Dave D: A Change Is Coming...OK, Maybe More than One
by Net Income on Apr 1, 2010 8:36 PM EDT
in 2010 Free Agency
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PrintDave D'Alessandro's Mailbags (we capitalize out of respect) is always a fun read, peppered as it is with wit, trenchant analysis, tidbits, and just a touch of crankiness. For Nets nerds--and aren't we all--it's an event when one shows up. Most of the questions Thursday are about the future, and why not. The past is so passe'...with 10 wins and all.
Bottom line, Dave is a bit suspicious of Mikhail Prokhorov, believing his "strategic investment" is likely to be a short term foray. He suggests the first indication we'll have about Prokhorov's long-term commitment is how much independence he gives Rod Thorn in the hiring of subordinates.
As for free agency, it's all about big men, and not just Amare Stoudemire There's Carlos Boozer and David Lee and Udonis Haslem but not Chris Bosh, who Dave calls "the softest big guy in the league". He also thinks it's possible the Nets may have more cap space than believed. It's not certain Kris Humphries will exercise his player option...and Keyon Dooling is basically gone.
Speaking of permutations, Dave offers the possibilities for Draft Night, including trading Devin Harris, choosing between bigs and smalls if the ping pong ball gods don't smile on the Nets, and offering two possibilities for the second pick--Nevada's Luke Babbitt and Kentucky's Daniel Orton, both PF's.
Finally, there's the search for a new coach. If it's Thorn's choice, he says it won't be a college guy. It will be Jeff Van Gundy or a rising star. And JVG is by no means a sure thing. He likes what he's doing, where he's living and has no burning desire (yet) to return to the bench.
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Is Dave D Thorn's caddy?
Thorn should be let go. Who the heck wants JVG as coach? In a couple of years Franks would be JVG.
Some of these reporters should find something else to do with their lives.
Dave "D’ seems like a wonderful guy. Why waste your life on a job your bored at.
Most of these Nets beat writers, Kerber, Dave, Jullian or what ever, sound like Bogart, Harrison Ford, Brando. Seen it all, done it all, bored as hell.
We need a James Cagney covering the Nets… Yeah… James Cagney.
“Is there anybody alive out there?”….
I tend to agree
it’s Prokhorov’s team. He overpaid for it…when you figure it all out. The next highest bidder came no where near what he agreed to pay. If Prokhorov wants to hire a Russian or a Russian and an Israeli or a Russian and three Slovenians, it’s his perogative. It’s not as if Thorn has done such a bang-up job for his $5.5 million salary.
Rod Thorn = Ted Kennedy, with all due respect...
And I respect them both, greatly, but sometimes it’s time to go….
Err...
I’m not a huge fan of some of the suggestions that are being made in this article. If we don’t end up with John Wall on Draft Day, I’d rather stick with Harris and Dooling. Dooling wants to stay, and he’s not a bad backup at all. And considering that we could come up with Evan Turner or DeMarcus Cousins on Draft Day, along with a big FA forward, we don’t need Harris to be the scorer he was last year. The way he’s playing right now would be perfectly fine. IF we draft Wall, then it’s a different story. As for the head coach, I’m not totally in favor of JVG getting the job.
We need Cagney, we need Bruce we really need Drazen Petrovic...
“Well, we bursted out of class
Had to get away from those fools
We learned more from a 3-minute record, baby
Than we ever learned in school
Tonight I hear the neighborhood drummer sound
I can feel my heart begin to pound
You say you’re tired and you just want to close your eyes
And follow your dreams down”
You only live once…
Sorry to go off topic but...
Does anybody know anything about NBA draft tickets? Since we’ll (hopefully) have the top pick, I want a reason to throw on my Lopez jersey and represent at MSG.
Also unrelated, “Ask the Announcers” is way better than Marv showing Reggie Miller and Craig Sager’s socks on the air.
by JohnFromLongIsland on Apr 1, 2010 9:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I believe
that the tickets go on sale the morning of the draft at the Garden box office…it’s general admission. Then, people with tickets line up starting at about 5 – 5:30. When the doors open, it is a madhouse. Since the Knicks don’t have a pick, I expect there wont be that many Knick fans there.
So what do you think about Jennifer Aniston's new flick...
I bet if she made a movie about her long lost Cousin, lets call him Demarcus for now, it might be a career reviver. Please share your thoughts….
If the Nets do end up getting the first pick, Wall is in and Harris is gone. I like Devin but he was much more explosive last year. This year he seems to be hurt/sick/unconcious/whatever too much.
"We aim above the mark to hit the mark." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wall minus Harris is less then zero...
Who anointed Wall the next superstar? Let me guess. The media?
Wall is a great young player but there are a lot of great young players.
We already have a young PG. Wall – Harris is less then Wall.
Oh, I forgot. We are going to trade Harris for fill in the blank: _______.
Actually I’m not entirely sure what the media’s portrayal of Wall is right now because, besides being mentioned during the Net’s games during random intervals throughout the year, I rarely paid attention or heard anything from the media regarding Wall. What I have noticed by this point regarding Wall is 1) through feedback from hundreds of fans like us, including those who attend his college and those who have watched him live 2) Through watching videos and tapes of him balling. Both seem to confirm what everyone else already believed: Wall is going to be a great player, and at the very least as good as Harris is right now. If we can instantly upgrade at the PG position, why not use the piece we have at PG currently and instantly upgrade another position while we’re at it?
"We aim above the mark to hit the mark." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ummm
Kinda warming up to Cousins a lil bit. Dont get me wrong Evan Turner is my favourite player. But IF… we cant get him then i guess im fine with Cousins only because Devin Harris is like Wall and i think they could resemble the duo a lil bit. But i def want Evan Turner or Wall (mostly Turner). P.S. then we sign Rudy Gay???
Sussman Sez?
Not that he is the end-all, be-all, but why has there not been a Sussman Sez posting since the holiday time with all that is seemingly going on with this team? Has management banned him from writing his blog anymore? And on another note- will the Nets actually allow Sussman to introduce the Nets for the final home game at the Meadowlands instead of the absolute clown hired showman they have had doing it since the middle of this season? NBA opening intros have been obnoxious for a long time but at least give Sussman the honor of doing it one final time instead of the loud shreak-fest it has become with his replacement. I am guessing our the moderators here may know something about the status of his blog at the very least.
yeah, it's a conspiracy
he does the pregame radio show with Carrino and Capstraw. Speaks in full sentences…and is often snarky.
You can't beat that kind of information
I guess my question didn’t fit into your agenda. A simple “I don’t know” would have sufficed.
I am not replying to you
I am trying to help others understand that your suggestion, your implication is bogus. I know how the game is played. It’s a rhetorical device, to pose a question that suggests an answer, one that the questioner doesn’t want to state directly.
For your information Net Income
Since you provide so little of it if it doesn’t have a team-spin: Sussman was replaced as PA announcer by the guy (I believe Zolser was his last name) that made the Jassssson Kiddd!! scream after a bucket famous for the a couple of the years that we were in our glory. This season Susssman’s voice has been taken off Net intros in favor of the paid showman they brought in to yell and make noise all game long. Sussman’s blog which was often posted on YOUR site has been nowhere to be found since all this groundbreaking garbage and the annoucement to leave the Meadowlands next season was made not to mention the record-avoiding win etc. Was just looking for some legitimate information about the team but once again you have nothing to offer.
dude they replaced Sussman
because he is about as exciting as a slow moving turtle…
the MC brings energy and excitement to the announcing of the starting line-ups.
it wasn’t a conspiracy against Isaac
-Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Genius
I never said I am a huge Sussman fan but again he is part of this team’s history and getting replaced by that clown that you love is a total slap in the face. You are seriously entertained by him? That is truly sad unless this is your idea of a late April Fool’s comment.
Buddy please
tell me when I said I loved Marco-G…
go ahead….
What is true, is that Sussman is not the crowd hyper that the MC is, that is why this move was done…it has nothing to do with “a slap to the face” Jesus you are the only person who thinks like that – and I am glad there are not a ton of people who do.
-Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
If you can go...
Wall/Harris/TWil/Amare/Brook…you do it very quickly.
But we have to decide quick and I would definately take Lee as a consolation prize. Never liked Boozer.
by rundmc00 on Apr 1, 2010 11:16 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I prefer either Boozer or Lee to Amare
Amare has to many serious injuries, to many attitude issues, is to reliant on Nash and has to few playoff wins as part of a good team (is that to or too?)
Lee at $8-10 for 5 years seems like the best fit including age and cost. Should still allow room for a max free agent this year or next.
I also think Turner fits better then Wall in your line-up.
And we still need a quality nasty PF to play 25 minutes a game.
Lee will be at least $65 million, and to get him before the Knicks do, Nets would have to act quickly and not wait for Amare and Boozer to play games before getting back to David's agent.
NI predicts $13 million start, which will be cheaper than Boozer and Amare.
DD is way under on DLee and hopefully overly generous with Scola.
Isn’t it something to think about, why Phoenix doesn’t want to offer Amare a large contract, even though they are in the best position and will upset Nash by not doing it? Maybe they know more than us about Amare’s health and problems.
Even Utah is now seriously considering trying to get Boozer back, because DWilliams might leave if they don’t.
Miami is getting either Boozer or Amare for sure. DWade has that pull. Therefore DLee may be all that is available and the Knicks will do anything by late July to pay Lee, if he isn’t already taken.
The earlybird will get DLee. That was rumored yesterday to be the Nets’ plan. You can count on that.
I love Devin
So dont want to see the trade, but….Devin to LA straight up for Lamar Odom. Money and years are about equal. LA needs a quick PG for the last Kobe years and we need bigs.
Dave D would spend the left over bankroll on Gay...
….that’s a tough pill to swallow.
also according to Dave D… D Lee’s price tag is 9-11 mil over 5 years. I hope that’s the case and I think that’s very reasonable for him. But a team out there will find reason to give him more.
If they wanted to outbid another team…could they give him a front heavy contract? what would they do to make sure D Lee came to us??
Also…this is very off topic, but my brother and I were talking 2night and we were wondering…
If Blake Griffin came in during this draft with Wall and Turner…..would he go #1?
that's a good question
I think he might still, even though the lusters warn off because of his injury he was an INSANELY hyped player all last year up the draft. Him going number 1 wasn’t just because of a weak class he was basically expected to go 1 before the season even started. Really if he was available this draft I’d want them to take him over Wall/Turner.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Then why isn't someone in the media saying that Wall is hyped up, just like Griffin was last year.
It sure is a good thing Griffin isn’t coming out this year, because Thorn would be stuck with him.
Wall is built like Harris and is about the same size (does anyone really believe he is 6’4"?). Wall should have injuries just like Harris. At least we know that Turner heals fast – maybe Turner gets extra powers from the Yellow Sun (for Smallville fans).
I wonder if the Clippers would be willing to trade Griffin for someone like Harris, considering he may have an injury filled career.
Yeah I love rudy gay as a player
but I don’t really understand why he’s a player we should be targeting when we have an excess of wingmen. And as far as I know he’s not an excellent perimeter shooter he’s closer to a slasher type.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Especially if we end up taking a guard/sf with our first pick.
"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'
it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.
Agreed!
If we get Wall or Turner. What we need is a BIG who can play alongside Lopez. One of this 3 Bigs would be nice DLEE\BOOZER\AMAR’E. As long as we don’t overpay.
Now if we get the 3rd or 4th pick. I want the Nets to pick Cousins because I think he is just what we need. A young bruiser type of player who can play the 4 and 5 spot when needed . Lopez can play the 4 spot also (like Tim Duncan)
by jasperjarrod on Apr 2, 2010 7:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed, Gina
Gay is a very talented player. But I hope we don’t sign him. Especially if we land Wall or Turner. Giving Gay $12-13M per would be a similar mistake to that the Warriors made when they gave J-Rich the big bucks.
Blake Griffin
I like that question too. I think Griffin would be the overall #1 pick if he were in the upcoming draft. But it would also depend on what team wins the lottery. Like if the Knicks had the pick (hypothetically speaking), i believe they may take Wall, because they’ve been so desperate for a point guard for so many years. For the Nets, Minnesota, or Warriors i think the pick would be Griffin.
Yes, this story confirms that DD is the reporter who is closest to Thorn.
I was surprised at the figure for Scola, as just 1 month ago he was in the 4 million range and Houston didn’t want him.
I also agree with NI that DLee will get around 13 million per (and be worth it).
Would like to know what Thorn thinks of Avery Johnson, now that Harris doesn’t seem to mind reunited with his mentor.
With college coaches out, and JVG not likely available, Avery seems logical, if he doesn’t accept New Orleans, before Daniel Goldstein vacates his property.
No mention by Dave about whether Thorn will keep Yi around (does he have trade value) to satisfy Yormarket, and would he recommend Nets extend his player option next year at $5.4 million?
I hope Humphries opts out and leaves us with an additional $3M to opperate with.
I’d understand if they didn’t exercise KD’s option 8esp if we land Wall, sinc we’d have 3 guys who could play the PG- Wall, Harris and TWill), but I hope we try to re-sign him at a cheaper price.
You would. I hope Yi is traded for an expiring contract or a Keeper, so Nets can have cap space for 2011.
Maybe Kiki’s master plan was to lower Hump’s value.
He sure played well when Kiki upped his minutes to 22. 17 pts. and lots of boards and physical play.
If Nets would be unfortunate to choose Wall over Turner, then Dooling would be more valuable because Harris would eventually be traded and Dooling would be needed, as well as to teach Wall.
Jay Williams says that Wall is making lots of mistakes and has a lot to learn. He says all we see are highlight films of his best 2 or 3 plays of the game – hence the media hype.
I think I would rather take Cousins over Wall and keep Harris, except then it wouldn’t make sense to go for DLee (and split time at PF/Center)
With all the hope that Cousins would Explode, it never happened.
LOL
Humphries doesn’t need Kiki to lower his value. Hump himself does that every time he steps on the court, with his bonehead play. He’s a scrub I won’t miss. Wouldn’t mind keeping him, but if he does stay, he’ll be out of the rotation anyway.
Hump has had more productive games than Yi, playing 1/2 the season and 1/2 the minutes during the time he has been on the team.
There is a lot of competition out there and I doubt Dallas would take him back now, so don’t know who would offer Hump more than 7 million for 3 years. Hump hasn’t been injured, which is another important consideration.
Hump has to expect his new coach would have some sense and not play Yi just to accommodate people in China. Thorn certainly is no longer a fan of Yi.
At least Hump can fill in at Center, which Yi can’t. Assuming Boone isn’t brought back in August, there is a definite need for Hump, since any backup center obtained with the Dallas pick would not be very good (unless CDR and $3 million could be thrown in, but CDR’s value is too low at this point)
Yi is better suited to play C than Humphries
who is an undersized scrub. Yi could be a stretch C ala Okur.
There’s a reason why teams have traded Hump over and over again. He’s an end of the rotation guy.
You may be the other person associated with the Nets who thinks Yi can play Center.
Even Kiki puts Hump at Center and doesn’t want to make Yi look even worse on defense by testing him there or at SF.
Humphries was 1st backup to some of the best PFs in the NBA.
He played another great game the other night.
Cousins is as good as Wall
they’re both up for the Wooden award and both are freshman. Cousins has more value since he’s a big. Don’t believe the hype.
Hard call for Hump
He has to know that next year his minutes are going down as Proky brings in a new team. Does he jump ship now and hope he gets 3 or 4 years at $/-3 million per year (two birds in the bush) or re-up for one more year as a NET at $3 (bird in the hand). I hope he dives into the bush.
Remember that Yi will have a qualifying offer of $5.4 million on the table this fall. Something to think about for a future bench warmer.
Best for Thorn to be very nice to Hump. and convince him that there will be plenty of PT for him, even if the Nets get Cousins or DLee.
Devil Muscle
On a good team where you need a combo forward to play 20-25 minutes per night and maybe fill in for center in a pinch, Yi is much better than Hump – or would be if he ever had consistent coaching.
To put it another way, Yi cannot defend ANY position. Three years of big minutes with 3-4 different coaches is enough.
Excuses are OVER and even Yi knew that from what he said a couple of weeks ago.
His contract with Milwaukee specified he had to play at least 25 minutes per game. Noone gets deals like that.
What will his agent say next year when he is out of the rotation?
BTW, what ever happened to Yao (the poster, not the player). Have the others fed up with Yi been driven away?
Coach and KiKi do not work in the same sentence.
I can accept some posters views that KiKi is an acceptable GM (still getting flushed at the end of the season). But he is not, never wanted to be, never claimed to be, never seemed interested in being, never seemed capable of being a coach. Yi and all the other NETS where cut adrift this season as regards real coaching. No commitment to a system. No consistency in rotations. Nothing. CDR got lost. TWill found his way. Clee stuck it out. Lopez is holding on to his sanity coming down the home stretch. The veterans are all just waiting for the closing bell to ring.
Del Harris was his coach in China. He became his coach for over 1 month with the Nets.
It was because of Harris that there was still some hope for Yi. I consider Del to be Yi’s 4th coach in the NBA.
People think that Harris left because he wouldn’t become head coach this year.
However, he knew that he was never brought in by Thorn to become head coach.
Maybe Del Harris left because he realized the “Yi Experiment” wasn’t going to succeed, so he jumped ship early to not have to face the music.
Btw
I love the guys Dave D names for our late picks. Babbitt is compared to KVH. Orton would be a nice big man addition. I also like Da’Sean Butler (super clutch, Newark native… not sure he will be there with the Mavs pick), Jarvis Varnado (we need to improve our interior D, and the kid is a great shotblocker and rebounder), and Kyle Singler.
I think we need a tweener/combo forward whom we could use as a stretch 4 when we have to go small. Babbitt is the better scorer, but he’s a poor defender. Singler is tougher, and is a very competitive and smart kid. I’d be happy with either of them.
Prokhorov should be making his own list of coaches to interview WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ANYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION:
1. MB
2. Calipari
3. Pitino
4. Ettore Messina.
by diehardNFFLbarnone on Apr 2, 2010 4:27 PM EDT reply actions
Proky has said that there are no international coaches prepared, and he has said he isn't very expert at this.
He isn’t allowed to enter into NBA discussions until he is approved.
Hence it is Rod’s show. That is whyThorn will be paid the Big Bucks (thought less Bucks than this year).
With all of his money...
Proky can fire Thorn, Yormark etc. in a Brooklyn minute. Usually when you have barbarians at the gate, they eventually will take over. In other words, no one will ever be safe. So let Thorn run around with Yormark , hand in hand, over the cliff, if things go wrong. I just hope Kiki lands on his feet, somewhere else. For me, Kiki is the hero of this unhappy tale. Once the Russian’s storm the gate nobody will be safe. Welcome to the U.S.A. 2010… Where everything is up for sale.
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