The Nets' Youth Movement: High Risk, High Reward

I wouldn’t like it if they signed another PG. Even House, a ball-handling guard, could cut into Marcus’ minutes. I always feel that competition is good, but we’ve foudn our future PG; whe nyou’re serious about grooming an eventual cornerstone, you don’t pile on another veteran to Bogart his minutes for two years.

I like the calculated risks the Nets are taking with the rookies. Now if they would only show some courage in the free agency market (still steaming over SAR).

I liked Jacque and wish they’d kept him. But I think we are fine at the point because VC gives you about 8 mins a game at the point too, the way they run the offense through him so often. I think we are one player short of being in the conference finals with Miami. Maybe Antoine will become that. I still hope, like Joe NetsFan, that we can package Boone, McInnis, and a pick and get Kenyon Martin, or that Kenyon does a buyout and signs with us for the MLE. If we cdon’t get Kenyon, then I don’t see why we leave Lamond off the roster. He is cheap, experienced, can play the 4 and handles long stretches of downtime well.

The development—or failure—of these players will obviously be a major subtheme of the 2006-07 season. If you look at all sports, and not just basketball, you see that teams that rely heavily on rookies rarely do well, and there are a number of examples where they took a “wrong turn”—that is, they failed to develop their potential, or collectively couldn’t stay away from off-the-field trouble. In some cases, when young players were placed together, they developed attitude problems, although of course we can’t know whether the same wouldn’t have happened had their introduction to the league been under other circumstances.

So this is an important time, not just for the Nets’ chances this season, but for the future development of these players. On the plus side, none of the youngsters will be starters (if you don’t count Krstic), and they are surrounded by roomates that are good role models and (by most accounts) act professionally both on and off the court. The mentoring ability of players like Carter and Cliff will certainly play a part as to how well the kids will ultimately develop.

One thing that NetIncome neglected to point out is that, like the 2001-02 squad, none of the rookies will be competing with each other: They all play different positions. This year, we will have Marcus at PG; Antoine at SG: Hassan at SF; Boone at PF; and Ilic at C. To me, the fact that the youngsters won’t have to compete among themselves for playing time, and can therefore concentrate on really honing their craft, can be a big factor influencing both their confidence and development—and hence their production. I have no doubt that this was intentional. In fact, since the Rod Thorn era, the Nets have never had two rookies the same year that play the same position.

Great points, dumpy.

I sorta consider Adams a SG and Wright a SF, but just in terms of the depth chart. See, I can see the swingman minutes being divvied up pretty much like 32/32/16/16. Part of the 16 minutes that the rookies get will be spent on-court with their mentor (Jefferson being Adams’, and Carter being Wright’s). I think that’s an ideal situation, and could provide for some great moments, as defenses will have to adjust to more of a half-court onslaught from Carter and Wright, while Adams and Jefferson give the defense fits with their breakaway speed and fininshing abilities.

I like the recruting job that Rod Thorn did this year,however i still feel that we’re one more player away from being in the finals.I would love to see them pick up Eddie house he’s a combo guard that i think would fit perfect with the Nets.

Rush I think is more likely…and fyi would add another young player to the mix. he is still only 25.

I also would like us to add a combo guard for the 15th position. I think Jeff McInnis could benefit the Portland Trailblazers. His experience could help the young point guards Jack and the rookie. Juan Dixon would most likely welcome being back close to home. He did well in some games last year and provided a spark when he was with the Wizards.

Excellent blog as always but I do have one problem with one of the things you said. And I quote,

“How big of a risk is it for the team to invest so much in players that young? A lot depends on their development during the course of the season and the health of the players who they are backing up. It’s not likely that coach Lawrence Frank will want them playing too many minutes initially and should any of the Nets starters go down for an extended period of time, look for the Nets coach to seek experienced bodies rather than youngsters..”

I think this is exactly the wrong thinking when trying to break in these young players. Let us all remember it is an 82 game season. I believe we must get these kids the experience early (with the exception of Boone of course) when the games aren’t as intense and rest our big name players more so they get more longevity. As the season moves along our young players will be much more experienced and will be ready when called upon in a tight situation.

Tim,

I would reply that different people learn in different ways. As a manager in ANY venture, you want to create an envirnment where your new employees learn and develop, but are not overwelmed and do not get frustrated. While some players may thrive when “being thrown into the fire,” others may not, and learn better by watching others perform and by discussing plays and strategies with veterans on the bench. I think you need a mix. Some veterans will enable the youngsters to develop at a slower pace, without feeling some of the pressure they would if they were the primary options off the bench. I agree, though, that it is a two-edged sword, and you have to be careful not to use the veterans as a crutch, and really make an effort to help these players develop by gradually giving them more and more time on the court. It will take a special veteran player to be willing to play under those circumstances.