Nets Are Scorching

team chemistry matters more than individual talent (as long as there is some talent). ask the pistons and nets earlier this decade.

@Michael Walburn DJ Heavy Duty probably just had a tyop. Haha. Also, I don't think any is saying that DMC can't play. Obviously he can, but it's the things on the periphery of the court that some people are concerned about. It's hard to say that Favors couldn't have had similar numbers if he had the supporting cast (the best point guard prospect in years in particular) that DMC did. And, why didn't DMC play the minutes that Favors did? There wasn't anything to stop him, especially since he was so dominant. Hmm... makes you wonder about the conditioning red flag, doesn't it?

we take Turner if we have the chance, if not then Favors or Wes Johnson.

BOOGIEFAN... i agree with u 100%.. as a matter of fact, as awesome as john wall is, i would take cousins with thenumber one pick! u cant teach his size, and he is a dominate post player! i bleed blue year round, and definatly think wall and cousins should be taken one and two! in no certain order! to say favors is equal in talent to cuz is ridiculous! kinda like sayin turner is equal to wall! does anyone out there pay attention to basketball during the season? or just like to mouth off about things they have no clue about! if cousins played the minutes favors did he numbers would be out the roof!!!

DJ HEAVY DUTY.... thats why right there... u said u watched tons of KU highlights and had nothing but mouthing to do about cousins!

@NJ and @Boogie Fan I didn't watch every game of Kentucky's as you guys have and when I did, I initially watched the Wildcats because of Wall. However, it was hard to miss DeMarcus Cousins. And, again, I never disparaged DMC's game. He's obviously talented. However, he does have a track record of misbehavior... and not just the beginning of his freshman year at Kentucky. It goes all the way back to his sophomore year of high school. And, apparently, he's acting up again. Here's an excerpt from an SI.com article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/fran...):

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After his (Cousins) session with the media, a reporter approached Cousins and asked him to sit down for a previously arranged interview that was meant to address the many shortcomings that Cousins claims are misperceptions or mischaracterizations of his true self.

"I'm going up to my room," Cousins told the reporter, "why don't you call my agent and make sure it is OK. But I have to go up to my room."

The 6-foot-10, 290-pound center went down to the hotel lobby and joked around with friends for 15 minutes before slipping out the front door. "Sorry," his agent, John Greig later texted, "he was on his way to do something for Nike."
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Alright. Plus, even his own teammate talked about how Cousins could get and Daniel Orton isn't a part of the media. Look, Cousins could turn out to be great and maybe he makes all of the detractors (myself obviously included) kiss his butt in a few years, but if I'm the Nets, with the third overall pick and starting a new era, I don't want to select a player that can either be great or self-combust.

@Manuel I don't agree with Broussard and I've always thought what the Knicks were doing was dumb because who will they have to play with the two superstars they get? Only four players are under contract for them, I believe... Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry, and Toney Douglass. They're okay, but I'd much rather go to another team such as the Nets if I'm a free agent. Anyway, there are several teams that have cap space to sign these stars and to put your eggs in one basket thinking that you can sign two of them, well, what if you don't? Kind of a waste and I totally think that's going to happen with the Knicks. Anyway, if Broussard said something like sign a star PF this year and Carmelo Anthony next year, well, that makes more sense to me.

@fro Thanks for the compliment. I definitely see DMC like DC as well and I do think Favors has Dwight Howard upside that can be achieved relatively soon should it manifest. If he's the Nets pick, soon couldn't happen fast enough.

Great analysis and important questions to ask before considering talent. DMC reminds me way too much of DC at times, but at least Cousins is trying to change his attitude. We don't want our own Palace incident, which has effectively destroyed the Pacers' franchise for several years now.

In reference to the draft combine numbers, I don't see the athleticism as much of a problem. In fact, I wouldn't mind building a 2004 Pistons team that didn't thrive on athleticism whatsoever...except for maybe some crazy Rip Hamilton drives. Even Turner's "lack of athleticism" (which are still rather decent numbers) will mesh well with the Nets as him, Devin and TWill would the be one pushing pace.

I am heavily intrigued by Derrick Favors though. He can be the next Tyrus Thomas or Dwight-Amare hybrid. If he can develop a devastating inside game, we would have one of the best young big man duos. Portland's Alridge/Oden, LA's Bynum/Gasol, and Atlanta's Horford/Jsmoove are some good young duos and are important keys to the team's success to making the playoffs.

@Adam-- you mean the leap numbers? I don't see them any of the usual places.

I thought that was stupid comment, thats basiclly the same stupid thing the knick did. Fact is we probably won't get anyone worth that max anyway. Just to note i consider James Wade and Bosh the only 3 worth the max.

Combine numbers are up and wow...John Wall really is a freak.

if TURNER doesnt drop the i agree with wat Chris Brussard said on ESPN that we should just trade the 3rd pick to clear up enough space to get 2 MAX players in free agency.
I dont want Cousins cuz of attitude issues
I dont want favors bacause he just sounds like a big Project guy that wont pan out to me.

Dennis, I don't think you watched Cuz throughout the year. His temper control issues were early. That's where the reputation comes from. But as the season progressed, so did he. His demeanor changed noticeably. Countless replays showed players taking cheap shots after the whistle, just to make him react. It became a common game plan. But he wouldn't bite. Just took it and walked away. He really grew up over the year. And if Prokhorov is making this kind of investment, he'll have done his research. He's not going to base his decision on a caricature created by those who weren't paying close attention. I'm telling you this guy is some kind of special.

As someone who saw all of UK's games this last season, I'm still at a loss in trying to understand how the Cousins headcase myths have perpetuated themselves. Two players from UK's team were more volatile than Cousins last season in Orton and Bledsoe, and neither of those players is having their emotional NBA readiness being questioned on nearly the same level as Cousins. By the end of the season, Cousins was getting double and triple teamed every time he touched the ball, being fouled hard every time he got close to the basket, and he never had a reaction any more negative than you see from most NBA vets.

Bottom line, I can say with confidence that any team that passes on Cousins because they are worried about his "volatility" will come to regret it in the years to come.

Already read it Dennis :)

Doesn't make much sense to me Mike the higher the pick the more talented options your passing up on him the bigger your concern over baggage should be. If we were picking five for example I'd definately take Cousins because after Turner Wall, Facors and Johnson there probably isn't anyone worth considering over Cousins.

@Shea I wrote about Turner and why he should be the first pick IF the Nets won the lottery some time ago. I guess you can do a search for it. I'd link it, but I'm in my phone and the battery is dying (iPhone, go figure). Anyway, I am HOPING Turner falls to three and the Nets sign one if the free agent PFs... I think that would work best for the team.

@Mike You know I'm a huge Turner fan, so I'd pick him everytime. But you do make a great point about individual workouts... Let's see what we all think then, although I'm pretty sure I'd still say Turner > Favors > Cousins between the three of them.

Wait till the players start their workouts for individual clubs. We might all be revising our picks.

With all the B.S. flying around at that point, who knows what we will all be thinking at that point. LOL

I can understand why people are concerned about Cousins. Even the few Cousins supporters, like me, are concerned. We are not looking to hurt our team.

I would say if you are willing to draft Cousins with a top ten pick, then you should be willing to draft him at #3.

If you wouldn't draft Cousins with top ten pick, then I respect your decision more then the guy who wouldn't draft him #3, because of concerns over his baggage, but then would turn around and draft him #4 or #5, because he has so much talent and potential. Same with Favors or anybody else.

In other words, draft the guy you want, not the guy everybody tells you to draft, and let the chips fall where they will.

I don't really like Cousins. He is way too young to have a weight problem. He has no explosion. He cannot dunk 2 handed off of 1 foot. I've watched tons for KUs games and highlights. Cousins has no jumper at all. Cousins had a great team,PG and coach. Favors had none of that, and he still has good stats. Favors is only 18. Big upside.

Also its pretty unlikely we land Lebron or Wade. Which could leave us overpaying Gay or Johnson (playoff flame out much) etc. In that scenario we're definately better home growing our own star in Turner. On a small rookiee contract when he's liekly to be just as good as the second tier wings.

I wanted Turner more than Wall in some ways. I know that Wall may end up being the better player but I prefer Turner. If he fell to 3 it'd make my month.

@Mike You better believe we draft Turner. Also why so little talk about Turner, he is the conesnsus second pick so harder to get from the other thing. Also Wall and Turner are called the only sure things in the draft. While there is a question mark place on the Cousins and Favors again that makes them much easier to acquire. Also for team need drafting Turner would work out much better for us in the long run. Even better then drafting Wall potenitally as we don't run the risk of giving Devin away for too little. My point is PF is by far the easiet hole to fill this year though FA and getting Turner gives another talented wing/scorer that we need allowing us not to overpay for the likes of Rudy Gay etc. this year. We'd only need to add some shooters like Korver. So in the long run PF is our biggest need but we're better off with Turner. Drafting for BPA always works out better then drafting for need esp when your picks are this high, down at the lower pick we're this isn't much talent wise in between players well that changes things.

To draft or not to draft? Here is the question.

If Sixers draft Favors/Cousins over Turner, do we draft Cousins/Favors or do we draft Turner?

I know there are many avid Turner supporters, but unless you think the Sixers are making a "mistake", it would seem Turners stock might be dropping. How many NBA teams are trying to draft up to get Turner? I hear rumors that teams are trying to move up for Favors and even Cousins, but why so little talk about Turner?

I personally would draft Cousins/Favors over Turner. More for team need then anything else.

Plus if we somehow landed LeBron or Wade, would we really need Turner? Only one ball after all.

@Mike Actually, I hear that the Sixers are considering Favors with the second pick. So, who knows? That's what makes all of this speculation fun... can't wait for Draft day!

@Net Income First, thanks for coming over from NetsDaily.com. I have a feeling a lot of people like/love Cousins' game, which is really why I didn't disparage it in the post. However, I just don't have faith in Cousins behaving himself in the NYC area, especially at his age, considering his track record. BUT, I'm obviously not Rod Thorn and Prokhorov's style is to hire the best people and let them make the decisions... I just think that might bite him in the butt if the Nets select DMC. I'm kinda hoping that Thorn is just blowing smoke with his DMC love so that the Sixers select him.

@ Dennis; I understand you would rather draft Favors, but if he is that "great" the Sixers would draft him, maybe even the Wizards. Who knows, maybe Favors goes #1.

Favors is the flavor of the week but come draft day Cousins will be drafted ahead of him.

But if the Nets do draft Favors over Cousins, I will be disappointed for a day or so, and then I will root for Favors with all my heart.

Team always comes first...

Say what you want about Prokhorov's management strategy. Read what Thorn has said about Cousins, both before and after the lottery, before and after he spoke to him at the Draft Combine. It is overwhelming positive. Thorn called him "very impressive" after talking to him.

Thorn's impressions are what count and Thorn likes Cousins.

@Mike While the entertainment value might be there, really how long does it take before the joke gets old? If the Nets are going to invest a third overall pick and its a new regime in the biggest media outlet in the world, the regime's first pick ever should be safer than what Cousins is offering.

I say go Favors because he has just as much upside and if the Nets start running on the regular, this kid is going to shine as soon as this year. He would definitely bring excitement on the court and not off-the-court as I can imagine with DMC. Besides, I hear the Spurs are HOT to get Favors, so if they think highly of him, well, we should listen.

@Shea23 I was just going to say that exact thing.

I think even without an attidtude his conditioning would be a major concern and he would not be taken number 1. If the nets took Cousins over Turner, well lets just say I find it hard to describe how I'd react.

I understand the concerns about Cousins, but when he plays he seems to go hard. He also has a certain "bad boy" charisma about him.

I like colorful players and he should bring some "personality" and "toughness" to this dull, soft, cast of love able losers. The only "exciting" players we have are T-Will and sometimes Humphries.

Give me some entertainment for my hard earned dollars.

Proky always talks about luck and he seems to love to gamble and march to his own drummer.

I think he will take the risk, and with his money why not.

He can still go after a free agent PF and have Cousins or Favors come off the bench for the next couple of years. Five years from now, Cousins will be 25, Favors 24. Amazing how young they are.

Contrary to popular opinion this is not the Nets most important draft. The Brook Lopez drafting was our most important draft.

With Proky willing to spend big bucks, we can make mistakes in our draft and still buy our way out of these "mistakes".

If Thorn thinks Cousins is the better talent with the potential to be a dominant force for years to come, he has to go for it. He has to draft Cousins over Turner or Favors.

Imagine if Cousins had none of this negative baggage and dark clouds surrounding him. He would easily be the #1 overall pick this year.