It's really too early to tell how this will all work. The CBA hasn't been written up or voted on. Trade and free agent scenarios are only written on someone's white board at the PNY Center. "Kourtney and Kim Take New York" hasn't aired yet.
But since everyone else is doing "winners and losers", so are we. Some winners are obvious: Deron Williams and Jordan Farmar come to mind immediately. Others not so. Still, here's our best guesses on five winners and five losers. You can add or subtract...and we know you will.
Winner:
Deron Michael Williams, as he's referred to in Besiktas boxscores. He was the first NBA player and only superstar to make the move to Europe, limiting his financial losses and getting a chance to play every couple of days. Co-Winner in this category: Jordan Farmar. Big difference: D-Will gets $5 million pro-rated. Farmar gets $25,000 per month. How smart is he?
Winner:
Killer B's: Billy King and Bobby Marks. By skillful use of Nets assets, they are the only GM duo in the NBA who will go into free agency with a combination of a superstar under contract: $20+ million in cap space; and two first round picks (and a second) in the 2012 NBA Draft, one of the best in recent memory. Oh yeah, they have the richest owner in sports and the world's first billion dollar arena as well.
Winner:
Brett Yormark. His job --signing sponors, selling subsidiary name rights, pitching season tickets-- all got a lot easier. Nets have had trouble reaching the revenues promised bondholders. That's now going to get a lot easier.
Winner:
MarShon Brooks. He played in two games all summer, scoring 73 points and stealing the show both times. More importantly, he is getting his degree. He left Providence last April to focus on the Draft, two courses short of a B.A. in Social Sciences. He took four courses. Now with training camp beginning just before final exams, he's going to have to talk to his professors.
Winner:
City of Newark, NJ, and the state of New Jersey. Instead of having a meaningless game last April the last New Jersey Nets game, there will be regular season games going into April and with some good fortune, playoff games as well.
Loser:
Jordan Williams. Flew off to Zielena Gora in western Poland about halfway into the last round of the CBA talks. Imagine his surprise when on landing, his phone was filled with texts saying the lockout was over. Appreciate the frequent flier miles, Jordan.
Loser:
Travis Outlaw (Maybe). His notoriety as the face of the bad contract will be enhanced when he is waived under the amnesty clause. Then again, he WILL get $28 million from Mikhail Prokhorov and can sign with any other team for minimum salary. Our bet? Back to Portland where Nate McMillan loved him.
Loser:
Kris Humphries. Yes, he made a lot of money on the Kardashian Circuit, but his intelligence was belittled on Saturday Night Live and his wife left him. He says he's still in love with her...no comment. His reputation has been tarnished. Can't help in free agency.
Loser:
Maccabi Tel Aviv. Israeli pundits were openly hoping NBA season would be cancelled. Farmar is that important to them. Besiktas lost D-Will too, but they came away from the process looking agressive and smart, something that will help them in competing with the big Turkish sports clubs.
Loser:
Chris Taft. If he didn't come down with knee issue and played well in Springfield, he could have very easily been a Nets training camp invitee. Now, he's home recuperating, hoping his latest comeback isn't sidelined like the others. Best wishes.