NetsDaily Off-Season Report #13
July 11th, 2009, 6:17 pm by NetIncomeEvery Sunday, we’ll be updating the Nets’ off-season with bits and pieces of information, gossip, etc. to help take the edge off missing the playoffs, relying on the Nets’ beat reporters and others who have slipped interesting stuff into larger stories and blogs.
Not a great week to be a Nets fan
In Orlando, summer league team went 0-5. Nets-Sixer combo did not work, period. Terrence Williams and Chris Douglas-Roberts played well in spurts, not so well in others. Meanwhile, Ryan Anderson looked like Larry Bird and Dwight Howard reports Courtney Lee is still “hurting” from the VC trade.
Back in New Jersey, Nets brass promised to sit back and wait and hope (then hope some more) that someone would fall through the cracks. So not much hope of any real change in the roster between now and training camp…not that we think all the 2009 free agency moves were genius. Yi Jianlian will need to spend more time in China unless he can come up with the Chinese equivalent of a teacher’s permission slip. Jason Kidd dismissed as incredulous the idea that Lebron James would come to “Jersey”.
There were some positives: Shaq said very nice things about Lee, as did Superman. Yi continued to show off his newfound confidence by hitting the streetball circuit in Manhattan before heading to Beijing. Brooklyn inched closer with word that the other critics’ suit—the one alleging that the Atlantic Yards environmental review was flawed–is stalled and close to dead. No one got hurt. The Knicks looked dumb…twice.
Nets vs. Knicks
Speaking of the Knicks, we are mystified by the various comments equating the Knicks situation with the Nets in 2010. We know the Knicks have an advantage playing in the self-described “Mecca” of basketball. But in terms of salary flexibility and rosters, we don’t see it.
Things could change this week in New York. There are breathless rumors (as there always are in Knicksland) of impending moves and the David Lee and Nate Robinson situations remain fluid.
But any objective look at the current reality would indicate the Nets are in much better shape.
Right now, the Knicks and Nets should have about the same amount of cap space next season, but the similarities end there. The Knicks’ cap space surplus is dependent on them not signing David Lee and Robinson to anything more than a qualifying offer.
The Knicks are committed to pay out $26.71 million to six players in 2010-11 (assuming Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries exercise their player options.) That doesn’t count any money for David Lee or Robinson.
The Nets on the other hand are committed to pay out $22.49 million to six players in 2010-11 (assuming the Nets don’t exercise options on Josh Boone and Sean Williams and pay out $3 million in guarantees, rather than full salaries, to Eduardo Najera and Keyon Dooling.) That number could be reduced by another $845,000 if the Nets decline to exercise an option on CDR.
With a projected salary cap of between $50.4 million to $53.6 million in 2010-11, Knicks could have between $23.7 million and $26.9 million in cap space. The Nets, on the other hand, could have between $27.9 million and $31.1 million. (Of course, the Nets may have to pay out salaries to two rookies, which could even things up with the Knicks since they have no first round picks in 2010…more on that below.)
The difference beyond the numbers is in the players who’ll be on the two teams’ rosters. The six players the Knicks are currently committed to in 2010-11 are Curry, Jeffries, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas. The six players the Nets are currently committed to in 2010-11 are Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, Lee, Yi, CDR and Terrence Williams. You tell me which lineup is more appealing to a free agent?
Moreover, the Nets currently have two first round picks in 2010, a very strong draft—their own and the Mavs’ (unprotected) picks plus two first round picks in 2011—their own and the Warriors’ (lottery protected) picks. They also have both second round picks. The Knicks? They have no first round picks in 2010 and their own in 2011. They have two second round picks in 2010 and none in 2011. Again, which is a more appealing mix?
FYI, by our reading of the various draft boards, it appears no team has more first round picks over the next two drafts than the Nets. Timberwolves appear to also have four—three in 2010 and one in 2011, but their 2010 picks are protected while the Nets are not.
A lot of things WILL change between now and July 1, 2010. Lee and Robinson could still be wearing orange and blue…or not. The top free agents could resign with their current teams. The Nets could be in the hands of new owners. Brooklyn will be dead or alive. But at this point in time, you’d have to think the Nets are in better shape, at least in terms of flexibility and roster.
Or, to put it in the words of a prominent player agent who spoke to the Daily News this week: “Right now, the Knicks are not relevant. Only the media in New York keeps them relevant. The Knicks are trying to do the right thing but they’ve got a long way to go.”
Great Mentioner Update
We’re keeping track possible free agents targets mentioned by those great mentioners, Dave, Fred, Al and Julian (plus a few we think might show up).
Since last week, the list has shrunk…two of these guys have been picked up by other teams…Brandon Bass by the Magic and Channing Frye by the Suns. Moreover, the beat writers seem to have taken to heart Rod Thorn’s comments that nothing is going on, really. So mentions have been fewer.
Still, here’s the list, with the aforementioned subtractions and these additions from last week: Jamario Moon, mentioned by Fred Kerber and Ime Udoka and Rodney Carney by Dave D’Alessandro:
Chris Wilcox, Linas Kleiza, Hakim Warrick, Matt Barnes, Drew Gooden, Ike Diogu, Melvin Ely, Mikki Moore, Joe Smith, Jamario Moon, Ime Udoka, and Rodney Carney
And we might note, there’s always Sean May and Boki Nachbar. And while we don’t expect the Nets to be in the final mix for Carlos Boozer, the Salt Lake Tribune did mention New Jersey as a possible destination for the two-time All-Star, two-time Olympic medalist and NCAA champion.
Al Iannazzone, while not mentioning anyone this week, makes a very good point. Last year, the Nets were meeting with potential free agents in Orlando, sitting down with Dooling as well as Jarvis Hayes and Najera (and their agent, the ubiquitous Dan Fegan). We’ve heard of no such meetings this year.
August Hoops
There was word this week that Yi will be playing for Team China in a second FIBA tournament—the Stankovic Continental Cup in Kunshan—and Najera may play for Team Mexico in the FIBA Americas Cup, which is played in San Juan, PR.
That means for much of August one or more Nets will be on the court in an international tournament, complete with boxscores, recaps and video.
Yi will play in the FIBA Asia Championships from August 6 through 16 (and is likely to participate in a few exhibition games before that). Yi would then have a short break before the Stankovic Cup, which runs August 28 through 31. Najera’s stint at the FIBA Americas Championship, if it comes off, would put him on the court from August 26 through September 3.
We haven’t seen any TV or webcast schedule, but we expect all three to have some live video. China’s sports channel, CCTV-9, regularly carries Team China games live online. As we have the information, we’ll update.
NetsDaily Improvements
We continue to use the off-season to update our links database around the site. You’ll see in the Social Networks category new links to the Twitter pages of Devin Harris, CDR and Terrence Williams as well as the Nets’ official Twitter page. Tweet on! We’ve also added Sports Radio Interviews’ Nets page. SRI transcribes interviews on local sports stations like WFAN as well as ESPN Radio and some syndicated shows like Dan Patrick, Jim Rome and Chris Russo. It’s where we found Shaq’s comment that Courtney Lee will be a “star, star, star”.
Final Note
Here’s to Rafer Alston, who in spite of a checkered NBA history, has provided the most smiles so far this off-season. The starting point guard on the Eastern Conference Champs is not whining or moaning about his fortune. More than that, he’s been offering positive vibes.
“I’m excited not only to be with the Nets but to be able to play in front of family and friends, and also the opportunity to help a franchise turn things around. I know we have a lot of young athletic guys. That’s one thing I stressed to Kiki (general manager Vandeweghe) and Rod (team president Thorn) is that I’m very excited to be on the court with a lot of young athletic guys, although I’m getting old.
“Most people get down about a trade. I had the opportunity to get traded from a contending team (Houston) to another contender (Orlando). Now I have a chance to help a team turn things around.”
While Skip to My Lou may have grown up in Bayside, Queens, we think he must have spent some time in Sunnyside, too.
July 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
NI: From all of us readers, thank you very much for these, they’re great.
July 11th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
might as well not even tease us with a free agents list. even the guys who we might be able to grab for close to the minimum (Mikki!) are too expensive for the Nets right now.
love how ya gave rafer his due props. the guy is considered a cancer by a lot of ignorant fans, but ive loved the guy for years. yes, his shooting leaves a lot to be desired and he isnt great at getting the ball to big men.. he still is a good decision maker, underrated defender, and good team guy. he also realizes hes getting older and is willing to accept a nonstarter role. cant wait to see him in a Nets uniform.
July 11th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Free Agency? More like we cleared cap space because we’re bleeding money every which way. No franchise type player would come to NJ, our best hope is drafting the next mega-athlete into the Nets. We’re too much of an unstable destination to move over to, therefore I don’t blame Courtney Lee and his recent mass-consumption of Zoloft.
This whole new arena facade has destroyed our beloved team. Ever since the idea was proposed back in 2004 (correct me if I’m wrong), we’ve been working “around” the plan instead of forging ahead. Making decisions based on the uncertain future rather than the definitive present. We sold K-Mart, took on Carter (then dished him), alienated Kidd & RJ, and have made some sketchy moves to boot with drafting (Nenad, Illic, Adams, Wright, etc.)
If this is what it takes for the Nets to stay in New Jersey then I’m okay with this virtual-rape of the fans’ dignity. Yes we are not the Knicks but at least they have an identity and legacy of entertaining / traditional basketball culture.
Bruce Ratner & his team of owners are bums. If you really had the capabilities and connections to move this franchise into Brooklyn it would have been done far before the Economic-Crisis we’ve been experiencing. Do not exercise the same excuse of financial turmoil as the rest of these gutless CEO’s do across the country that should be sent to Federal Prison for utilizing corporate funds as their own bloated salaries. Just save face. Sell the team to an ownership that will provide for us rather then ration our resources to minimize self inflicted debt. Move the team to Newark to the newest arena in the tri-state area. Provide jobs to a struggling community in Newark. Provide income to the deficit-cursed state of New Jersey. Provide us with something to cheer for instead of something for us to boil over!
WHEN WILL THE MADNESS END?
July 11th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
great read as usualy NI….
what do you think our chances of actually landing boozer? or is it better just to go with our young guys? i am kind of hoping that ratner sells the team to someone who just actually wants to compete in the league. i dont kno, lets just hope for the best
July 12th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Newark is a disaster. The Rock makes no money and all the Nets would be doing is helping Vanderbeek out of a very bad situation.
Besides, it is one of the worst cities in America. No one will want to come to Newark…period.
July 12th, 2009 at 3:24 am
Understood NI, but the IZOD lost its charm way back even when it was the Brendan Byrne Arena a decade+ ago. And funding for the Xanadu is frozen. Commuters on Route 3 are forced to look at that disaster of colors. The Rock fits the mold of any new ownership for the Nets, a new arena in a part of New Jersey that is accessible by all modes of transportation.
I agree, Newark is a gutter town on one end but its also a financial hub for corporation like Prudential & IDT on the other hand. With corporate relations in the neighborhood comes a steady stream of corporate money. It would not hurt to be in an area like that. If the mass amounts of caucasians can go to Newark for all the Devils games I’m certain the same will be done for the Nets.
Unless your pro-Brooklyn, then I’ll just laugh off the whole thing.
July 12th, 2009 at 3:48 am
First, yes NI does a great job and deserves our thanks.
Now then, I live in NYC and have always been hoping for the big move to Bklyn. That drive thru the tunnel is…the…pits. Izod is a cement box on a big parking lot in a toxic wasteland. (only good part is stopping for ethnic food in Union City on the way back)
But, all that said, Newark is 2nd best possible venue, far better than Izod (approx. 41st best). Newark is an easy transit trip from both NJ and NYC. Newark is someplace. There’s an identity, and there’s a chance for a proud crazy fan base to develop. East Rutherford is noplace. I’m sick of cars, traffic, tunnel exhaust. Even when we were in the finals, we didn’t get much fan support going. Izod is where you stand up to cheer and someone asks you to sit down. Izod is…the…pits. Lets play where folks can take the train or walk to the game like civilized humans.
July 12th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Yeah, we are in better shpae than the Knicks, and the Thunder are in better shape than us, they have a better core of young players… do you think LBJ would entertain joining them? Gimme a break.
July 12th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
greetings my fellow netfans.
we all have to give props to net income and netsdaily for keeping us up to date with this awesome website, and also providing us with all these links to all the sport websites. also we need to thank them for all the net team info that wee need to hear. so thanks guys. (i know we probably had some rough spots between us, but when it comes down to it, job well done).
i also wanna say hi to my fellow netfans such as the infamous mr. dollar bills, andres, and all of the fans that have been here for a long time.
i have been on this site daily, but i havent been commenting lately. i first wanna give my two cents on the vc trade. the nets were able to get the bets haul between the nets, spurs and cavs in their blockbuster trades. the cavs gave a bunch of garbage for shaq. i think its part of the reason why shaq said he was shocked that the magic gave up courtney leee while the spurs and cavs gave up absolute garbage. the spurs gave even a worse pakage to the bucks. ben wallace and pavlovic will be bought out or released. the spurs gave up oberto who turned into abir johnson, who has upside, bowen whos done, and kurt thomas who’s nealry done. but the nets got young dynamic courtney lee. i dont think hell ever come close to the player vc is, but i see his ceiling to be a 17pts, 4 asst, and 3 rebs and 1.5 stls, which is pretty darn good. he does have athleyic ability, not like harris or vc, but enough to be effective using it. he is kind of undersied as a two, about 6′3″ 1/2, but this kid will improve, and will be an awesome player. dont foprget playing alongside d12, jammer, pitrus, turk and rashad, really helped in his delevopment, giving hi the space and lanes he needs to be better quickly. with the nets, it will be harfder for him to score, since they probably dont have a player right now who attracts two defenders, but with the penetration of harris, and the the way brook is getting better, he’ll still have a chance to get better. lee is a pretty damn good player, like i said will never come close to vc’s caliber, but hell be a good one. the one thing that bothered me was the inclusion of ryan anderson. this kid is the real deal. was selected one pick ahead of lee, and had a monster summer league playing alongside no current or soon to be nba player besides jeremy richardson who was on the magic rostr last year, but didnt play, and sprained his anlke into the the secound game of summer league. anderson will fit orlando’s system like a glove. the kid has upside. he’s a legit 6′10″, is a real deal; shooter, which hell even get better at, he’s strong, tought, and husltes big time, can rebound the ball very well on the opff and def boards, which is kind of surprising coonsidering that peaople thought he had no athloeyic ability whatsoever,m and he can post up. he gives the magic the chance to still spread the floor at the 4, yet be able to defend the bigger 4’s, and give them size and rebounding on D. i think he’s as good as lee, and has a similar upside. but because he’s a big who can shoot, which is the way the nba seems to be heading, he’s a super commodity in the nba. but in order for the nets to dump salry and get a young player to replace vc at sg, they had to cough up anderson which hurts. i mean with the attention that will be paid to vc, d12, rashard, and the penetration of nelson, this kid will thrive.
i think karma has definitly been on vc’s side. heres a guy who was super immature asking out of toronto,m even though the raps were hgeading nowere with the team they had, they had killed their cap space on guys like alvin williams, a very old anotnio davis, jerome williams and hakeem who played maybe 5 games for them. even though he had legitmate concerns, he was super immature at that time. but us netfans cannot complain one bit about vc. he did everything for the team. the first couple of yrs with all the injuries that had he carried the team on his back to the playoffs. then he became a greta leadert on a young rebuilding team, and people dont say this too much, but vc was crucial in the development of harris adn brook, and even cdr. his prescence made thiese kid players, and they now have the confidence to countinue. i can see other than lopez, their numbers go down since every opposing team’s startegy was to double, tiple and shadow vc, thinking shut him down, which they couldnt do, and they win. and i think because vc didnt mone and complain, but on the contrary took onwership, karma just was on his side. i mean, traded to a legit ship contender, in his home town, wow. and out of all the contenders, the magic have the youngets nucleus by far, with lthe lakers behind them. the spurs and celts have a much smaller window than those teams. i dont think people know how good vc will be. finally he has a super big man alongside him, some great shooters and great players around him. i mean his situatrion will be the same as kobe. if they double swing it to one of his dead eye shooters, now he has the big man to relieve the pressure, and if they dont double, hell just eat his de3fender up with his hall of fame offensive game. and also beibng on a contender you wont vc slack at all, every game will be important fo home court.
vc is exactky what orladno needed. he’s the go to scorer, that they needed last year ion the playoffs. hedo is incredible and i love him, but he aint nowhere near vc. it seemed everytime the magic got into a slump, they tried to shoot themselves out of it, sicne they didnt have a legit penetrator, especially whenm jammer was injured. vc gives them a guy who can answer kober, lebron, and all those unbelievable players who score at will, and vc is defintily one of them. i think the bets of vc is still to come. and honeslty being 32,33, thats still in his prime. hes at thye perfect age for rolando. he gives them a seasoned vetern with that young mix, and he gives them trhat needed go to scorer. also everytime vc has played against kober, and defended him, it seems the kobster never has a good game. vc cant shut down kober, but because of his size athleticism, and his anticipation of kober’s moves since he’s one of a few guys who has these moves, gives kober trouble. if the nets dont make tghe playoffs, which seems obvious right now, im going for the magic. i mean they haqve a scary team. d12, anderson, bass, who’s only gettimng better, and i think he hasnt touched his ceiling yet, lewis, pietrus, vc, nelson, johnson, whos a pretty solid pg, can scopre defend, and shoot, and jj reddick, who sems to have found his niche in the league, thats a scary team. and from what im hearing matt barnes might be netx in line in free agency for the magic, and theyre also saying that they will match gortat, and sign and trade him to anohter team other than dallas, i hear that the rockets want him badly, and that theyre trying to package him with jj for battier. i dont know why so many people are high on gortat, but the magic should use it to their favor.
its funny how the nets big three that was once here, are now on seperate contending team. i mean rj was devestated to go to the bucks last year and \all of a sudden he’s with the spurs. and they have reloaded in a big way, and will match the lakers. youre talking about parker, ginobli, two incredible scorers and playmakers, rj, duncan the greatest pf of all times, and now mcdyss, wow, and they have a bench of mason jr, dead eye 3pt shooter, and george hill, who i think has star potential. and the mavs, even though i still think theyre not at the spurs and magic level, but have certanily become in the mix of contenders with the addition of marion. he’s exactly what kidd needs. youl;l see kidd become so much better this year because of marion, and marion will become the old marion because of kidd. the mavs have a super team now with a great coach. jkidd, jeterry, howard, 20 point scorer when healthy, allstar mariops, superstar dirk who shuts everybody down who says he’s soft, the guy is a scoring machine, and also averages 10 rebs, id take him over bosh right now, and possible gortat who everybody is high on, and theyre saying theyre working hard to unload damps contract which is expiring, and that could be a gold chip. i also like their draft picks of boubois who is a longer version of tony parker, more like george hill, definitly their pg of the future and will probably back up jkidd by the end of the season, and also ahmad nivins who has a super strong body could be their next bass. next year the nba will be incredible. i rank the celts and lakers to be the best two teams, than i got the magic spurs and cavs as the next tier teams, and then i got the nuggets, mavs next, then the hornets, who could be amazing if they keep chandler and he’s healthy, they have a chance to win the ship, the jazz, blazers, wizards,raptors,bulls then you got the border line playoff teams like miami and pheonix, then the rebuilding teams line the nets.
the nets are really rebuilding the right way. they have so many assets, maybe top 3 in the league with the blazers and thunder. the nets hdont have a yioung up and coming superstar like durant and roy, yet, but they have potential allstars. they have so many good young players. and i think theyll be exciting. rod withe the help of kiki, who probably has all his fingertips on this team. when he came abosrd they traded kidd, rj and vc, and in every deal they got a potential border line allstars in the future, if they harness theirs undeniable skills. and twill kind of reminds me of a porr man’s version of dwade. not like dwade, but close in similaries in their games coming from college. i think he probably has more mpotential than anyone on the team. and iof the nets suck next year, which is team brass in order to get higher draft picks, they might land that superstar in the top of next year’s deep draft. they have multiple draft picks, a whole lot of cap space starting next year, and a pretty good young nucleus. i mean if the nets do move to brooklyn, i wouldnt be surpirsed seeeing lebron or any other superstar join in brooklyn. its conceivable and believable. and if they dont, they have so miuch felxibilty, draft picks, and cap space along a gppd young nuc;leus to still be succesful and ship caliber withouth them in about 4-5 years.
i applaud rod tohorn and kiki for their work.