Nets As A Unit Lack Passion, Tenacity, Athleticism, Speed, and Grit:

Why The Nets Should Have Targeted Stoudemire This Summer

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

The Nets had it all wrong this summer. Seemingly every devoted Nets fan likes to debate where the Nets either missed out or messed up... Here is my theory:

The Nets could have easily landed Amare just like the Knicks did. There is no reason to think that by beating the Knicks to it, Amare wouldn't have crossed the t's and dotted the i's for an identical contract if we struck first. Sure, his health is a severe risk factor.. but he's coming off a season with a full 82 games played... that's more than I can say about Outlaw and Murphy (cough, cough), our two biggest signings. Also, we all know Boozer, Wade and other high profile first-tier FA's have gone down for massive amounts of time before in their career and are labeled "injury-prone" - would anyone not take a risk on acquiring CP3 tomorrow? Paul is coming off a serious injury, but I bet anyone would give up a good chunk of our future to land him. I think the gamble of having AMARE AND BROOK up front (easily best front court in the NBA) would certainlllly be worth the risk. Remember Amare's second half last year? Let me refresh the memory: 26.6 points, 9.2 FTS made!, 9.6 rebounds, 56% from the field! Wow. Oh but he can't play without Nash right? I just saw him follow up his 32 point performance with a 30 point game tonight against the C's... I think he'll do just fine. 

OK, hot shot... what the heck would the Nets do with Favors and Amare?? Ah.. well since Favors is supposedly STAT-in-training (coming to a team near u in 2015) - why not have the proven monster now and set the team up ahead of time by replacing the project-that-is Favors with drafting Wes Johnson, a terrific talent who is undoubtedly an NBA-ready player who can shoot the lights out at the SF position???

So, this all being a very realistic option that potentially could have been realized - not just 20/20 hindsight vision - my starting lineup would look like this:

Key Bench Players: Farmar, Morrow, Outlaw (LESS $ and less years - easily attainable especially since the Nets wouldn't have freaked out to reach league minimum) D James, Hump.

Not only would Amare give us two solidified all-star caliber players and attract high-profile FA's in 2011, I guarantee this team makes the playoffs NOW and could easily win 44+ games.