The single biggest topic of the off-season has been how much things have changed since off-season a year ago. So here is the [almost] final tally for Nets' moves, off-season 2004 to off-season 2005, pending 2006 draft picks:
Nets lose:
Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Viktor Khryapa, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Taft, the Nets' second round choice in 2007, the unprotected status of their 2006 second round pick.
Nets gain:
Vince Carter, Cliff Robinson, Marc Jackson, Eddie Gill, Elden Campbell, $4.5 million+ [net] in cash, the Clippers' first round pick in 2006.
Current Status:
Of the first group, only Martin remains a starter with his team, Denver. Two players were waived: Kittles and Mourning [costing the Raptors $10 million]; and the remainder are bench players: Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Khryapa and Taft. Golden State has the Nets' second round pick in 2007 and Philadelphia has the right to exchange second round picks with the Nets in 2006.
Of the second group, only Carter remains a starter with his team. Two players were waived: Gill and Campbell, and the remainder are bench players: Robinson and Jackson. The Nets retain the Clippers' unprotected first-round pick in 2006 and must exchange second-round picks with Philadelphia in 2006 if the Nets' pick is higher.
Financial Notes:
The Nets netted $4.5 million+ in cash: They received $3 million from Portland for the first-round pick in 2005 and and another $3 million from Philadelphia along with Jackson in return for the right to exchange second-round picks in 2006. [In addition, the Nets received an undisclosed amount from Elden Campbell to buy out his contract.] The Nets had to pay the Los Angeles Clippers $1.5 million as part of the Kittles trade.
In terms of comparative long-term contract committments, the Nets also were able to save around $40 million, mainly the $34.6 million difference between the contracts of Kenyon Martin and Vince Carter. Of the more than $10.4 million in trade exceptions obtained in the Martin and Kittles trades, the Nets used all but $723,000 in acquiring Cliff Robinson, Elden Campbell and Marc Jackson.
Huh?
Chris Taft??? Taft was taken by Golden State with the 42nd pick of the draft, a Clippers' pick that the Nets obtained in the Kittles trade and then sent off to the Warriors in the Robinson trade. Taft may be sent to the D League.