Nets Are Scorching

The Chat will start right around 7…this should be fun…

Hopefully, it’s the New Jersey Nets. -Derrick Favors

Today, at Champs Sports in Manhattan, I had the illustrious pleasure of interviewing Derrick Favors, the power forward who will likely be wearing a Nets uniform this season (and Adidas shoes – they announced a multi-year partnership today) . While a lot of questions were thrown around, I got the chance to talk to Derrick about a lot of subjects leading up to the draft.

First things first: Derrick expressed very clearly that he wants to be a New Jersey Net next season. He said numerous times that the Nets were his choice if he had the option. When asked if he was leaning towards any team, Derrick said without any hesitation, “Hopefully it’s the New Jersey Nets….I’m gonna work hard and whatever team picks me, picks me. Hopefully it’s the Nets though.”

Because the draft is so soon and our chat will be up soon, I’m just going to go through some of his answers quickly.

-When asked about fitting next to Brook Lopez: “I think it’ll be a good opportunity for him. He’s a good young post player that I could learn a lot from. I could work out with him, and hopefully the Nets pick me so I can help them out.”
My take: Loving his confidence. He’s talking about not only how he could help the Nets, but talking about what an opportunity it would be for Brook to play with him, as well as the other way around. Big fan of this answer.

-When asked about the perception of him being a project, and how much he can contribute next year: “It just depends on how much hard work I put in during this offseason, and as soon as a team picks me, I’m gonna go straight to the city and start working out, so that’s the way I look at it.”

-About the Nets: “I feel that it’s a great opportunity. Young, rebuilding team, good head coach, a new owner, they’re going in a new direction & I hope I can be a part of it, to help them accomplish what they want to accomplish in the next few years.”
My take: I’m in love. The guy’s done his research on the Nets and wants to be a part of the team. He wants to help out and be a part of the team’s success. He’s either been trained very well or he’s just a very smart guy. I don’t care which. I’m just happy.

-First thing he’s buying with his contract: “A new house for my mom, but after that, I don’t know.”

-Skills we’ll be seeing in the NBA that we didn’t see in college: “My high post game. I know a lot of people didn’t get a chance to see that at Georgia Tech because I was playing mostly low post.”
My take: If his high post game is special, he’ll complement Brook perfectly. Another perfect answer for a guy who wants to be in New Jersey next year.

-On possibly playing with Gani Lawal next year: “That would be a blessing. He helped me out through college, and if we’re lucky enough to be on the same team next year, he can help me out again, and I can return the favor.”
My take: Another answer oozing with smart confidence. Not only does he give props to the guy who helped him adjust (and take the high road), but also says slyly at the end that he could return the favor in the NBA. Big fan of that.

-On what a team will get with Derrick Favors: “Hard work, going out there and giving 100% every night.”

-When asked who he would take number one: “Myself.”

-On the workout with DeMarcus Cousins & the Nets: “I think we did good against each other. We’ve been playing against each other since high school. We’re pretty much used to playing against each other. … You know how DeMarcus play, he’s a big strong guy, so he’s going to do his thing. But I think I showed a lot of skill that they didn’t know I had. … It went real good. We did a lot of conditioning drills, a lot of skill drills, it was a good workout.”

-On what part of his game is most underrated: “My faceup game. They just think I’m an athletic guy who just dunks all the time, but I can face up, shoot the jumper, drive, so that part of my game.”
My take: It sounds like he really wants to work at complementing a low-post player as well as possible. Another great sign.

-On the Nets in FA: “Whoever they sign, I’ll be happy to be along for the ride.”

-On who he wants to play against: “Anybody. I’m excited to play against any power forward in the NBA. It’s all gonna be a learning experience my rookie year, but I’m excited to play against all of them.”

-Who he looks up to: “I look up to Kobe a lot. He was the first player I really knew about. (Were you rooting for the Lakers?) Yes. (Congratulations.) Appreciate it.”

On a young kid asking about next season: “It’s gonna go good. I’m gonna work hard and have a good season.”

So there you have it. I was already leaning back towards Favors, but this interview sealed it for me. Hopefully we see Favors in a home uniform at the Rock next year.

We here at NetsAreScorching are going to be covering the draft a few different ways tonight.  Most importantly, we are going to be at the draft as a credentialed member of the media, as Dennis Velasco will be at the draft doing his thing.  Look for some stuff from him tomorrow.  The rest of us will be participating in a Nets oriented live-chat here on NetsAreScorching.  The draft will start at 7, so make sure you check it out. Also, Devin Kharpertian will be meeting Derrick Favors for a media-day thing in New York today before the draft, so expect something from Devin on him before the draft tonight.

We aren’t done yet.  If you want a more NBA-themed draft chat, well we got you covered.  Over at ESPN there will be a Daily Dime Live tonight, and I will be heading there during the Nets picks to discuss their picks.  So if you want to follow the Nets and their draft, NetsAreScorching.com is the place to be.

Also, I did a little something for Dime on the Nets and the draft.  You can find it here.

So after a three-day period where the Nets appeared to be going every which way with their draft picks and assets, this morning, there seems to be some universal belief that the Nets were going to take the guy they were projected to grab at #3 from the get-go – Derrick Favors …. maybe.

In Al Iannazzone’s write-up, Favors appears the favorite, though there’s still a problem in that Mikhail Prokhorov wants to “win now” and the organization may not be able to wait on Favors to develop. So, the alternative is taking the older and more polished Wesley Johnson and sign a PF in free agency.

But who knows what’s going to happen on draft day. As NetsDaily reminds us in their preview this morning, the Nets have pulled off major trades on two consecutive draft days – swapping Richard Jefferson for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons in 2008, and the Vince Carter trade last summer. Julian Garcia thinks Yi could move tonight, though Devin Harris is still a possibility as well. And what’s the deal with Chris Paul?

I think, this is without a doubt the most interesting draft day for the Nets in years, and they haven’t even made a major deal yet unless you consider dumping the Shakespeare of Twitter for a bag of magic beans major. My expectations for activity are mixed. On one hand, I could see a major, major roster shakeup happening tonight, though I could also see the Nets hold serve, draft Favors, and then enter free agency with a more conventional core to build around. The rumors lately have concerned me in that it feels a little Knickerbockeresque in approach – blow through every asset the organization has just in pipedream of an attempt to woo LeBron and a buddy to the Nets.