Nets on the Net: Nets Talk to GM Candidates, Waiting, Waiting on FAs
by Mark Ginocchio
Jul 5, 2010 2010 Free Agents, GM Candidates, Nets on the Net
For a change of pace, let’s start with the vacant GM spot and some interesting candidates the Nets have been speaking with. Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski says the Nets have spoken to Hornets GM Jeff Bower about their opening. With the Hornets ownership situation in flux, Bower could look to bolt NOLA. Al Iannazzone is reporting that the Nets also spoke to Pistons GM Joe Dumars, in addition to Bower.
With Bower one of the candidates, Dave D’Alessandro brings up some potential controversy with him and new coach Avery Johnson. Johnson felt a bit slandered when there were reports out of NOLA that Johnson was “power hungry” and “money hungry” in his interview with Bower – reports that Johnson believes the organization spread. Considering the bass-ackwards nature of what’s going with the Nets right now – usually the GM is in place before the head coach is, this could get interesting, and messy, quickly.
As for the LeBron James saga, all reports are pointing to a decision on Thursday, when a salary cap is set for the season and players can officially sign with new teams. Ianazzone, quoting league sources puts the Nets in the “final three” with the Cavs and Bulls. The Knicks, in all of their infinite wisdom, apparently scheduled a second meeting this past weekend with LeBron’s folks, though it doesn’t appear that James, or anyone significant from the Knicks side attended. I guess they just wanted to give commenters over at TheKnicksBlog something to get excited about… which if you’re in the mood for some crazy talk, is a recommended place to cruise these days. Meanwhile, the Nets are still in contact with David Lee, according to Fred Kerber.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:30 AM
Dumars got insanely lucky the first time around and now has made terrible acqusitions for his team. Same with Bower.
Get Pritchard over here STAT
July 5th, 2010 at 9:43 AM
@Sam…I AGREE! Why hasn’t Pritchard’s name been mentioned at all? This guy is not only available, but more than deserving of a job! Get on it, Nets!
July 5th, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Some people just never get over Durant/Oden, and maybe Paul Allen is one of them.
With that said, this WOULD be a pretty amazing line-up:
Andre Miller
Brandon Roy
Kevin Durant
LaMarcus Aldridge
Marcus Camby/Joel Pryzibilla
The sound you just heard was me pissing myself out of fear for how many championships the above team could win.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Oden has had injury issues,but if he ever reaches his true potential will be an unbelievable center. I think Pritchard would be a perfect fit in NJ. But I feel the GM situation needs to be resolved before July 15.
July 5th, 2010 at 3:32 PM
There’s a lot of issues that we are not privy to. Like the difference between president of operations and GM. Who has what power and who has last say in what. Thorn was actually president and Kiki was GM before coach. So who is president and who will be GM or does one person do both? Do you want one person doing both? I say NO. I want a president doing the everyday operations and a GM overseeing the basketball operations such as player contracts and acquisitions as well as overseeing their development and direct communication with the coach. I don’t want the president anywhere near any basketball operations unless he’s been a sucessful GM of basketball operations. Yes the president has final say to sign off on anything unless he gives that or the owner gives that to the GM. That is a rope in which to hang ones self with but necessary to run a good operation concerning players and coaches. It’s all very complex because of the 2 basic aspects to running a sports team. The players, coaches and basketball decisions. Then there is the operations as far as workers, personnel and the running of a large organization of many people doing many different jobs. Such as security, middle management, transportation, getting hotels and filling other player needs, cleaning crews, payroll and so on, just like any major corporation. The problems arise when one gets into the territory of the other. That’s when you get teams like the Knicks. So they must take their time and sort out who does what, who fills what capacity and has how much power and autonomy they have. Proky’s daughter already has a big part of this and she’s on the non basketball operational end of it. So how does that affect who will be GM and/or president? I don’t want my GM involved with everyday operations anyway, I want him focused totally on basketball operations and have complete say. For that you must have someone who has a good track record and you must have complete confidence in, a tall order. But there must be some type of meeting of the minds in terms of coach, GM, president and owner without losing the basic protocol of established chain of command.
July 5th, 2010 at 3:56 PM
First few questions of Dumars interview…
“Darko? Seriously?”
“20 million per on Villaneuva and Gordon? Seriously?”
July 5th, 2010 at 5:30 PM
lol Will. Also
Chauncey for AI? Seriously?
July 5th, 2010 at 6:46 PM
Dumars has proven to be a fraud. I like the guy but was he the same guy who put together those championship quality teams? Seriously his recent body of work from the Drako draft till now has been a disaster.
July 5th, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Let lebron pick the GM
July 5th, 2010 at 8:19 PM
What is Plan B?
If Lebron/Wade/Bosh dont go to the Nets, who do you think we can get?
I personally don’t want Boozer but would be happy with Lee.
With a lack of quality swingmen now available it gets tricky.
Brook Lopez
David Lee
Courtney Lee
Ray Allen
Devin Harris
Bench starts with Favors and Williams.
Thought? Please dont say bring back RJ, leave the Knick to botch up their off season with him
July 6th, 2010 at 12:32 AM
RJ is not a bad idea for the right price. Former hometown discount?