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"The Rock" a Lure for Al Harrington But Are the Nets Interested?

When it comes to free agency, everyone knows the names of the top three or four players worth the max and another three or four who want the max but will probably settle for less.  Then, there's the next group who, while flawed, have value.  Put Al Harrington in that group. He's a great scorer, especially against the Nets, but he's also seen as a black hole on offense. And while he can defend, it's not been part of his repertoire for a while.  Still, Harrington is a Jersey guy, born in Elizabeth, raised in Roselle and he can see himself in a Nets uniform--and playing in Newark. "If they had interest in me, I'd take a strong look at that," Harrington, a free-agent-to-be, told The Post. "It's still the city. It's still home. I'd rather play at the Garden, but I'd play in Newark, too." No indication the Nets have interest.

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Thanks, but no thanks!

I wonder if a GM or Pres has ever said this to a player… “It’s pleasing that free agents like yourself are interested in joining our organisation, but right now, we’re moving in another direction…”

In other words, we don’t want ball-hogging, turnover prone defensive liabilities taking up large amounts of our cap-space.

'The Crossover' - a Nets and Knicks podcast. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=268817312

by Rusty_b on Mar 17, 2010 8:43 AM EDT reply actions  

I’ll take him..if we can sign him for cheap

by jumpman on Mar 17, 2010 9:50 AM EDT reply actions  

Well, I've been vouching for that for awhile.

There’s no guarantee that someone like Lebron or even Gay will come here. Michael Heisley is now saying that he’ll match any offer for Gay. It could be leverage so that nobody makes him an offer and therefore, he can sign him for cheaper due to the lack of competition for his services but it’s a good move on Heisley’s part and it puts the Nets in a tough position.

Getting a cheaper option like Harrington, Dorell Wright or Travis Outlaw would make sense for the short term. It wouldn’t destroy our cap flexibility as we would still have space for upcoming summers. Then, we’d have a better shot at getting Carmelo or at least have the inside track siince everyone else will have used up their space this summer. I like that plan of attack better for the long run.

New collective bargaining agreement is simple. Give small markets a larger share of the national tv revenue sharing pie, limit MLE's to teams under the lux tax threshold, allow owners to terminate one deal every other year provided players have played at least 3 years on it and limit raises to 5 and 10%

by Trueblood on Mar 17, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nope

Harrington is not the direction we need to go in. We need young, athletic, and defensive-minded players.

by GeoffreySchmits on Mar 17, 2010 9:55 AM EDT reply actions  

Yeah but where are we going to get this players?

and what are the odds, if gotten through the draft they’ll be ready next year? Harrington is a good stop gap player, can play multiple positions in the front court and could probably be had for cheap.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Mar 17, 2010 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

Depends on how cheap

He’s making $10 million this year and averaging almost 18 points per game. I don’t think he’s the kind of player who’s going to accept a $2-3 million contract, even to stay close to home. But I agree with you to an extent – if he would take a cheap, short-term contract he’d be an okay stop gap player for the second unit. It all depends on who we end up drafting and what other free agents we get.

by GeoffreySchmits on Mar 18, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

Sorry Al, I'm going to be out of town for the next ten years...

If Harrington was that wonderful the Knicks would sign him.

Beware of talented players who move from team to team.

Just say thanks but no thanks.

by M I K E on Mar 17, 2010 10:09 AM EDT reply actions  

You Got That Right!

Knicks will become a defensive team next year without Al.
The Nets will become a solid young team with a mix of solid older professionals like K.Dooling, D.Harris and maybe J.Hayes.
Al could come off the bench to score if he would take a cut around 2M a year to play.
I doubt it though.

GO BROOKLYN NETS!

by Dziedzic on Mar 17, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

On a semi-related note

You can go ahead and scratch Rudy Gay off your list of possible free agent acquisitions.

“Griz owner Michael Heisley told a group of season ticket holders that the team intends to match any offer Gay might receive as a restricted free agent this summer. Heisley spoke before the game at the team’s annual "State of the Franchise" Chalk Talk where season ticket holders could ask questions”

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/mar/16/memphis-grizzlies-outgun-undermanned-chicago-bulls/

by muwu on Mar 17, 2010 10:17 AM EDT reply actions  

Who's left?

If LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Gay are not available, who’s left? David Lee? We have to build thru the draft and trades. Just because you have plenty of cap space does not mean you have to spend it.

Maybe I’m wrong and these players will be available. I wouldn’t count on it.

by M I K E on Mar 17, 2010 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

No matter what

I’d rather do no signing that a bad signing. The worst thing we can do is sign someone to a huge contract they don’t deserve and ruin our flexibility for the next half decade

by muwu on Mar 17, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

I agree

the only player I’d expect to be available is Lee, and I wouldn’t want to give him an 8 digit contract.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Mar 17, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’d much rather spend big on David Lee than spend $10-12m per year on Al Harrington.

'The Crossover' - a Nets and Knicks podcast. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=268817312

by Rusty_b on Mar 17, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

I doubt...

…Harrington will sniff half that money.

by Andres B on Mar 17, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

He’s on $10m right now.

With a lot of teams already under (or looking to get under) the cap, and the number of available big-time free agents seemingly dwindling, guys like Al Harrington will do well this off-season. Very well. It’s fanciful to think he could be had for much less than $10m. That being the case, I’d be much more comfortable shelling out big-time mullah to sign D-Lee.

'The Crossover' - a Nets and Knicks podcast. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=268817312

by Rusty_b on Mar 17, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

That contract was given to him 5 years ago

He’s 30 years old and is at 17 and 5. Round about 5 million, give or take a few million, sounds about right.

He is nowhere close to getting an 8-figure deal. No way no how

by muwu on Mar 17, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

Not to be pedantic, but five million ‘give or take a few’ could amount to something close to ten.

Let me rephrase my earlier reply – I’d much rather spend big on David Lee than spend at all on Al Harrington.

'The Crossover' - a Nets and Knicks podcast. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=268817312

by Rusty_b on Mar 17, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

Much like how Tracy McGrady is being paid 23 million dollars right now, current salary is not indicative of market value. Tracy McGrady’s gonna go from 23 million to minimum salary next year, even he knows it.

by muwu on Mar 17, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

Depends on whether he will be perceived to be an injured player.

I hope he can get the Knicks to overpay to bring him back.
Then let his knees give out.
Knicks are really abusing his body with all the minutes McGrady is getting.

by jerry25 on Mar 17, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

F/A A Waist

Lebron stays in Cleveland for three more years.
D.Wade stays in Miami or goes back to hometown Chicago.
C.Bosh goes to Miami if Wade stays or follows him to Chicago.
R.Gay stays in Memphis for the max money.
D.Lee is going to be traded in a sign & trade with E.Curry for A.Stoudemire.
The Nets don’t need any of these overprivce F/A’s
We can stay within the draft along with trading Yi.Jianlian, J.Boone and C.Lee with future picks to build more talent through this draft.
Prohorov and rest of the ownership are solid smart basketball/business people.
They are not going to spend foolishly as some peole think.
To smart and to successful to do this.

GO BROOKLYN NETS!

by Dziedzic on Mar 17, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

waste

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then.

by John at the Jersey Shore on Mar 17, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

Why would Phoenix do that trade unless they knew they could sign DLee?

Wouldn’t DLee have to agree to sign with Phoenix. I though he wants to stay in the New York area?

Memphis had a chance to re-sign RGay but only offered 50 million over 5 years. Why would they suddenly offer a Max contract? They already got a semi-replacement from Utah. And if Nets/Knicks /make an offer first, they will be sure it can’t be matched.

I don’t think Chicago has space for 2 Max FAs.

by jerry25 on Mar 17, 2010 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Why?

Because Amare has a17m contract next year as a player option.
D.Lee 8m and E.Curry at 11 adds up to the same amount of money but end up with D.Lee for the length of his new contract while E.Curry and Amare just have one year and out.

by Dziedzic on Mar 17, 2010 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Wouldn't work

DLee is an unrestricted FA. He will have no contract after June 30.
He could sign with Nets and Phoenix would be stuck with Curry’s 11 million contract.
A disaster for Phoenix.

by jerry25 on Mar 18, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Never Made The List

R.Gay is staying in Memphis or going to the Cavs.
Watch.
The Nets don’t need a overpriced F/A now when they need to worry about the draft and our own young talent regarding resigning.

Never Made The List

by Dziedzic on Mar 18, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

I seem to remember Harrington saying he was a lifelong Knick fan

and loved playing in the Garden for the Knicks at one time. I guess his allegiances changed once he realized his favorite team was going to dump him. No thanks!

by Morph on Mar 17, 2010 11:21 AM EDT reply actions  

Indeed you are correct

now of course, he is a lifelong fan of cash.

by Net Income on Mar 17, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

If we can get him cheap and no one isnt available..Why not??

by NetsBall4Real on Mar 17, 2010 11:35 AM EDT reply actions  

life really sucks if Al Harrington is the prize

And I’m not saying he’s not talented, but he’s also a huge blockhead. Last year he cost the Knicks a game by hanging on the rim to the tune of a technical foul. So usually you would think the player wouldn’t do that again, NOPE. Less than two weeks later he cost the Knicks another game late in the 4th for hanging on the rim for another technnical.

No brains. He’ll still score a bit, but even Al doesn’t move like he used to

by SamsHops on Mar 17, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

In a nutshell, you’ve just summed up why I want nothing to do with him. The man SERIOUSLY lacks bb IQ (and that’s not even touching on his ‘defense’).

'The Crossover' - a Nets and Knicks podcast. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=268817312

by Rusty_b on Mar 17, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Would do well as a 6th man off the bench. Do you guys see how little scoring we have on the roster?

by graf on Mar 17, 2010 12:04 PM EDT reply actions  

Putting the cart before the horse...

Wouldn’t it be nice to have our “new” coaches input on who too sign.

I have a funny feeling we won’t have our “new” coach until after the draft and free agency signings are over.

Just what you would expect in the Land of Nuts, oops, I mean the Land Of Nets…

by M I K E on Mar 17, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

I hate this bonehead as much as the rest of you...

but atleast he can score… I would still rather not have him. I am getting really confused. I think we need a good 3 to be a solid team. Can’t someone just give us LBJ???

by Bruce Jones on Mar 17, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions  

Well/Yes/Maybe

The guy is a talented scorer off the bench but no defense to speak about.
If he would take 2m to come off the bench then he is worth it.
Otherwise, just move on without the clown from Newark.

GO BROOKLYN NETS!

by Dziedzic on Mar 17, 2010 12:58 PM EDT reply actions  

what is ironic

is that when he was with the pacers, he was seen as one of their best defenders.

by Net Income on Mar 17, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

At least he still plays, kind of...

With all the guaranteed money these youngsters get, I’m surprised that they even show up to play. LOL

by M I K E on Mar 17, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

Since he basically has one merged eye, do we get him at half price?

by Jron on Mar 17, 2010 1:12 PM EDT reply actions  

NO NO NO to trading Courtney Lee. WTF is that?

by diehardNFFLbarnone on Mar 17, 2010 3:10 PM EDT reply actions  

@ Net Income – take a look at the coaching staff he had to deal with in Indiana. If he didn’t play defense, he would have sat.

by diehardNFFLbarnone on Mar 19, 2010 3:04 PM EDT reply actions  

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