Nets Are Scorching

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.

For the record, this was up a 5PM, but just on the wrong site.  I accidentally posted it over at my other site NBAPlaybook.  I am a dummy, sorry for the confusion…

• With the 29th pick, the Magic selected Quincy Pondexter
• With the 30th pick, the Wizards selected Craig Brackins

And now, with the 31st pick in the 2010 NBA Draft the Nets select Stanley Robinson, Forward out of the University of Connecticut

As you guys may have noticed, the Nets need bodies going into the next season, but not only bodies, but athletic bodies.  Last year the Nets were way too old and nonathletic in the frontcourt playing guys like Josh Boone, Trenton Hassell, and Jarvis Hayes meaningful minutes.

Robinson, while looking like an old man, has a live body and will run around and create chaos, even dunking on a few people.  He’s raw, so this may be a good pick for the Nets to take, stash him in the D-League and hope he develops.

• With the 25th pick, the Grizzlies selected Dominique Jones
• With the 26th pick, the Thunder selected Tibor Pleiss

And now, with the 27th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft the Nets select Jordan Crawford, Shooting Guard from Xavier University:

I would really like to see the Nets go point guard here (since they only have one on their roster), but there isn’t a PG worth the pick at 27.  Because of that, I think the Nets will go best player available and Jordan Crawford is the player who fits that description.  Many NBA fans might remember Crawford as the player who dunked “on” LeBron James, but Crawford is a guy who can really score in bunches, and the Nets are a team that would need a scoring punch off the bench, so the pick makes sense in my opinion.

Now on the clock, Three Shades of Blue, representing the Memphis Grizzlies.

Typically here at NAS, we don’t post on every single rumor involving the Nets, but given just the sheer wackiness surrounding the organization and their lottery pick the past 24 hours, I thought it would be a good idea to fan the flames some more until things start to materialize tomorrow night.

The latest comes courtesy of Marc Stein and the TrueHoop mothership. With more and more people buying into the idea that the Nets are going to take Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson with the #3 pick, rather than Favors/Cousins is because Johnson has the same agent as free agent PF Carlos Boozer. So, in theory, bringing in Johnson could lead to Boozer.

So, here’s my take on all of this. A lot of the rumors that have been circulating the past 24 hours are all based on the same reality – it would appear that the Nets are less interested in projection and would rather put together a team next season that is ready to compete for a playoff spot. I understand Prokhorov wants to make a big splash and this team desperately needs to be competitive for their move to Brooklyn in two years, but this whole strategy is hugely unsettling. Lottery picks, in theory, should be used for the best talent available, and by landing the #3 pick, the Nets, hypothetically should take home one of the three best talents in the draft. By most accounts, that’s either Derrick Favors or DeMarcus Cousins. My preference is Favors, and while the addition of Favors and maybe a free agent or two doesn’t guarantee the Nets return to the playoffs in 2011 – in fact, they probably won’t – if Favors develops into the player most scouts believes he can become, the Nets could have one the leagues most gifted PFs on their roster in 2-3 years. Meanwhile, I just don’t think a starting five of Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Wesley Johnson, Carlos Boozer and Brook Lopez is anything more than a bottom half seed in the Eastern Conference – which brings the Nets back to where they were during the Vince Carter/Jason Kidd era – not good enough to win anything significant, and not bad enough to gather assets that could help them rebuild a la the Thunder.

Going on the assumption that three true game changers in FA, LeBron, Wade and Bosh, are not coming to New Jersey, I don’t think the best way to accomplish Prokhorov’s five-year plan is to import a role player like Johnson with the #3 pick in the draft while grossly overpaying for imperfect players in free agency. This is the same strategy the earned the Knicks an 8th seed and first-round ouster in 2004, followed by six years of salary cap hell.

At around noon today, I was on The Basketball Jones’ live mock draft (yeah, I am still bragging about that) talking about how Derrick Favors to the Nets was pretty much a sure thing.  After that, the crazy started.  First, there were multiple reports that the Nets were leaning towards drafting Syracuse SF Wesley Johnson.  That has now seemed to settle down, with some reports saying that Johnson is simply just in the conversation with Derrick Favors.

With things starting to become relatively calm once again, Dave D’Alessandro decided to shake things up again with his report that he put out tonight around 10.  Apparently Cousins is now out of the conversation:

“Cousins has great hands and great feet, and he knows how to play,” Thorn said. “But you know, it’s a leap of faith there to suggest that he can play the 4. He can shoot the ball well, and he can face the basket. But I don’t think he’ll take it from 20 feet and go by people, and defensively it could be even more of a problem.”

In their internal discussions, the Nets have concluded that in spite of Cousins’ great talent, it would be very hard for him to complement Brook Lopez as the full-time power forward unless he trimmed down to 265 pounds — and he might have enough trouble getting down to 275.

So things simplified?  Not so fast, there is now a new big man that the Nets are considering.  His name is Greg Monroe:

It just means Thorn is in the mood to confuse everybody by suggesting that Greg Monroe of Georgetown is now also in the mix.

“We like Monroe a lot,” Thorn said, when reviewing his short list today. “He’s a lot different than Derrick Favors. He has an all-around game — left hand, right hand, great size. So I don’t think you (eliminate him) by any stretch. Monroe’s looking very good to us.”

That’s not the only news made tonight either.  Chad Ford is reporting in his newest post to the TrueHoop blog that the Nets have dealt Chris Douglas-Roberts to the Bucks for a second round pick:

Finally, it looks like the Bucks aren’t done dealing. This afternoon they traded Dan Gadzuric and Charlie Bell to the Warriors for Corey Maggette. Now sources say that the Bucks and Nets are in serious negotiations on a deal that would send Chris Douglas-Roberts to the Bucks for a second round pick. With the addition of Maggette and Douglas-Roberts, you have to wonder if the Bucks may look at something other than a wing with the No. 15 pick in the draft.

That puts this CDR tweet in perspective now.  10 hours ago, he tweeted:

Got news for yall later! Yall ready for this??? Ahhahaaahaha. I jus can’t hide it. FTD. Yes yess! FTD yes yess!

FTD meaning Fear The Deer.  Well then.  I have never denied Chris Douglas-Roberts talents, and I think when he wants to be, he is one of the better pure scorers in the NBA.  To me, it just seems that the Nets were fed up with his off the court issues and were getting rid of him anyway (the Nets had until late in the month to decide whether or not they wanted to pick up his option) and they took what they could get for him, and that was a second round pick.  The Nets now have four picks in this draft (two first rounders and two second rounders).

There has been a lot of action over in Nets-land, and the draft isn’t even until Thursday, so don’t expect for everything to be over and done with (especially with the four picks the Nets have).  Hold on guys, this is going to be a wild ride…

Minutes after I got off the phone with the fine people of The Basketball Jones, doing their live mock draft (you can see the replay here), and talking about how the Nets are probably going to go big, news broke saying that might not be the case.  Draft Express, Chad Ford, and Adrian Wojnarowski all are reporting that the Nets are leaning towards Wesley Johnson for the number three pick, meaning that the Nets are going after a PF hard in free agency.  From Wojnarowski’s post:

All along, the Wolves had planned to select Johnson at No. 4, and yet the New Jersey Nets are holding serious discussions about drafting the small forward and taking their chances with trying to sign a power forward in free agency. The Nets had long favored Derrick Favors, but are debating now about how long it will take for him to become a regular contributor. New Jersey is still contemplating DeMarcus Cousins, too.

Ugh.  This strategy is good in theory, you don’t want to draft a PF if you are going to sign a youungish one to a max contract (Amar’e or Bosh), that is a waste of a pick.  Plus it isn’t like Johnson is a bad player (in fact he is very good). However, this could blow up in their face and ruin all the good will they built up with Nets fans after their awful season last year.

I am worried about it for two reasons.  One, if we don’t draft a PF and somehow whiff in free agency, we are going to see the Nets either give a max deal to a guy like Carlos Boozer or David Lee (trust me that’s bad) or the Nets are going to be stuck with Yi starting at PF for another year.

The second reason is my main worry, and that is the overcrowding at the wing position.  For a guy like LeBron, you don’t worry about overcrowding, but to draft a wing when you already have Courtney Lee, CDR, and Terrence Williams on the roster?  That just doesn’t make sense.  My fear is that the Nets’ new staff sees Terrence Williams as a back-up point guard instead of what he actually is.  A starting small forward with the skill-set to be a point forward type of player.  In my opinion, those are two different things.

A few hours ago, I was fairly confident the Nets were going with Favors, now?  Who the hell knows.  After the Vince Carter trade at draft night, I didn’t think that the Nets could match it this year in terms of surprises.  Apparently, they are well on their way.  Thursday is going to be interesting.