The Day After: We’re Going to be Okay Nets Fans
by Mark Ginocchio
Jul 9, 2010 2010 Free Agents, Opinion
So who needed that LeBron guy anyway?
Now that all of the big name free agents are off the board, the Nets can get back to doing what they were supposed to be doing in the first place: rebuilding a roster. I understand that names like Travis Outlaw and Kyle Korver are not sexy choices, but they’re not bad building blocks either. All playoff contenders have good role-players like an Outlaw and Korver. Where the Nets lack right now is star power, but with some of the pieces that are already in place, maybe that point is overstated as well.
Obviously, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed in how the Nets struck out with the “big guns.” A LeBron-Bosh duo is the stuff dreams are made of, and while he has his flaws, I’ve always been bullish on David Lee and thought he could make for a scary three-man rotation frontcourt with Brook Lopez and Derrick Favors. But just because the Nets missed out on these players doesn’t mean they’re doomed to repeat as 12-win also-rans. If you remember the circumstances behind last year – an injury decimated roster in November followed by a clueless head coach in Kiki Vandweghe is an easy recipe for disaster. With new ownership that’s willing to spend, a new coach, new draft picks, and a stronger, more well-rounded bench that’s not overstuffed with expiring contracts, there’s no reason to believe this coming season will mirror last season. It’s also worth noting, HOW the Nets are rebuilding. As noted by ESPN’s Chad Ford yesterday, by spending about $20-$30 million this summer and leaving about $10 million for midseason acquisitions, the Nets are following a blueprint drawn up by the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that’s evolving into a force in the Western Conference, all through this kind of intelligent roster building.
I think if we all sit down, take a deep breath, and think long and hard about the past year, we would realize that this team is right where we expected them to be. Brining LeBron and Bosh to New Jersey was always the longest of long shots, given the competition. Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer do not have project to be good long-term contracts. Rudy Gay and Joe Johnson are not max players. So why should we lose face because our best option was never realistic and the Plan B’s were all rolls of the dice?
Perhaps, many of us were caught up in the way the Nets have been selling themselves the past week. The swagger, the taunting billboards, the “leaks” of information from negotiations… maybe it all created a false sense of accomplishment. They always tell a fighter not to lead with the chin, and Team Prokhorov has certainly put it all out there, inviting a backlash. But personally, after the past six years of Bruce Ratner’s focus on real estate, rather than basketball, I welcome an owner who’s willing to take calculated risks and not be ashamed if they don’t hit the bullseye when it comes to assembling a roster.
With or without the big free agents, we are entering a new era with this organization, Nets fans. Remember, Prokhorov spoke of a five-year, not a five-week plan. Let’s also remember that there’s more to roster building than just bidding on the best guys. There may not be playoffs next season. But who knows. After watching the 2008-09 season, would you have predicted the Thunder would give the Lakers a major run for their money in the playoffs last year? It’s going to take time, but the Nets have plenty of it – or at least five years.
July 9th, 2010 at 8:28 AM
Agree 100%. Go Nets!!!!!
July 9th, 2010 at 8:47 AM
Wouldn’t you rather give Mike Miller $8-9M/yr as opposed to Outlaws $7M?
July 9th, 2010 at 8:53 AM
I hope I am vert wrong, but Outlaw and Thomas dont seem like much of an upgrade from TWill/Yi. Especially when they are going to be getting atleast $7M per for the next five year. I hated what they are paying (or planning to pay) for 2 very avg role players who are probably better suited to come off the bench. We are going to be relying on these guys for SERIOUS contributions. I pray there is an intelligent trade coming (and it wouldn’t be for CP3 unless he signs an extention).
July 9th, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Why would ANYONE pay Travis Outlaw $7 million a year when at most he is worth $2-$3 million per ?
This bothers me more than almost anything else right now, it bothers me more than missing out on LeBron.
If this is the caliber of free agents they are willing to throw money at then why don’t they just find the bottom of the barrel free agents and offer them $5 million a year. It’s just total stupidity !!
July 9th, 2010 at 8:58 AM
The Nets are starting to move in the right direction, but it’s obviously chaos at the top right now. The Wesley Johnson flirtation, the seeming lack of follow-up with FAs, the Outlaw signing, and (most importantly) the failure to jump on Kevin Pritchard and get him here– these all tell me something’s wrong. I’m sure part of it is growing pains with merging two organizations, but they need a real GM right now. And not Jeff Bowers or Bernie Bickerstaff.
July 9th, 2010 at 8:58 AM
Hey, it could be worse! How do you think the Knicks feel! Ouch! I love it! All they did during f/a is to overpay by $20M+ for essentially the same player that they already had for a guy who is one of the biggest injury risks in the NBA. The Knicks are going to be choking on that contract for a while, and who is going to get Amare the ball?
July 9th, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Don’t worry Proky will take care of everything when he gets off his jetski. It’s a good thing he only sleeps 5 hours/night because its gonna take a long time to fix this mess.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Way I see it. This is Brook Lopez year to show his stuff. He’s had the maturing grace period and it’s time for him to be that dude on this team. Some times you got to stop looking outside and start looking in Courtney Lee is a tremendous shooter on the outside. T Wil is learning how to play the 2 Guard in the summer league and Devin Harris will be back at allstar form. All these guys are in the NBA whether there named Lebron or not. The game still has to be played. There are many holes in a team with Lebron,Wade and Bosh. My first hole and I’m sorry for throwing you under the bus dude cause I like you is a point guard name Chalmers who can’t dribble. Don’t worry and another thing. Am I the only person that saw Tony Allen lock down Wade, Lebron, and Kobe. Why wasn’t he picked up by any team. Hey I’m saying Tony Allen realizes the in the league just like him.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:03 AM
@Mike R– Outlaw is a lox, but Thomas can really play. Not that much on offense, but he averages 2.5 blocks and 1.9 steals (!) per 36 games. And he’s just turning 24, still young for a big.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:04 AM
er, per 36 *minutes*
July 9th, 2010 at 9:07 AM
True on Thomas’ D. I just hope he remains focused on it b/c Avery is all about defense and if he takes nights off he will end up in AJ’s doghouse. The one positive that I see is that that the Nets having the makings of a very, very good defensive team and that will translate into some wins. Enough to make the playoffs probably no, but they could probably win 25-30 games.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:08 AM
@CAT;
I have a feeling Thorn talked to Kevin Pritchard about Outlaw. It would make sense for KP and Thorn to do this, wouldn’t it?
July 9th, 2010 at 9:10 AM
@CAT, I know others on the site will disagree with me, but I’m coming around to Tyrus Thomas. If you look at his numbers, they’re trending in the right direction as he enters his prime. He’s the perfect stopgap for a rebuilding team IMO.
The hate on Outlaw is getting silly. The market is the market and again, the Nets got a solid playmaker who has proven to be very clutch during his time here in the NBA. Guranteed Nets fans are going to be loving this guy, regardless of his price tag, in a few months.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:12 AM
Everybody who is complain about outlaw’s contract just doesnt get it. EVERYBODY IS GETTING OVERPAID THESE DAYS!!! So far out of everybody who has signed a contract, the only player who deserved his money is kevin durant. If you want to get anybody in today’s market, u have to overpay a little. That bum darko milichic is getting 5 million per year. rudy gay and david lee are making the same money as kevin durant. boozer and amare are making more than durant per year also. and none of them come close to durant’s ability. Mike R is right. i will take outlaw and 7 mil per season rather than amare at 20 mil.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:16 AM
The Nets are focusing on long armed, athletic, young players. Avery Johnson is going to make this team a beast on the defensive end. If we get tyrus thomas, and avery can get him to play most nights, he, lopez and favors are going to be a problem when u try and come into the lane. All 3 are good shot blockers…
July 9th, 2010 at 9:18 AM
@Mike– I don’t know that Pritchard is particularly invested in making sure Thorn and the Nets get a good value.
@Mark– Outlaw *will* be popular: lots of fans love chuckers. I don’t.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:25 AM
@hbj– among the much better FA deals in the past week: Steve Blake, Hakim Warrick, Jermaine O’Neal, and Channing Frye. Of course, they were signed by the Celtics, Lakers, and Suns, so you expect *them* to get value.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:41 AM
I don’t disagree with the article or the idea the Nets are building like the Thunder. The problem is it is much easier to build around say KEVIN DURANT than any of the guys on our squad. I love Brook but the upside on Durant is second to none.
The ownership lifted everyone’s spirits and perhaps we are at fault for not tempering them. But this offseason is a complete failure and there is no justification for any other assessment. Thorn is leaving, we didn’t get Wall and we struck out on all fronts in free agency.
I’m sorry, I’ll still root for the Nets and I’m excited about the future prospects but the grade for 2010 offseason is F.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:44 AM
@ toaster…Frye…LMAO….he’s as soft as tissue paper, please!!!!! I know it’s just opinions but some y’all get real. You make it sound like this is a video game, how old are you? This is BIG business!!!!!! We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars and franchises worth close to a billion dollars. How many of y’all even make close to $100,000 a year? Some of you guys crack me up….talking like this is some fun video game and all a GM or owener has to do is push a button and some player or GM or coach magically appears….LOL. It’s reality and you are dealing with real people with their own personalities and idiosyncrasies. There’s no magic buttons to push, it done on the phone with endless hours of deep conversations about things we are not privy to and never will be. WAKE UP people and smell the reality.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:46 AM
I totally agree we the roster moves being made and I’m actually not upset over ‘missing’ FAs. I’m on board with almost everything, honestly. I just really don’t like how the Nets made themselves look stupid with this. Nets fans are used to starting from the bottom, so don’t tease them with grandeur and then get contrastingly frugal. I can live and root for any roster the Nets throw out there regardless of ceiling, but did I really need to inherit more laughter when I express being a Nets fan? 12-wins and historical horribleness was bad enough. “We’re going to improve” would’ve sounded a lot better to me than “we’re going to be great” – and that’s the only reason the Nets are considered ‘losers of FA’ right now – they proposed much more than they ever needed to.
–
Get me some Tyrus (sumthin to prove), get me a backup center (Zoob ain’t there yet), get me Farmar (sumthin to prove) and some more good pieces with room and reasons improve – and i’m happy. just don’t sell me dreams and delusions.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:58 AM
@numba, yeah I can go for Farmar, definitely and he’s from a winner. But don’t underestimate our roster as of right now. Tyrus I say yes to also. But to run scared and offer them some outrageous contracts, no…..there’s a lot of ego on sports teams and some times you think by adding talent you’ll be better when in fact it can create problems in the locker room. Again people forget these are all powerful men, young men with a lot of emotion. A bad seed that is over paid can ruin a locker room. There’s more to this then just signing players, there’s a lot more issues like chemistry between the players and how disciplined those players are. One guy always showing up late and not being held accountable can destroy a team’s discipline for instance. This is tricky and has to be done carefully by weighting every possible situation and factor. Some times the best move is no move at all.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:02 AM
@numba1indahoodg – totally agree!
well except for tyrus thomas…he will think he’s better than he is because teams are bidding for his services. He’s really the only PF left in FA.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:05 AM
@BD- u are absolutley right about farmer. he plays hard and more important, he is coming from a winner. he has a winning mentality. he may only be a back up point guard, but he will be a valuable asset on and off the court. also, he plays decent defense and has a decent outside shot…
July 9th, 2010 at 10:06 AM
@Big Daddy..I am not sure why it matters how much someone posting on here makes in a year. Our outside professions have no reflection on basketball knowledge. I’m pretty sure we all understand free agency is not a video game and players don’t just “appear” at the click of a button.
The problem is Pro made some big promises to Nets fans. Instead of delivering and concentrating on top FA not named LeBron, we held out and then missed out. We then went on to sign a guy who has started a total of 32 games in 6 years for $7 mill a year (he will be one of the highest paid Nets). Our efforts should have gone elsewhere instead of signing an older version of CDR.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:14 AM
I also know that we have a long time until the new season begins, and I am confident that the Nets can make the appropriate moves.
Right now, with AJ at the head coach, we will become a much more defensive minded team. I think it is important to notice that the Nets lost 39 games last year by 10 pts or less. If we win half of these games, we’re a 30+ win team.
We need, however, to add a big name that could produce. I don’t care if it comes in the form of 15-20 mill a year. A big name who produces equals more wins. Remember, it only took 41 to make the playoffs last year. TO is a good player who will *contribute*. He is NOT that big name who will produce and add to our win column.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:19 AM
@CAT;
If KP wants to work for the Nets in the future, he might take a phone call or two from a “respected league elder”. I know I would.
Chris Duhon just signed for 4 million over 4 years. Now that’s crazy money to me!
July 9th, 2010 at 10:29 AM
The Nets had Outlaw 3rd on their depth chart after LeBron and Gay. Outlaw will get a chance to show what he’s got as a starter. As a 6th man for Portland he was very effective especially in crunch time. If the Nets got him for 25 million over 5 years you would be happy. What’s another 2 million a year. The way money is pissed away on players, that is chump change. We have seen first hand how clubs can create instant cap space when needed. I doubt we will be crying in the next few years that we overpaid Outlaw. Plus Travis actually wants to play for us!
July 9th, 2010 at 10:38 AM
@Big Daddy– Thank you for your unpleasant, condescending, and generally incoherent reply. Thank you also for pointing out that this involves millions of dollars. I’m sure no one here had any idea about this except you! And the video game analogy was awesome! I mean, who are those idiots who follow the game and actually understand how games are won and lost to question the recondite knowledge of you and other GMs? It must take incredible insider knowledge to, say, sign Darko for $19 million. Who are we little, under-$100,000 earners to question that? It is up to giants like you and David Kahn to let us know. Also, I appreciate being told that magic has nothing to do with it– I think we were all certain that it was a key element. Now we know that it is the special knowledge of powerful men that makes these incomprehensible-to-mere-mortals transactions so magnificent. And I believe it works as well in the NBA as it does on Wall Street. The lecture on reality is also much appreciated. You are probably, along with your duties as advisor to Presidents, a renowned professor of Epistemology. Truly, you understand everything.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:41 AM
@calling…classic
July 9th, 2010 at 10:43 AM
@CAT;
Maybe Outlaw will fail his physical.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Miller is getting 5 years too! Near same money as outlaw. I’d rather have outlaw for 5 years, given he’s 4 years younger. Miller is going to be 36 at the end of that contract!
July 9th, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Can anyone think of a reason why the Nets weren’t interested in picking up Beasley from the Heat?
July 9th, 2010 at 10:55 AM
@Mike– I’m mailing him some cocaine right this very minute!
July 9th, 2010 at 11:01 AM
@CAT; LOL This might cheer you up.
Chad Buchanan, Portland scout on June 28th…
—————————
Buchanan said Portland considered Babbitt to be the best shooter in the draft, and compared the former Nevada standout to ex-Blazer Travis Outlaw.
“He can really create a mid-range jumper and raise up and make shots,” said Buchanan, Portland’s director of NBA scouting. “He’s an offensive talent that we think will be a major part of our team moving forward.”
————————-
The more I read up on Outlaw the more I like him.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:05 AM
@Mike– Well, I hope you and Buchanan are right. Plus, I’m out of cocaine and I don’t know where Outlaw lives (the gang’s hideaway, perhaps?).
July 9th, 2010 at 11:11 AM
@CAT; Out of coke? No wonder you went ballistic on us. Hope your a big Thomas fan or else I’m staying clear of this board when that crazy deal goes down. I hope they don’t divulge the terms. I’m worried about your health… LOL
July 9th, 2010 at 11:26 AM
@Mike– I’m OK with Thomas as long as we’re not giving him a 5 year max deal. If we do, I’m the least of your problems
July 9th, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Yeah who needs that Lebron guy anyway so the Nets are going to do what they have always done and overpay players that belong on the bench.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:32 AM
I wonder if Humphries is second guessing his decision not to opt out. I think most of us thought that salaries would be going down cause the owners were crying poverty. Yeah right…
July 9th, 2010 at 11:33 AM
@Ezra the Nets aren’t interested in Beasley because Thorn is running things still and he is trying to do his best to ruin them before he leaves because Proky obviously p*ssed him off big time. And foreget about getting KP who would ssave this horrible offseason. Avery is going to look bad with this team because I don’t think he is as good as people think he is.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Sounds like KP might be headed to the Knicks. Walsh might resign due to health issues and inability to land LeBron
July 9th, 2010 at 11:45 AM
No KP? That means that Proky is onto plan Z for the Nets. Plan Z is “oh sh&$ we are f*&K#d”
July 9th, 2010 at 11:48 AM
I think Proky is full of it now. That 30 foot billboard of him and Jay-Z near MSG looks really stupid now.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Forget Brooklyn, I think the Nets should just move to Moscow because I don’t think Brooklyn will want them now.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Russian military tactics dating back for centuries, always lets the enemy come crashing thru, takes big losses, but then prevails with sheer brute force and numbers. Proky was in the Russian army. Maybe his November surprise will be the start of the counter attack.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:10 PM
@Mike November surprise! HA! The only surprise that he is going to get is that the Nets are going to be the biggest challenge of his life.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:24 PM
One thing that Proky didn’t understand when he bought an NBA team is that NBA players are the dumbest of the dumb of athletes and only follow the herd. Proky is too smart for this crap but it defintiely is going to be his biggest challenge ever.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:38 PM
need to tank again for this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhHfWS4o610&feature=related
July 9th, 2010 at 1:10 PM
I’m okay with signing beasley to a short term contract. but it seems he has no heart to play and no particular interest to excel or improve. If he stays where he is now, he has no post game and a shaky jump shot. I think outlaw at the 4 is a better option than beasley in the long run.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:15 PM
there are also rumors that mike miller and/or shaq will be going to the miami heat…we are in desperate need of shooters…if jarvis hayes, outlaw and damion james are our only options of shooting from 3 (twill and devin are slashers, and brook is good from 15-20ft) i would be a little concerned for our perimeter shooting. even damion james seems to be more comfortable slashing to the hoop and shooting a midrange jumper than shooting the 3. Any ideas aside from miller?
July 9th, 2010 at 1:34 PM
We can throw out the owner willing to spend money thing now. They didnt want to pay boozer that extra $5mil so he walked to Chi, they probably didnt want to give Lee anything extra either. So they go and overpay Outlaw? Lets be real here…we are what a 35 win team now? Is that acceptable to you? Thank god I didnt renew my tix.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:38 PM
We signed kyle korver?
July 9th, 2010 at 1:41 PM
The team needs a plan, not a scramble for crappy players to maybe make the playoffs last year. The Heat really need to be considered in any plan that ANY team in the East is making. We are going to need to have some kind of long term strategy to get past those guys. First step is hire a GM who is in it for the long haul. Go pillage whoever is working miracles with Sam Presti, or just overpay Presti to get him to come out east.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:43 PM
We don’t get Lebron so what I still like my guys. Lopez is a stud. Lets focus on winning games and making the 8th seed @ the least. Oh yeah the Knicks didn’t get Lebron either so my wounds healed quickly. Knick Knack patty WACK we’ll beat ya’ll with a bone. We own the Hudson and Lady Liberty. LETS GO NETS!!!
July 9th, 2010 at 1:44 PM
For those saying that we paid Outlaw when we could have kept CDR, he is the one who asked for the trade:
http://twitter.com/cdouglasroberts/status/18082357687
There is no way he would have been productive if the Nets kept him, plain and simple.
July 9th, 2010 at 2:18 PM
@toasters. go away.
@everyone else who is negative about this–watch the Knicks.
Stop being A-holes guys.
July 9th, 2010 at 3:18 PM
Can’t we all just get along? There are so few of us Nets fans to begin with. Agree to disagree. And have I mentioned how much I love Favors? He looked much better today. In fact another few performances like this in preseason, I will start a Derrick Favors fan club, and of course I will be president. It’s only fair and right!
July 9th, 2010 at 4:19 PM
It will be so nice seeing the 19 yo Favors dunking over the Queen I mean Lebron this year.
July 9th, 2010 at 4:20 PM
And if Lebron trys dunking on him he will take his 7 ft 4 wingspan and stuff that turkey.
July 9th, 2010 at 4:33 PM
gabe– Thanks for the pointless nastiness.
July 9th, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Who needs Lebron. We have our own James. His name is Damion (DJ) Tearing it up in summer league! Be patient!
July 9th, 2010 at 6:18 PM
tyrus thomas re-signed with the bobcats. derrick favors is going to have to be ready sooner than expcted…
July 9th, 2010 at 6:20 PM
because i dont want scola…
July 9th, 2010 at 10:04 PM
Nah guys Nets need a guy that can shoot the three someone like Korver would be perfect.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:20 PM
Nets might bite on someone like Udonis Haslem now, which I’d be fine with – he can board, play D, and is a team player and hard worker. He’s definitely an Avery Johnson type of guy. And while he isn’t spectacular on offense, he’ll be a solid addition with career averages of 10 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 49.9 FG%, 76.3 FT%. However, I think a three-year contract is all he should be offered.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Oh, but for the record, I’d much rather have Scola… just don’t think the Rockets would let him go and match any offer.
July 10th, 2010 at 1:30 AM
get danny granger and luis scola
July 10th, 2010 at 1:37 AM
we need to trade favors and some money or a draft pick to indiana for danny granger. Then we need to sign luis scola. Then we trade outlaw, kris humphris and are other draft pick to the warriors for david lee. If this plan f comes alive our lineup would be:
c:lopez/zoob
pf:lee/scola
sf:danny granger/damion james
sg:terrence williams/courtney lee
pg:devon harris/dooling
this is a new nets dream team that is a 50 win team and would compete with the heat,magic,celtics and the defending champion lakers. Big pojorov would have a champion team moving to the big apple
July 10th, 2010 at 1:40 AM
I think favors is good but it is only summer league. he needs time to develop and he could be trade bait. no one on the current roster is safe from being traded but lopez, even harris could be traded. The nets are going to try to build this team around the best big man they have had in a long time since the days of kenyon Martin. They havent had a stud center in a long time. He is there guy now even if martin was a pf
July 10th, 2010 at 8:38 AM
@jon The Pacers would want more than Favors. In fact, rumors have always been Favors AND Devin Harris because the Pacers need a PG bad. I don’t know how I feel about that because Favors, who has actually sucked overall in Summer League, has too much upside to trade now. And I’d really like to see what Harris can do with Avery Johnson being his coach again. Regarding Scola, unless you really OVERPAY hime BIG, the Rockets will probably match any offer.