Hollinger: Nets, Prokhorov Among Free Agency's Big Losers
by Net Income on Jul 27, 2010 2:38 PM EDT
46 comments
John Hollinger, never one to mince words, lists the Nets and their new owner as one of free agency's big losers, citing all the usual reasons: they couldn't persuade any of the top free agents to take a shot on their future; they overpaid to a "ridiculous" degree to get Travis Outlaw (5 years, $35 million) and Johan Petro (3 years, $10 million); and he hints, they lost in the exchange of Billy King for Rod Thorn.
He reserves his biggest criticism for the Nets new owner: "they'll at least double their win total, but Prokhorov's arrival as a power player appears to have been wildly overstated.
He does give the Nets credit for using their money on players under the age of 25, getting "unbelievable value" from Anthony Morrow and maintaining their young core. Bottom line: "There will be no quick fix in New Jersey."
- NBA free agency: John Hollinger's offseason losers - John Hollinger - ESPN Insider
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What really sucks is...
…Hollinger is usually spot on with his Nets predictions.
not "that" Jersey Shore...Point Pleasant, 10 refreshing miles north of Seaside.
by John at the Jersey Shore on Jul 27, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t subscribe to the insider but the summary above is spot on.
by ispartan on Jul 27, 2010 2:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Keep it coming Aldridge, Hollinger, and the
Rest of you kooks.
1) element of surprise
2) it wouldn’t be Nets if the Man wasn’t tryin to keep us down and
3) I’m gonna out all of u talentless hacks when we’re competing for a playoff spot this year
by Jron on Jul 27, 2010 2:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
From several gossip websites.... prob not true
Jay-Z has reportedly severed ties with LeBron James.
According to Media Takeout, the hip-hop star and New Jersey Nets co-owner allegedly had a “close” relationship with the NBA player until he announced last month that he was signing with the Miami Heat.
An insider said: "Jay-Z was supposed to be able to bring stars to [the New Jersey] Nets – or at least have access to them. [During the time that LeBron was making his decision] he didn’t even take [Jay-Z’s] calls. It made him look like he couldn’t deliver to the Nets management.
“If [Jay-Z] would have landed a star player, he could have been seen as a legitimate asset to the team. Now they see him as just dead weight.”
Earlier this year, it was reported that Malcolm D. Lee signed to direct James in upcoming sports comedy Basketball Camp.
two points
1) this is from MediaTakeOut, the same site that falsely accused RJ of being gay, based on a “tip” from Joumana
2) in an interivew last week, Yormark talked about the Nets marketing their new premium suites, “the Jay-Z Suite”.
I agree with everything said. Thorn is a big loss. We have 3rd rate free agents. We have a gaping hole at the PF spot. This is not a playoff team as currently situated. This is a team developing young players like Favors and James and Lopez and hoping they become stars. This is a project.
As I see it, there are only two spots open for the playoff: Boston, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Bucks are locks. Charlotte should continue and take the 7th spot. That leaves better teams fighting for the 8th spot: NY, Cleveland, Toronto, Philly, etc. Then it’s us and the rest. Can’t see us winning more than any of the 11 teams ahead of us unless there are major injuries.
Nets say no overspending, I say overspending means taking a risk. Amare was a risk, but the Knicks are in better position to get another star now. Boozer was a risk, but Chicago is a contender. We are in waiting mode, and we hope and pray King is as good as Thorn and can pry a star like Kidd or VC away from someone. Yes, we’ll be better, but we had to hit a homerun in the draft and the FA market. We grounded out in the FA department, and maybe we got a double in draft (time will tell).
maybe
When youre building a rotation, these are the players you get to complement star players.
You assume that Favors won’t contribute this year.
Amare is a BIG risk, a HUGE risk. You have to assume that over the next five years, a guy who has had two or three knee surgeries and a severe eye injury will perform at a level worth $100 million…without any insurance.
NO other team offered him the deal the Knicks did. Not the Suns.
The way I see it, it’s July 26 and the season starts in three months.
Travis doesn't have the resume
of Amare either.
True both players are over paid. I agree but Amare is going to give you way more than Travis.
by killa kadafi191 on Jul 27, 2010 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Hollinger has it right. But pretty much every disinterested observer has said much the same about Outlaw, Petro, King, and Morrow.
by calling all toasters on Jul 27, 2010 3:41 PM EDT reply actions
David Lee wouldn't have cost much more than Outlaw & Petro
And that’s why I agree with Hollinger.
I love the Farmar and Morrow signings and I like that we’re keeping our cap space, but if we made a move for David Lee instead of Boozer (while the Knicks still thought they had a shot at LeBron) for around 5 years/$65 million, we could have had the NBA’s 2nd best rebounder. And it would have only cost $1-5 million more per year than Outlaw & Petro combined.
Not only would this have been a great move on the court, but more importantly it would have shown fans and other players that the Nets are serious about winning. When you only win 12 games you need to make a bold move to have people take you seriously. David Lee would have been a bold move – or close enough to one – to have people take us seriously. And he would have brought a lot of Knicks fans to the games. It was a blunder of epic proportions IMO.
by LANetsFan on Jul 27, 2010 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
+1
When you are the joke of the NBA coming off 12 win season, you need to bounce back with something to bolster your reputation. Overspending on Outlaw/Petro makes Nets a joke.
Hiring Billy King makes Nets a joke.
We overspent a bit, but it's not like we have no flexibility due to those two contracts
We still have the 2nd most cap space in the NBA, which will be very valuable in trades this coming season…
-1 Ummm Lee got 82 Mil
That’s nearly double what it cost us to get 2 guys. If Lee wanted to stay in the area at that rate Im sure it would have happened.
The NETS are coming!
Nets never made Lee an offer
He only got a sixth year due to the Sign and Trade. And even if the Nets offered $70 million, that would only have been $2-3 more than they’re paying Petro & Outlaw for the first year. When you win 12 games you have to overpay. The Nets would have made $2-3 million more in ticket and merchandise sales if they signed Lee. He was the biggest basketball star in NY for the past 2 years…
Not to mention the fact that a 3 big-man rotation of Lopez-Lee-Favors would be really hard to defend (See the LA Lakers) and would be something you could really build around.
We could never have gotten Lee just by making an offer
He wanted the sixth year and the extra money. It’s not like the Nets sat on their asses while the Warriors stole Lee.
Ok Then, Let's try and prove him wrong!
Hollinger gave us a doom and gloom prediction before last year, we thought he was wrong, but he was right. Again this year, he is preaching doom and gloom. I am hoping that this time, he is wrong. A wonderful year for us would be 36 wins, and Favors playing meaningful minutes after January. A decent year would be 24 wins. Much less and Hollinger is right again, and I don’t like this guy. I hope he is wrong. If I am AJ, I am posting these doom and gloom predictions on the cork board in the lockeroom. GO NETS!
Paul from Delray Beach
Ouch
There’s a little bit truth to what Hollinger writes, but I love the glaring omission on Avery. Not even a mention what he could possible mean as coach
He's right
we did lost. it’s where we go from here
by killa kadafi191 on Jul 27, 2010 5:02 PM EDT reply actions
no bc we didnt sign anybody of significance
and overpaid for scrubs (except for Morrow)
the nets would have tried to sign those guys
if they had a chance. boozer didn’t want to come, doubt amar’e had any interest, and they had no shot at gay or jj.
Yeah but about 90%
Of these moves had people either overpaying or signings was set up from the beginning.
The Nets signed role players but no impact player
and that’s the story of the off-season so far.
Gimme a break
This is a 12 win team we’re talking about in transition. Very few sane people would take a gamble on this team when other options are available for the same amount of money. How can Hollinger finish up with a pithy “no quick fixes!” quip and name the Nets big offseason losers? No one’s banging down the doors to join the Pirates, or the Browns, or any other terrible team. The Nets also didnt just idly sit around twiddling their thumbs. Just how many coveted assets do you think a 12 win team has to move anyway? It was a tall task anyway, and maybe they overpaid for the few players they got, but I don’t think there are any busts amongst them.
You are right this is a 12 win team
that the new owner came in and said he wanted to make a huge splash.
the new owner who said they will be taking knicks fans.
the new owner who put up a huge billboard across from the knicks "the blueprint for success.
Being a 12 win team after all the talking the owner did and the actions he made. The Nets off season looked like a failure.
The team will very likely finish at the bottom of their division and be in the lottery again.
(which I am all for and have no problem with) but for the media and the basketball community the Nets just looked like another team that was all talk.
The improvements we made looks minor to everyone else. People see that the improvements we made will likely not improve the team or their record.
there for the off season was unsuccessful and the Nets were losers.
The Thunder made minor moves as well but they are allowing their team to develop but I guess the difference is that they do have an all star, mvp candidate and top 5 player in the league in Durant
by killa kadafi191 on Jul 27, 2010 7:40 PM EDT reply actions
You are probably the most negative, depressing poster on this forum.
And at times I really do think you’re a Knick fan.
As for being “all for” ending up with probably the last lottery pick in the draft, I don’t really get you there? This team isn’t getting a top 5 or even 9 or 10 pick. They’re not bad anymore. They’re still not good, but they ain’t bad, either. Wouldn’t you be “all for” making the playoffs as the 8th seed even if it doesn’t give us a lottery pick? Maybe you are. I don’t know.
Yes, we struck out on the major free agents, but when you say “the improvements we made looks minor to everyone else” what did you want us to do? Kill all our cap flexibility by getting overpaid veterans? I’d rather keep our flexibility and our young core to try to either pull off a trade for a superstar or sign someone in the future.
When you say “People see that the improvements we made will likely not improve the team or their record” are you nuts? You think this team is going to win 12 games again next season? You think this team is going to win 20 games next season? (Hollinger, I guess is predicting 24 wins???) I’m confident that we’ll get to 30 or 35 wins and am “All for” making the playoffs, not getting the 13th overall draft pick.
No way, have you read Isaacs stuff?
-Say man when I was growing up we wanted a Jacuzzi, we had to fart in the tub.
You are probably the most emotional, feminine and whining poster I seen in the last 5
minutes.
Now dry your eyes and read what I post.
Now where did I actually say anything that wasn’t the truth.
Now you can be a deluded person who can’t deal with reality. Because real life is too hard.
Any how from the expectations that not only our owner but others had for the Nets we have been seen as off season losers.
ESPN hasn’t been the only site to note this.
Now where in my post did I say we should have over paid for a player???
Yea that’s what I thought.
What have I always said? I rather build through draft and develop.
No I do not think this team is going to win 12 games but for the team as it is now and the way the Eastern Conference is.
I’m expecting 29 being the highest 25 being the lowest. As I said many times. Which we will likely being in the lottery again.
Now how about you read my post before you get all emotional like you are a 12 year old girl who is excited to see Rob Pattinson.
This team has too many questions and too much developing to do.
We are not going going from the worst team to a playoff team just by addressing our bench scoring.
Get real.
My opinions are my own. You don’t like them. Ignore them or continue to read them and cry your eyes out about the poster who doesn’t think like you.
Look think and act like me because if you don’t there is a problem.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
someone is very proud of you. Well him and Mel Gibson
by killa kadafi191 on Jul 27, 2010 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions
of course it wouldn't
Adolf
the difference is I’m not hating on the nets all my opinions are based on evidence that I agree with.
I respect other people opinions no matter if I agree with them or not.
I know that wouldn’t make a sense to you
by killa kadafi191 on Jul 27, 2010 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Let me respond to each of your posts.
First of all, I’m not sure what “femininity” has to do with any of this.
Secondly, I’m not being “emotional” I’m just frustrated with some of your viewpoints, not all of them.
Third, I’m not “whining” about anything. I’m questioning what you’ve had to say.
“Now dry youre eyes and read what I post.”
-Don’t worry, I wasn’t crying
“Now where did I actually say anything that wasn’t the truth”
Go on…
“Now you can be a deluded person who can’t deal with reality. Because real life is too hard.”
I guess we see this team in different ways. I’ve put last season behind us, you have not. Not a problem.
“Any how from the expectations that not only our owner but others had for the Nets we have been seen as off season losers.”
Just about the same can be said for any other team not named the Miami Heat or possibly the Chicago Bulls
“ESPN hasn’t been the only site to note this.”
-And they, of course, know all
“Now where in my post did I say we should have over paid for a player???”
- You specificially stated “The improvements we made looks minor to everyone else. People see that the improvements we made will likely not improve the team or their record.” Unless everyone else means the Miami Heat, just about every team in similar positions took huge risks by locking up older players and/or killing all their flexibility.
“Yea that’s what I thought.”
-I’m shaking
“What have I always said? I rather build through draft and develop.”
-Agree with you 100%. We already have plenty of young guys to develop, being that the average age on our team is what, 24? Build through the draft? Get it through your mind that the team isn’t going to get any game-changers in the draft anytime soon. They aren’t top-10 pick bad anymore, and aren’t looking to be anytime soon.
“No I do not think this team is going to win 12 games but for the team as it is now and the way the Eastern Conference is. I’m expecting 29 being the highest 25 being the lowest. As I said many times. Which we will likely being in the lottery again.”
—We have different opinions. That’s it. You think we’re going to win 25-29, I think we’ll be in the 30s fighting for the 8th seed. It is what it is.
“Now how about you read my post before you get all emotional like you are a 12 year old girl who is excited to see Rob Pattinson.”
—I’m a 12 year old girl for disagreeing with you? Wow buddy.
“This team has too many questions and too much developing to do.”
—Agreed the team has questions, but they’re good questions to have. The developing will happen much quicker under an actual coaching staff.
“We are not going going from the worst team to a playoff team just by addressing our bench scoring.”
—If we’re healthy, why not? Our starters were oft-injured last year and we had no bench. Now we may have all our starters back healthy for a full season, and a much better bench. We didn’t swap Hassell for Outlaw and call it a day.
The rest of your post is just an embarassment to yourself so I’m not going to address it.
Respectfully,
Adolf
by giacomo on Jul 27, 2010 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
okay
the whole everyone lost but Miami is false.
The Bulls were able to improve their team fully. They will go from a 8 seed to a contender now.
They have strengthen their bench (gibson nows go to the bench. along with the others.)
Derrick Rose gets better as does Joe.
As for the Nets our PG has been injury prone since his days in Dallas why would that change next season. Plus health was only one of our problems.
This team has too many questions and issues just to think it will all click in one season together.
We are trying to develop players,chemistry,confidence and hardest of all a winning spirit. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The East is stronger now.
The Bulls improve their team to the way that they will be a higher seed.
The Knicks improve their team where they should actually be battling for a low playoff seed.
the only reason we look upon as losers is because of the expectations our owner gave off.
We were doing way too much talking.
At the end of the day it will be looked at as minor because as someone said no impact players.
We talk about a huge splash and came away by paying a bench player. (not saying that was good or not good) but to everyone else they look at that as this was all you can do and get.
I said not only ESPN various other media outlets have us at last place or losing in the off season.
The Nets have improved but the look at it as just 20 wins which isn’t huge to them.
by killa kadafi191 on Jul 27, 2010 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
The Nets signed role players but no impact players
and that’s been the story of their off-season so far. Comparing them to the Thunder at this point is a little like putting on a production of Hamlet without the prince, since the Nets having nothing close to a franchise player right now.
But there’s no reason to expect another 12-win season simply because no superstars have come aboard. The Nets may not make the playoffs next season, but they should be a much scrappier team and more fun to watch.
John Hollinger, to the left please
-Say man when I was growing up we wanted a Jacuzzi, we had to fart in the tub.
What Hollinger didn't say, but Adridge did say that is most important is that the Nets aren't done, so these evaluations aren't complete.
The Nets are desperate to add a veteran 4 before the start of the season.
Aldridge usually knows what he is talking about.
Nets fans should be focusing on which veteran 4s are available.
If you are looking for someone with a large expiring contract who could come cheaply, Troy Murphy should be on that list.
Other suggestions?
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