Lebron and Wade are not unrestricted free agents until they decline the options which are worth about 17 million for one year. They are under contract until (and only if) they decline. So why would they decline? Why not drag this on for another year?

Rudy is more realistic than the Big three or four. But I still think their best shot is at getting someone before the Free Agency begins: by Feb 18.

@geo
they’ll try.

Another guy who’s gonna get a huge deal, but probably won’t play up to the level you’d expect for that salary. He’s not an number one guy, but with brook looking like one, maybe we don’t need one so badly. Just hope we makr sure we have enough money to lock up brook long term

I say Rudy Gay and David lee are a consolation prizes. TWill could be a better player as a whole in 2 years. Gay is just a scorer.
David lee could get 10 million per, even though his stats may be inflated due to DAntoni’s system

If lebron aint coming I say try to send DH, Hayes or Hassell, and maybe a 2nd rd pick for Gay and Conley.

The Nets can get a pure PG and SF. Give Gay 12 million

screw lebron, wade, or bosh. Sign Gay and Lee, who are clearly all-star calibar players and develop around them. this team will be very good if we can pull the right strings

No Rudy Gay… He’s gonna command way more than he’s actually worth.. Plays NO defense and seems to have a bit or an attitude. Smart dealings, PLEASE… don’t lose out on Lebron and instead opt to throw money at inferior players. We see what happened to Detroit.

Rudy Gay will help the Nets defense. NOT!

Hey NI. Small typo.

You said:

“The Nets would sign Martin to a more standard contract, then trade him to the Nets for three lottery-protected draft picks (two of which were the cornerstone of the Vince Carter trade five months later).”

You meant “…trade him to the Nuggets…”

I haven’t really seen Gay play much since college, but I do remember him showing some nice flashes on the defensive end. He probably still is very bad defensively, but with his athleticism, size/wingspan he definitely has the ability to become a solid defender. He just to work hard on it and it’ll improve.
For instance, Monta Ellis was a pretty terrible defender a while ago, but recently he’s improved tremendously on the defensive end, having a couple games where he was shutting some top scorers. Gay just needs some motivation and I’m sure he can do the same.

Let me add to my prior comment. Here’s my reaction to going after Rudy Gay. No. No, no, no, no, NO!

He’s a bad defensive player and an inefficient offensive player – he is high usage, but mediocre shooting efficiency, bad rebounding and atrocious assists. And you would have to pay a premium to get him. So, NO.

NO LEE!

Frankly, unless we can trade for a really good SF (say, by trading Devin, provided we win the lottery), I would rather pick up a fill-in for a year, and then go after Kirilenko in 2011.

Why go after kirilenko in 2011 when melo is also a fa

So they overpay to get Gay at small forward I can live with that.
Then they need to draft a power forward if Turner’s off the board.

I’d trade Devin Harris and Yi by next year’s deadline. Devin’s value is low now should be better next year.
And Yi is not worthy of starting.

Brook/?
?/Humphries
Rudy Gay/ T.Will
Lee/CDR
?/Dooling

isnt durant also a FA in 2011

Avery Johnson could get Gay to play defense.

Both Gay and Lee are good basketball players, but I’d rather don’t blow all that cap space overspending on them.

Any chance we could trade to acquite a pick to draft a small forward? Could Turner play small forward in the nba (if we don’t get wall) or are there any other good prospects this year.

David Lee is not a good defender, but he fulfills one of our other great needs: rebounding. For that reason alone he should be high on our priority list, assuming no LBJ, Wade or Bosh.

I dont see the point of holding on to all of our picks, drafting talent, only to sign a player that will replace all that. We should just trade our picks for quality.

Why trade for a stud PF if we just drafted Twill? Same goes for holding on to Yi, if we want Bosh, Boozer, or Lee. Get rid of them now, or before it got to this.

Personally, I like Twill. He has a ton of potential. I would also like Rudy Gay and David Lee on this team though. Even at that, forget Gay, make a trade for OJ Mayo. We need a stud SG!

How about that:

Wall(IF we got 1st pick, then Trade Devin for OJ)
OJ
Twill
Lee
Lopez

OR I don’t even mind Devin if we cant get Wall. Maybe there is another way to get OJ?

Durant won’t be a free agent in 2011, you can be assured he’ll receive a huge extension from OKC. Stars in their rookie contracts, remember.

And yes, no player signing is always and forever better than a bad/desperate player signing. If he’s not a superstar, don’t give him superstar money. You don’t have to spend money just because you have some. Cap space can come in handy for trades and such as well.

The SF who might be available in a trade (if he is not traded at the deadline this year) that I’d love to get is Andre Iguodala. If we got Wall in the draft, I wonder if Stefanski would take Devin Harris for Iguodala.

Turner would be pretty crazy paired with terrence williams. They’re both guys who could play 3 positions (PG, SG, SF) and rebound well (Turner’s averaging 9.9 rpg right now, playing PG!). Play them together and you have the most diverse wing combo in the league. It would be like having 4 big men or 3 point guards on the floor at the same time. But of course the stats wouldn’t reflect it since they would eat into each other’s production

My plan would be to trade for robin lopez. Offer Yi and either an expiring or future pick. Always smarter to go young when rebuilding. Then sit tight until draft lottery. The most important will be where the Dallas pick ultimately ends up. And I would Target sherrooon Collins with our 2nd round pick as he is projected late first early second. He will have a great career as backup pg and would be great value in 2nd round

@A.S Inefficent? A field goal perccentage of 47 says otherwise. Not only does Rudy Gay average almost double Kirelenko’s points he also gets more rebounds so who of the two would you say is a bad rebounder? Its clearly rudy is not a primary scorer on a championship caliber team, but don’t the nets already have one in brook.

Offer lebron an 8 year 200 million deal and then there will seriously be a chance that he signs with us, especially if we have John Wall. Having lebron will lead to other all stars wanting to sign with us. But, then we won’t be able sign any other bigg free agents

@All true Net fans. I for one am very enticed by the Rudy Gay and David Lee idea. Here is the breakdown and possible scenarios.

1. Gay is 23 is playing at an All Star level. He played Lebron this year to a practical standstill. Last year summer USA games he hands down the best player there. His defense is bad off the ball not on the ball. That can be improved with proper coaching. Until this year the Grizz coaching has been a carousel. Not to mention he is only 23 years old.

2. David Lee has greatly improved. No doubt about that. His rebounding and energy would be a great help. He is worth 50 to 60 million over five. My only concern is he masquerading as Center that you think can pay PF. Des his skill set mesh with Brook.

3. If we are blessed to win the John Wall sweepstakes then it is imperative we keep Dooling. For we can do a sign and trade with Devin for Gay and still have ample of money to sign two a practically max contract or acquire all star level players through trades. Dooling can Mentor Wall for a year. This is important for John Wall to have a vet PG. Dooling is a future head coach in this league.

4. We are not getting Wade, JJ, Bosh, Booz. Amare I am not thrilled about and personally don’t want. Lebron still remains a slim chance but I mean a slim chance. Yes I can see Wade and Lebron not opting out and carrying this charade for another year. Wade is no leaving Miami.

5. Last. Yi is still 23 or 22. Has made very good progress similar to what everyone liking him to Bargani. Yi is soft body and mentally. He cares too much of what his teammates think and lacks the killer instinct. But he is a highly skilled 7ft that in skill wise that the NBA has had very few of. He will not be a super star but can still be a very good starter especially with better players around him. Many of you don’t realize that playing here is like night and day. The competition he had in china could even play in my YMCA pickup games. Please be patient and allow the learning curve to continue and complete itself.

But that Dallas pick is key. If we could get another wing or backup center we would have a good draft. I also like trading or buying a 2nd round pick to Target damien James. Stockpile young talent and get a strong coach in here. Don’t overpay for overpriced free agents. Save cap and let these guys gel one more year. Bring in some cheap well regarded vets like dooling and Hayes and make a big run at melo in 2011

I’d rather have Tyrus Thomas or Udonis Haslem over David Lee.

@ muwu

agreed!

Turner and TWill woudl be a crazy wing combo. I want Turner here. Badly.

I’m curious to see what Atlanta does. If they are forced into giving Joe Johnson a maximum contract, they will need to shed salary to avoid a massive luxury tax hit and we will have the cap space to absorb that salary with the draft picks to entice them. They have Jamal Crawford at 10 million for another season, he could be a good fit to provide some offensive punch and then we would have that 10 million come off the books for 2011. Theres Josh Smith who would be a perfect PF for us. Theres Marvin Williams who is Rudy Gay lite at about half the salary Gay would command. I would even like Pachulia for some defense, rebounding, and muscle.

were not getting OJ for Devin. No way the Grizz would give up there future superstar SG for Harris. I was watching Mayo earlier, the kid is amazing, has an outstanding offensive skill set

If we get wall and were unable to trade devin I would go to war with this line up anyday. Wall
Harris
Gay
Lee
Brook
……….
Lee
Dooling cdr
Yi
Hum
Terrance
Our other first round pick
I’m sure with all that yound talent we would be able to trade for a true shooting guard…we are going to make some noise next year and after…bc everyone on that team is still really young

Really the most logical realistic seasoned SF the Nets should look at is Andre Igudola

Outside of that, pray for the top pick, Draft Wall, make Harris, and Lee or CDR your 6th men, and sign Davis Lee. If we dont get the 1st pick draft a PF, keep Harris

Rudy Gay is statistically the wost defender in the league. Not necessary a good pick up.

Neither Gay nor Lee play good defense. Gay by some statistical measures is the worst on-ball defender in the NBA.

TWill has yet to prove he can do much with any level of consistency. He was almost sent down to the D-League two weeks ago. Getting Turner might be the prelude to trading TWill…and/or CDR.

This is a weak draft. The Nets are going to have a top four pick and two picks between 25 and 31. Take a REALISTIC look at who was taken at those draft positions over the last 10 years, who is still in the league even. The chances of getting a solid player that deep in the draft is about one in seven.

Maybe Nets should take Turner over Wall if they get first pick?
Wall is on ESPN at 4PM today. Lets watch.

I don’t think Nets could decide before draft, which direction to go before Feb. 18. That is if Nets got Turner, they may not want Gay. If Nets get #3/#4 pick and Wall and Turner aren’t available, do they draft a PF or a guard type or a Wesley Johnson from Syracuse (possible SF)?

This is why I think Thorn will look to improve Nets in some other way before deadline. Getting Camby, as I outlined before, in a deal involving Yi, improves team without jeopardizing Summer activity.

Also, since Amare is the only Big Name likely to be traded before deadline, Nets could be involved as the 3rd team, due to their expirings and availability of Yi.

In any case, I think Yi is gone by Feb. 18.

The quickest and surest way to improve this club, aside from signing the top 3 FAs, is to draft John Wall (25% chance) and get David Lee.

2 positions the Nets desperately need is elite (or top flight) PG and PF.

Agree with netincome that chances are u don’t find stud w dallas pick or 2nd rounder but that’s how good teams build bench depth. You can’t focus solely on stud starters. Without a deep bench you are going nowhere. And during full blown rebuilding its a big positive if u can find a future rotation player or two to bring along with young core. Allows u to build for longevity

@Phenom:
Rudy Gay’s TS%: .532
Kirilenko’s TS%: .578

Gay’s rebound rate: 9.0
Kirilenko’s rebound rate: 9.7

Gay assist ratio: 8.7
Kirilenko’s assist ratio: 18.9

Kirilenko plays better defense than Gay. And probably most importantly, Kirilenko will be much cheaper than Gay. I would definately wait to go after Kirilenko instead of overpaying for Gay.

Lebron courtside watching wall. For nets winning top pick could really mean a lot in free agency. Cousins is best pf in college. Watched him 3 or 4 times past month. He is real deal

Other potential FA’s: Josh Howard, Kenyon Martin, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Anthony Morrow, Luis Scola, Camby, Warrick, Manu, Roger Mason, Mike Miller

Man I hope Dallas falls apart. If that could end up a lotto pick…..imagine wall and cousins.

@A.S.
I agree with you. Having the cap space is great for having the opportunity of brining in superstars but its a risk if you miss out on the superstars and instead pay good but not great players superstar money. If the Nets shed a little more salary they can try to team up two stars, but if they fail, I would rather them go after a Kirelenko or a Tayshaun Prince, good players with just another year on the contracts. You can improve the team on the short term and take another shot at a Carmelo Anthony in 2011.

@NI
Why is getting Turner the prelude to trading TWill or CDR? The Nets are one of the least talented teams in the league, I don’t see why you would want to trade two of our most talented players especially considering they are signed cheaply. And sure TWill has not shown much consistency, but most rookies have not. Look at the guys drafted after TWill, guys like Gerald Henderson Jr, PsychoT, James Johnson, Austin Daye, Earl Clark, etc. None of these players has shown a thing, and just by TWill flashing his skillset and his ability to get others involved – one of the few Nets capable of doing so – I would assume Rod has big plans for him in the future and trading him is not on his mind.

You guys really like turner?
Wes Johnson from syracuse is a monster!
He can do. Everything evan can do plus he is in an elite conference.
Johnson could be another Melo

Turner>Johnson

omg… i can’t believe this article finally came out. I’ve said it from day 1 to get lee and gay.

@JohnY
You are right about getting Wall and DLee.
However, Evan Turner is playing PG this year and could give Nets more options as he is legitimate 1, 2 or 3!! Unfortunately only 21.5% chance of getting #2 pick but 36% chance to get #4.

Cousins may be best big man for Nets to consider. If Nets got #4 pick, then it might be between Wesley Johnson and Cousins, depending on who Thorn thinks would be obtainable as a free agent. (that is would Nets be able/willing to outbid Knicks for the “sure thing” in David Lee?)

Other option is to make a trade using Harris and Dallas pick for a top #5-8 pick and hope they are still available.

BTW: Turner is a more complete player than Johnson (passing, shooting), but Johnson is an animal near the basket. I need to see both of them more.

Between CDR and TWill, I want to keep TWill so see what potential he has (neither has enough value at present to trade). It can be concluded that the future Nets won’t have CDR at the SF for much PT. He better work on his outside shooting.

DLee’s defense is being judged against bigger Centers. Being paired with BLopez could provide a different result, and Lopez would appreciate the rebounding help. They would be friends on and off court, just like with Ryan.

i say we trade harris with dallas pick 4 the 76ers 1st round pick, kapono, and Primoz Brezec or royal ivy. with our without us getting the number1 pick.

It’s funny as most posters forget just how much our fans were in love with TWilliams prior to the draft. They kept envisioning him as a mini Lebron and look at what you got, a role player at best!

Let’s not assume that Turner or Johnson will be the next Melo or anything close to him. Your expectations get way too high for our draft picks and then you turn on them when they don’t produce.

Nets need to go out and get proven young players like Lee/Gay/Amare…..

I never said TWill was a mini LeBron. He is in between LeBron and DWade in size/strength, but I said he could be a better rebounding DWade, if he learns to shoot better, the same way DWade improved his shooting over his first few years.

However, it is clear that TWill is missing the smarts and determination that DWade has. That is worth a lot, and no telling yet if that “light” will ever click all the way on for TWill.

Turner especially doesn’t seem to have this problem. Johnson has more weaknesses, but both are proven to be carrying their teams.

I DO have some doubts about Wall, because his value is exaggerated because he is a Freshman. He has lots of very good teammates who are making him look good.

“However, it is clear that TWill is missing the smarts and determination that DWade has.”

TWill is missing a lot more than that. TWill lacks certain basketball skills that are essential if you want to be a star like Wade.

The Nets will not be able to simply build up from the draft, they will need to go out and get FA’s. Primary reason is that the time any rookies have a significant impact on the NETS, the team won’t have any fans left. You see what is happening with this losing season…think what would happen if we had the same losing season next year and even worse, the year after that.

I completely expect the Nets to get the 4th pick. When I do the ESPN draft lottery, I seem to get the 4th pick about 7 out of 10 times, and the 1st pick about twice. I completely expect to have Wesley Johnson on the Nets next year.Although he’s not most people’s dream pick,it could be a blessing in disguise. But I’d still prefer Wall or Turner.And I’m not totally sold on Favors.

Cousins hands down over favors

Cousins’ problem is between the ears, but he’s going to be a load in the NBA. No question.

@ ShawnG – Josh Howard? Oh no. He makes SEAN WILLIAMS look like a choir boy by comparison.

In no way should cousins go over favors or go that high. Top 10 sure but not top 5. All the reports on cousins say he’s got immense talent but has very very poor body language and just general demeanor. Words we always see are: lazy, can’t control temper, selfish. That’s really the issue. Go check out his profile at draftexpress

nxt years starting linup:
john wall
devin harris
rudy gay
david lee
brook lopez.
playoffs all over it.

bench:
cdr, twill, Clee, yi, humphries, dooling,
dallas 1st round pick, and our 2nd round pick.

mayb another cheap, and i mean real cheap fa. like sum1 that isn’t known but can help a team in some way or another.

From hardwoodparoxsysm on twitter just now: “does rudy gay have any trade value left after the last 2 games? No.” grizzlies fans already think rudy gay sucks, and people here wanna sign him to a huge contract? This summer has such huge potential to be an epic fail for us

Adam is right about getting getting better fast via free agency. And DLee is the only person available who would have the biggest immediate and lasting positive impact. Whatever the price, Nets have to pay it, or else the Knicks will. I expect NI to be following up on DLee possibilities the way he has with Rudy Gay.

However, Nets also need another body now to keep the fan base.
Knowing where the Nets are going, Yi would have to be sacrificed before trade deadline to make this happen, if for no other reason than it would save $4 million and he (and China) wouldn’t be happy remaining next year with limited PT.

i’ve been watching Rudy Gay from UConn… and he is not that bad of a defender… when he came into the NBA… he was asked to produce offense not defense…. every NBA player can defend IF they choose to…
with proper coaching… Gay can become a better defender.. do we need him to be a Ron Artest.. NO….. but we wuld need him to defend his man much better than he has been doing…. but still VERY VERY COACHABLE

I say big NO to rudy gay
He’s just gonna ask for big contract
We should have kept RJ If were gonna end up with gay.
I know he’s very athletic but I would rather have twill over this guy.
David lee isn’t a good player to sign.
I would stick with YI and lopez
And then sign an allstar
I think nets should wait till Durant become a free agent the. If we get lucky to draft wall and try to get Rubio
I know I’m dreaming but this is more realistic than getting lebron James.

Rubio
Wall
Twill
Yi
Lopez

That’s not a bad line up.

maykmahman: Rubio and Wall in the backcourt? You might call it more “realistic than getting LeBron James”, and that’s fine. Does it make sense? Not at all. Really, not at all.

also: tu vieja: Harris and Wall in the backcourt? I love Netsdaily, but do the commenters put any thought into their fantasy starting 5? Do you realize that both Wall and Harris are point guards who need the ball to be successful?

Rubio’s got a body like one of the twilight guys. You better hope he never matches up against tyreke evans, you’ll have to mop what’s left of him off the floor

Key is to trade Harris if we get the #1 pick… Get a big enough name to lure in one of the top guys so we don’t need to settle on Gay.

If the Lakers really like Harris so much, I really think we should go after Gasol with a realistically nice package (Yi or Hump, and Lee or CDR or T-Will, future pick).

We could trade before free agency begins and then show the big names that we’re a different team.

Also, if Turner is so good, we could try to move up with our Mavs and 2nd rounder… and maybe thrown in another player?

@gerald do u realize that wall is around 6’4sh
Look at wade the first time he play for Miami, wasn’t he a pg before they realize that he can play as solid sg!? Hahahaha
I don’t know but that’s my opinion.
And with ur comment with Harris and wall together
Isn’t Harris play with terry in Dallas? Harris isn’t a real point guard so think about it first before u comment back I just think it makes more sense

Harris/Wall
Gay/Lee
CDR/Williams
Lee/yi
Lopez/?

I wouldnt mind :D

Lebron was at Kentucky’s game and if Wall is drafted by the Nets… Hmm… His boy Jay-Z is there? It just sucks they’re so bad. Because when Lebron says, “He wants to win championships.” How is signing with the worst team in the league help?

If Nets win Wall, LBJ to Nets is a very serious consideration, if not though – there’s no shot at all.

The Nets are in need of; heart, hustle, rebounding and coaching. In that order. Evidence shows great coaches can’t do it all (see Larry Brown on Knicks). If Nets don’t land Wall, Turner is definitely next cuz’ he has those 3 traits in spades. And regardless of negatives, David Lee also sports those traits in spades. He is already a local and belive me that counts.

So much of our future decisions are predicated on this draft. I love the trade suggestions of Dev + pick for higher pick or allstar if we land Wall. Either way we have some definitives here:
1. TWill is a backup PG/SF, because great passer, bad shooter. He also gravitates towards the role anyway.
2. Yi is not a starting PF because bad defense and horrible with assists. He’s an offensive blackhole and defensive liability. But great scorer off the bench and match up nightmare.
3. CDR is 6th man for similar reasons as Yi, definitely needs action at 2 but his downturn lately will keep him from starting for sure.
4. This team can’t score, but shocklingly doesn’t play bad D if their heads are right – that’s a big IF. But offensive woes are not, those are very real and very scary. We need a coach who can teach and run solid offensive sets and an offensive doctrine that exploits player strengths. This ‘feed the post’ thing is a joke. Yi sucks in post and BLo is getting triple-teamed. We need fast break putbacks for Brook and kickouts for Yi, those are their strengths and works well with our wings.

I think DLee would be a good pickup, but Camby even better (and cheaper). Gay is a good pickup, not great, but pair him our guards and fast break and look out. But if we landed Turner/WesJ, then obviously that’s a no go. Because of these variables, throwing out lineups is useless.

John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, LeBron, Mikhail Prokhorov, and Brooklyn – WOW!