news this week was Kiki Vandeweghe’s elevation to GM and the stir he caused by suggesting that the Nets like where they’re at…if only they could better develop their players.  In our fourth off-season report, we suggest that rather than rely on what Net brass have been saying in the foreground, take a look at what they’re doing in the background.  We also look at chances for retaining DeSagana Diop.

The Nets are among the teams who’ve made calls about working out UCLA big man Kevin Love, says his father.  Stan Love, a former NBA player himself, reports the Nets, Knicks, Heat and Clippers have all called about setting up private workouts.  Love won’t participate in the Orlando pre-draft camp but will make himself available for a small number of private workouts, said the father of the 6′-10″ Love. 

You have to wonder if Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe talk much about the 2004 Kenyon Martin trade.  After all, it was then viewed as Rod’s worst moment and Kiki’s best.  The Nets lost a key component and the Nuggets gained a player everyone thought they needed.  The Rocky Mountain News takes the opportunity of Vandeweghe’s elevation to look at what happened and suggests Kiki got taken…badly.

The Nets are admit to marketing their new Brooklyn arena more as a “destination” than an oversized gym. With new designs for the arena and surrounding Atlantic Yards just out, what are critics saying?  James Gardner of the Sun is disappointed in the arena, but likes the new design for the adjoining skyscraper, “an unruly and asymmetrical mountain of rectilinear boxes”. Local architects think it’s the reverse.

The Nets announced Thursday afternoon that Kiki Vandeweghe has been promoted to General Manager, with contract length reported at two and four years. Vandeweghe was hired by Rod Thorn on Dec. 31 as a “Special Assistant to the President”. He now officially fills the spot left open when Ed Stefanski left for Philadelphia and is expected to eventually take over for Thorn. He said the Nets should try “improving on the guys you got” before looking outside, adding “we’d like to keep everybody”.

Hardly a day goes by now without the Nets’ public relations machine reminding everyone that the Nets are absolutely, positively moving to Brooklyn.  The latest: a story in New York Magazine promising that the Barclays Center (in spite of its British name) will feature good old-fashioned Brooklyn cuisine.  Will that include Nedicks’ hot dogs and Junior’s cheesecake?  No one’s saying…yet.

Richard Jefferson and his lawyer are vigorously denying misdemeanor assault charges brought by a Minneapolis DA, saying the alleged victim had been “incredibly drunk” and “disrespectful”. RJ’s lawyer says Jefferson “had grabbed him, put him down” before walking away.  Jefferson denied he had choked Lyle Fox and suggested Fox had sought to have him charged so he can later file a civil suit.

New York State’s highest court rejected a critics’ appeal of a lower court ruling Wednesday that could set in motion condemnation of properties for the Nets’ arena.  The court declined to overrule a lower court dismissal of the case. Renters claimed they wouldn’t be able to find new rent-stabilized apartments.  In theory, it’s the only case formally blocking the State from moving to condemn properties.  Meanwhile, a Ratner executive says she’s certain the Nets will play in Brooklyn during 2010-11.

In an interview with the Nets’ Matt McQueeny, Gana Diop says he likes the team: “I feel comfortable here. Being here, being with coach, real cool, teammates are cool. I feel pretty good being here” and he thinks the team has potential, too: “I love the team. I think we could have made the playoffs but we were in a tough position with a trade”.  However, he says what all free agents do, “I’m just going to do what is best for me and my family” and admits returning to the Mavs is an option. So is Miami.

Richard Jefferson has been charged with misdemeanor assault in Minneapolis for an incident that occurred in January. Jefferson allegedly choked a man at a hotel the night before playing the Wolves. The man claims he temporarily lost consciousness and has had trouble swallowing since.  RJ’s first court appearance is set for June 18.  If convicted, he faces a a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.