We look at what's going on with the coaching search, post some draft notes, peer into the future of commuting from Manhattan and New Jersey to Brooklyn, examine how the Nets are aggressively marketing the Islanders and review the Emory College thing.
The D-League Showcase takes place this week in Reno, with all 16 development league teams playing four games a day over four days. It's a chance for NBA execs to scout the top prospects in one place. Milton Lee, Armor GM, was interviewed by NBA TV.
The Armor drafted Tim Ohlbrecht, a 6'11" member of Germany's national team, with the 14th pick of the D-League Draft. Ohlbrecht, 24, has played for German professional teams for years. He's seen as a skilled player with a good touch and athleticism.
Saturday morning, a group of professional basketball hopefuls gathered at PNY Center for the Springfield Armor open tryouts. WIth Milton Lee, Bob MacKinnon and Chris Carrawell watching, more than 100 players went through conditioning drills and more.
The Springfield Armor will hold open tryouts on Saturday, September 22, at the PNY Center in East Rutherford, NJ, and on Sunday, October 21, at Springfield College in Springfield, MA.
The Nets released their first image of the home team locker room at Barclays Center during a basketball operations staff tour of the Brooklyn construction site. The lockers are in, but the thick pile rug and other amenities still must be installed.
Documents made part of the Nets application for liquor licenses at Barclays Center show that Jay-Z is now a director of the arena and suggests a larger role as well for Milton Lee in the Mikhail Prokhorov company that owns the Nets.
Now in our FIFTH big year, the NetsDaily Off-Season Report! When we started this, back in 2008, it was a way to help fans through a long off-season. Now, it's more of a ritual. As we look down the road (and through two tunnels), the Off-Season Report will, we hope, serve as a guide in the transition from New Jersey to Brooklyn.
Bob MacKinnon took the Springfield Armor from the D-League's worst record to the Eastern Conference championship before losing to the Canton Charge in the first round, but while the Armor's season is over, his is not. MacKinnon, a leading candidate for Coach of the Year, is serving as assistant coach with the Nets this week.
Back in D-League preseason, while the parent league was still deep in the lockout, Bog MacKinnon Jr. voiced optimism about his Springfield Armor club. Hired by the Nets' Milton Lee to turn the club around, MacKinnon predicted the Armor would win between 28 and 32 games. The Armor had won 20 out of 100 games in its first two years.
