Nets Are Scorching

How about the Nets take a bold move and pick up Kirk Penney. Former Wisconson standout with Devin Harris. Dominated the D-league at the end of the season and won the Australian NBL MVP award just a year ago.
Would be super cheap, have played with Harris and shoot sweet sweet jumpers!

The irony is that Rod Thorn selected michael Jordan than basically left the Bulls right after and now if the Nets sign Lebron he is going to leave.

So basically he can do for the nets what Jordan did for the Bulls.

I think going into the meetings he knew he was most probably going to pick Cleveland but the Nets impressed him very much and the Bulls are still there because MJ is is idol. But he would go into chicago already 6 championships behind his idol. in the Nets he wins one championship and he is the greatest ever.

Yes and also the Bulls. So Nets, Cavs and Bulls. I think Reinsdorf is very well known to be cheap and living in the shadow of MJ would not be very fun. In the Nets he will be able to bring the first championship to them and go down as the man who brought a championship to the Nets something that most would laugh at now. which is why it is coming down to Clevland or the NEts, he thinks the NEts are a better situation but I think he also loves Ohio so much that it is very hard for him to make a decision which is why it is taking longer than it was supposed to.

Once Lebron comes to the Nets Bosh will follow.

I think he is leaning towards the Nets or Cleveland.

Offically on the record Udonis Haslem would be a much better pick up than Amare or Boozer. And the selection of Joe Dumars is excellent to start getting players in the organization and in front office and that know what they are doing to build championships team. I'm also open to picking up a player like Shannon Brown who is explosive and can really play the two guard and is also ready to be a star and played on a team that is a proven winner.

Honestly I am turned off to this whole prom queen BS. I hope we sign some solid veterans and let Avery do his coaching and we will be competitive I'm positive of that. As far as a championship, it takes a lot of luck, some help from the refs and hopefully we'll get their. The development of Favors will be a key to this. If he turns out to be the player I think he will be we have a good chance.

Forget Lebron, leave him to Cleveland, and if he reups for 3 years and does this again don't go anywhere near him. He'll be 29 and his best days behind him. Time ravages all, even King Lebron. Let's look ahead, develop our own players, sign a good complimentary player or two. Let's stop playing this waiting game, if he wants to join the Nets great, otherwise he can rot in Cleveland.

I don't want Melo.

The Nets definitely have a plan and are playing extremely coy. While I agree he is a dominant INDIVIDUAL player, LeBron James is not the answer to push this team over the top and all that comes with him would be too much for this team. If I had a choice between Carmelo and LeBron, I'm taking Carmelo HANDS DOWN because they guy always shows up in big games and performs down the stretch (4th quarter). The Cavaliers lost too many close games (less than 10 points) in these playoffs and that's when the so called "superstar" is supposed to make a difference. Give me Melo, sign and trade for Chris Paul (for Devon and Favors), TWill, Lopez, and DLee and that's a 55 win team every year.

Big Daddy u hit the nail on the head. The only 2 big names I would want for the nets is Wade or Lebron. Bosh is not a max contract player (he's a #2 guy at best), amare is overhyped, and i don't want boozer. I think David Lee would fit in perfectly with Lopez. He is a great rebounder and gets his points without demanding plays being ran for him. Therefore lopez can dominate the low post and lee can clean up the misses. Lee is the only power forwrd i would want for the nets from this free agent class. I love the potential of our young players. And Avery Johnson is the perfect fit for this team. He is a defensive minded coach with a team of young good athletic defenders (harris, lopez, favors, d. james, c. lee, t. will). We are on the right path. It's the blueprint to greatness!!!

Great post Big Daddy. I agree with most of your points, but I'm convinced that this team absolutely NEEDS another developmental year and another stud draft pick to start making some serious moves, if they strike out on Lebron.

I actually like David Lee, but only at the right price. In this type of market (Drew Gooden 32mil/5yr, Amir Johnson 34mil/5yrs, and even Darko Milicic 20mil/4yrs) David Lee will definitely be looking for somewhere around the 13mil-16mil(max)/year deal range. For that price, I think signing Lee for over three years would be a grave mistake. He's an excellent player; however, I'd rather start Favors right away than give out a bad contract (spending money in panic mode) which would compromise cap space and would leave the Nets in NBA purgatory (early playoff exits, no flexibility, and no high draft picks). If the Nets can get Lee for a lower price and possibly fewer years, I'm all for it.

If the Nets strike out on Lebron, I actually think that it would be better to go after AK47's expiring deal, and grab a couple future picks from Utah. That way, the Nets would have a lockdown NBA defender and starting caliber player at the SF position. The Jazz would be able to resign Boozer, taking yet another PF from the market. The Nets would have to undergo another developmental year with AK47, but I think the Nets should target 2011 as "year 0" if they aren't able to get Lebron. They would thus retain their cap space, have the opportunity to make a room for next year's free agents (possibly Melo), develop their core players for another year, and most importantly, receive another elite talent via the draft (HB7 hopefully?). This is the model OKC followed, and its worked out pretty well. Another elite prospect at one of the wing positions, and the Nets would easily possess the best young core in the NBA.

I'm glad to read that not getting lebron is not the end for the nets. With the Nets the sky is the limit,because this team has nothing to do with who we were last year. Now I would love for the Nets to sign DLee, because I love the guy. He has spent his Nba career proving everyone wrong and that is what the Nets will do next year.

Any word on who the next GM is going to be? Can't we just throw an insane amount of money at Thorn and say stay? If we do get another GM, I really like Sam Presti (I know its not posible). Any opinions on the next GM?

Hey NJINME, I'm in the same boat. I'm disabled due to spinal issues. Watching sports is an important part of just losing myself into it and forgetting about those issues. I have followed the Nets since their inception but as a second fiddle to the Knicks, no more though. I am so sick of the Knicks and Dolan, I hate them. I am so excited about the Nets now more so then when Kidd was here. Since we have a new owner and the coach I really wanted, plus some players I really like there is one direction and that's toward a championship, it's going to happen. I believe the Nets will have a championship within 3 years. Let the Knicks rot, who cares, let's all say it loud, I'm a NETS fan and I'm proud!!!!!!

I agree with Big Daddy also..just not sure what talent would be available while we wait for that guy in Akron to decide where he'd like to play GM. D Lee is rumored to be in a three way trade taking him to Minny. If Knicks land some big guns and get to the promised land before our Nets....we will be second fiddle for a very, very long time. I've followed this team since the early 70's and don't know if the good Lord will keep me around long enough to see a championship for the Nets. A lot of teams make the playoffs, get mediocre picks in the 20's, if that is what you want...then do nothing. Occasionally you have to swing for the fences...this is that time...get big time talent when you can..

If you like Scola over DLee I just don't think you have been paying attention. I agree Scola would be cheaper and a good addition. But DLee can make a huge difference to a team. He's younger, a hard worker and getting better at everything, Scola is what he is with no upside. As for Josh Boone, I have seen him make some great plays and then some bad ones. The thing is he knows when he makes the bad ones and is visibly upset at himself. This shows something you can't teach....Desire....the desire to be good at something. Instead of him just shrugging and saying oh well, he shows that he's a competitive person and wants to be a good player. That goes a long way considering we have a new coach who is known for teaching and preaching. You can't just discount a 25 year old big body, he's the same age as DLee. Big men take longer to reach their potential. He'll never be a starter and never get big minutes but in the playoffs to have a big body to go up against the likes of Howard, Bynum, Gasol(both of them), KG, Perkins and other big bodies that gives you 6 fouls and someone to do the dirty work like protecting the paint. Every player has a role on a good team. I don't think his role was ever defined and he never had a direction for the type of player he should become. That will change with Avery Johnson as coach. So give this guy another year. Think about the possibilities, Lopez as our starting center with Boone at 6'10" and a wide body plus Zoubek at 7'1" spelling Lopez. It might not matter as much during the season but in the playoffs those 12 fouls and big bodies to protect your cutters and drivers to the basket from getting beat up by the other teams big men means a lot. Plus that's 12 fouls on poor free throw shooting centers like Perkins and Howard. As a GM putting a team together you have to think about every aspect to building a championship team not just a competitive team.

Scola! Scola! Scola!
People coming around to the Scola idea. I love the guy, think he's a great fit.

I agree with everything from big daddy except the thing about josh boone that guy is dead weight

Gotta agree w/ everything Big Daddy said. I will add that getting DLee in the absence of other FA's seems like a good move to me. He's more likely to retain his value (i.e. not be an albatross) than the other big name PFs, and would make us a lot stronger inside for the next couple of years.

I have no problem with the Nets striking out. In my opinion all those who chose not to sign will wish they had. Sorry too late. There's enough talent already on the team to make the playoffs adding a few lower tier free agent veterans who come from a winning team would go a long way to help. especially during the long season and into the playoffs as far as showing the younger players what it's all about. As long as we keep the core, the draft picks and have cap space this team will be OK. As the other teams drown in the ridiculous sea of over paid player contracts we'll have a lot of flexibility for trades and signings in the future and still be competitive. Unlike the teams who have as much or more cap space we have a core of players with upside, they have basically NO players on their roster, other then the Bulls. The Bulls in a few years will be in the situation of having to pay Rose and Noah and some other players so their flexibility will be gone. Their window is now and that's why they NEED at least Wade or LeBron. Our window hasn't even opened yet, this team is SO young and has so much talent. I think Favors will be a dominate force along with Lopez. What we need is for the other young players to step up and play the right way, Avery Johnson will show them, of that I am sure. David Lee would help this team but so would Scola or Haslem. We still need a backup PG and a veteran wing player to come off the bench and light it up. Eddie House would have been a good choice but after his stint with the Knicks I would now say NO. Can Nate Robinson be controlled by Avery, if the answer is yes there is your backup PG and instant offense off the bench, he proved that in the playoffs. Plus he has seen what it's like now to be on a winner at Boston. A lot of ifs and maybes. Whatever the outcome is I know even if we do not sign anybody I will enjoy watching the new Nets because I know with Avery they will come to compete ever night. Plus watching the development and maturing as players of Devin Harris(who is still a young player), Favors, Lopez, Damion, Terrance Williams, Courtney Lee, possibly Brain Zoubek and Ben Uzoh, plus I have not given up on Josh Boone. The three things missing from the lineup is a backup PG, a shooting threat off the bench and a veteran PF who can do the little things correct and who does not need the ball all the time like a Boozer or Amar'e. Those are not tall orders to fill and would go a long way to make the Nets a competitive team.