Nets Are Scorching

Once again, more dumb ideas from Nets media people...why trade T-Will when he will be better at the 2 spot than Courtney Lee. Lee is not that good and TWill brings alot to the table and can play multiple positions. yes his jump shot needs work but it already looks to be improved this year. Trading him for some stop gap power forward is stupid but this is the nets so they probably will trade him.

@Wes. They saw Cousins as a 5 in the league , and they already have a great one. It's really that simple.

Has it ever occured to anyone that perhaps if we were in a such a "win now" mode and needed a Power Forward it might have made more sense to draft DeMarcus Cousins who is more NBA ready than Favors...

I'm still questioning the draft move. I understand the upside of Favors but is Cousins "upside" that much lower?

I don't think it is...

TWill is a willing passer though. He was only dominating the ball as a way to see how much he's improved his attacking. In no way is he going to be chucking up 25 shots per game. He is a very capable PG and oversized for that position. If he can continue to play smart and utilize his athleticism to guard lightning fast guards, what a nightmare match up he could be!!
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This goes double for DJames. He would also be a great 3 if he can learn to guard and keep up with the pace of a swing man. Insert Lee, and Quinton Ross who are all big 2's at 6'5+ and we have one defensive, tall, and long line up to throw out!!

I couldn't agree more BD. Our backcourt players have alot to prove, or improve as the case may be. Farmar may be the most complete PG we have right now, but we'll see.
I do think TWill has more upside so if Harris and his 9mil end up being moved at the deadline, I wouldn't be too upset.
BTW, I can't believe the contract Harrington got from Denver. I thought we would be able to sign him for 12 million and he ends up getting 34. WOW!

Summer league is a place IMO to look for specific things about each player. You can learn a lot watching him compete against guys desperate to make a team. I give those guys credit the majority of them really play hard and never dog it. They know they are being showcased. Notice Favors best game was when Twill and James had the least amount of minutes. He was getting comfortable in the flow of the game and more confident. But the games were being dominated by the ball handlers who also score. IMO this is why TWill is NOT a PG and Devin Harris is going to have to round off his game, less scoring and more facilitating. Farmar was signed because of his desire to be a traditional PG on a team. I have a feeling Harris is in a run for his money to start. I really expect a major trade some time before the trading deadline is possible. Players to maybe go are TWill, Clee and Harris unless they fit Avery's system. I don't think they have to make major adjustments, just be more team oriented as far as passing and defense so NO trades are possible unless something amazing like CP3 comes up. This should be a very competitive training camp and Johnson will see who wants it. The ones who don't will be gone eventually when the right deal comes up. I think the major concern is to stretch the floor to let Lopez and Favors not have to deal with double teams. Get the ball in the low post first, liberal use of the pick and role and hit the open man at the 3 point line.....gee that sounds a lot like the Boston Celtics...Hmmmm. I think Harris and Farmar are going to help each other get a lot better. They will have the players who can score efficiently and high percentage shooters to get the ball to. We haven't had that for a long time. Go Nets!!!

@Patrick.. are you insane? We have two very capable NBA point guards and you think a guy who scores a few points in Summer League is going to get minutes on an already deep team.

Of course a smart basketball player from Harvard is going to score a few points in Summer League- this is the weakest of the weak NBA competition.

I have said this to many posters on many forums and blogs. I do not use other people's opinions about players. I take it into consideration but I always watch the player and come to my own conclusions as with Cousins for instance. Some times I'm wrong and some times I'm right, but they are MY opinions. I really don't care what Chris Webber says, people in the media whether ex jocks or coaches have agendas. For all we know he might have a piece of Lin's agent and if he signs Webber make s a few points(percentages) on his contract.

Maybe on the New Orleans Hornets Lin would be the third PG but on our team he'd earn alot of minutes.
By the way, Chris Webber disagrees with you about Lin. Go to this link:
http://TheBigLead.com and take a look Wall shot 4 for 21 to get his 21 points. Lin scored 8 in the 4th alone

i actaully feel like this team is too talented at the G/SF position, we have too many pieces that all can contribute. first of all,out of lee/morrow/twill, all can make a great case for why they should be the starting 2 guard. twill has the best all around game and i think he can be a better point because of his excellent passing skills and lack of a consistent jumpshot, clee comes wit good perimeter d and the trey on some nights where he puts up 25+ (rare occasion), or he will be somewhat of a ghost other nights, but is still a young player with potential who gets overlooked here, and morrow brings us a sharp shooter we've never had and he can really open it up for brook down low and give devin wider lanes to drive. then we have farmar to backup harris, and he is a good shooter and distributor. now, at SF, outlaw is gonna start because of the contract, but we are probably gonna have to give twill minutes there if lee and morrow are the SG. So if twill backs up outlaw, then damion james is pretty much left out of any significant minutes, which is a problem, because he is a real tough player, and a kid that can be a nice scorer in this league and play defense. unles we decide to move Clee,which is better than moving twill, i dont see how avery can mix all these guys in. Damion james may have to play some PF behind whomever eventually starts there.

Something I find completely misleading about what Dave D said is that TWill is a "spare part." I think that Outlaw, despite what we just paid him, is more of a spare part than Williams. We are taking a calculated gamble with Outlaw that he's going to step it up from what he's done in LA and Portland. He's young, but I think he's had his time to shine before and I don't know if Avery Johnson is really going to be able to pull something new out of him as everyone hopes. Think about the fact that midway through the season last year there was serious talk that TWill would go down to the d-league and now he's become one of the more attractive assets on the team. Keep the young core together on this team and it will pay off. I think this move could taint this new regime if it actually occurs and he's shipped out. But what do I know, really...

Now when you say blow up John wall, what do you mean? blocked him? dunked on him? or just played a lot better.

Yes I saw Lin, he's a third PG on a good team. He's not and never will be a big time player. But maybe a serviceable backup.

I think the Net's think TWill is too much of a loose cannon and a bit immature to lead the team...did anyone else see Lin?

TWill's a better PG than Harris. TWill can get anywhere he wants on the court and is a terrific passer. Makes no sense putting him on the wing because he can't shoot.
Harris is the bait....if we can get a 2nd round pick for C Lee I say do it. He and harris were awful last year.
I hope Billy King was watching when Jeremy Lin from Harvard (he's and undrafted free agent) blow up John Wall in Summer League play. King should be rushing to his agent with a pen and paper now!!

Isn't Dave D the same fool that reported via his sources that Lebron James was coming to the Nets?

Read the article whozgotnext. The only "reporting" in it is that Billy King is receiving a lot of calls and we have a deficiency at PF.

True and true. But, he goes on the record to justify the value of Carl Landry, Taj Gibson, and Ersa Ilyasova.

Read the article. He says, where would we shop him. If it were up to us. Who's us? There are no quotes there. It's him and his Star Ledger buddies.

"No we haven't a clue about how much Avery or Billy King like these guys."

So who is we? It's not reporting, it's an editorial, which shows this guy shouldn't be writing editorials on the NBA.

Then he urges Billy King to make the calls.

My only hope is that Billy King doesn't waste his time reading it.

Like I said. Dave D, needs to have his pen taken away.

@JDoc, exactly. I only bring up Clee for a possibility. You never know what things can be cooked up by teams . It could mean a high draft pick and another young player. So many possibilities and that's why having cap space and trade-able assets are so important. Anybody who is disappointed about our off season has to look at how much we improved the team not only in terms of talent but assets too. Go Nets!!!

Don't blame Dave D, I'm guessing that he's just reporting what he's hearing from people associated with the team.

That said, I really believe it will be a huge mistake to trade Terrence. He's a better all around talent than any of the guys they have at the 2 or 3, new or old.

I would rather go into the season with a hole at the 4 than give him up for a guy that they hope will become a bench player - even as a third big - once Favors starts.

Williams, properly coached and utilized, is a serious weapon, and a dynamic player. I'd be very sorry to see him go. My guess, however, is that that's where this is headed. Sigh.

For the record we shouldn't trade Courtney Lee, yet either.

We're fine at PF. There are a million PF's. Horford next year. Noah the following year. Let's ride this Favors train for now. I know it'll take time, but we're going for a championship, not for being considered a brink playoff team.

Don't do it Billy Jean King. Like everyone said, Twill's versatility is invaluable. Courtney Lee's skills can be replaced by Morrow and Quinton Ross.

I'd keep T.Will as well. He can be a great player in the league unless there's a chance at a superstar. I'd happily give up a 3-point specialist or a solid player like Lee for a guy that can score , pass , rebound , defend , finish on the break , etc. Weak teams need as many impact players as they can get , and he can impact the game in multiple ways.
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Their best bet would be to give up Lee (maybe a future pick) for a PF at a low cost whether he can start , backup , or be a backup for the backup. They need depth for the bigs , they already have Ross for depth at SG/SF for a year just in case. I wouldn't worry too much about Favors not getting a chance to develop. They'll find him some minutes as a rook and Humphries will be gone after next year.

@ JDoc I couldn't agree with you more man. Well said.

Lebron also said he predicts the Heat will win a championship this year and the next 10 years.

This journalist should have his pen taken away from him.

Trade a budding star in T-Will for Carl Landry, who will be an unrestricted FA next season, so that we can go toe to toe with the Lakers and Heat this year?

That's an absurd proposition, by a lazy journalist without an inkling of NBA knowledge.

The fact is the Nets have improved dramatically this off-season with a bunch of under the radar moves. Even still, say we end up back in the lottery. Then we can add Perry Jones or Harrison Barnes. We can add Jared Sullinger or Enes Kanter or Trey Thomkins.

You don't trade T-Will for Carl Landry (I went to Purdue and LOVE Landry). This isn't about this season or next season or the year after.

This is about building a championship team from the ground up. T-Will is a piece of this. With continued development, he could be our answer at SF/SG for years to come. He can win minutes from Courtney Lee and Morrow.

Meanwhile we can go after Louis Amundson as our stop gap FA, as he can back up Favors as Favors grows and develops. Big Athletic rebounder. Solid high energy guy. Fits the team dynamic well, and he's CHEAP!

I agree that T-Will is a trade chip, but he's the kind of trade chip you use for Chris Paul and Danny Granger.

We have 10 draft picks over the next 3 years. Cap space. And tons of young inexpensive talent.

Say Paul demands a trade out of N.O. for a better situation. We trade Favors, T-Will, and 2 draft picks for Paul and Okafor's contract.

We then re-ignite the Harris for Granger talks. Send Harris and 2 more draft picks for Granger.

We still would have 6 picks over the next 3 years, and a loaded roster and cap space.

We go back to the lottery this year and go after Enes Kanter/Trey Thomkins/Jared Sullinger to fill out PF.

This is our Roster if this all happens between now and next summer.

PG: Paul/Farmar
SG: C-Lee/Morrow
SF: Granger/James/Outlaw
PF: Okafor/Sullinger/Amundson
C: Lopez/Petro

With enough money to still go after Landry, Nene, or David West.

If none of that happens, we keep letting our guys develop and we keep our eyes on the future. T-Will and Favors in time may be two perennial all-stars to play along side Harris and Lopez. In the long run, that may even be better than making the big trades.

Gabe what is sarcasm?

I have to agree that Favors should be thrust into the starting lineup and told to just play. All he needs to do is cleanup. We have Lopez and now enough point guards and wings to keep it going all game. So tell the kid just play natural and we will work on technique and the finer points. Just use your talent until you get the rest. So many players develop because they see minutes. Sitting on the bench develops what? Nothing....playing against the best players is a rude awaking and if Favors is indeed the player he is capable of being let him get in there and get to work. We didn't wait for Lopez did we? 82 games 30 minutes a game in his first year with 13/8 and 37 minutes with 18.8/9 in his second year. So why not put the kid in there and say play!!!! I would be happy with 25+ minutes and 12/8 in his first year with a few blocks and some monster dunks. No need to trade anybody except maybe CLee at a later date if he does not fit or give effort.

So Lebron says he thinks John Wall will be ROY.

Put these Twill trade talks to rest, i read the dave d article and it makes absolutely no sense. There is not one PF out there right now that is worth trading TWILL for, not one. Carl Landry is not the answer. The best bet it go after Louis Amundson in FA if they needs a PF. Resign Josh Boone, play outlaw at stretch 4, there are other options.

@ Jesse. I agree, and I would much rather see Courtney Lee leave than Terrence Williams. And actually, I think Courtney and Devin Harris do not coexist well together--or get along even (allegedly). Yet when Terrence Williams started at the end of the season you could see Devin and Twill really gelling. But there's one thing I hope the Nets do not do, and thats getting a YOUNG power forward in a trade. They need veteran leadership and experience that will help Derrick Favors mature and develop and most importantly be able to start, rebound, defend for a season before Favors is ready.
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But you know what, there is so much thought and talk that Favors is not "ready" to start--I have been saying that too-- but it's very plausible that he could. All he would need to do is come in a rebound and defend and let the offense run through Brook instead. I think the Nets could do best standing pat--or plugging in a veteran like numba suggested.

LJ23 must be a robot... does not compute sarcasm...
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Anyway, I agree with "numba's" comment. And let me add that Avery Johnson actually loves Terrence Williams and Terrence Williams has a new found respect for the game--it is really starting to click for him. That said, if Billy King trades our one player who has the raw potential to be a superstar (yes i said it) then I also want to be shot--
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If you click on the link, DD wrote power forward suggestions/potential trades for Terrence Williams. Ersan Illaysova? Taj Gibson? Carl Landry? They are horrible suggestions, and especially considering they would only be rentals since we just drafted our power forward of the future in Derrick Favors. >
Also, consider this, they are all very young as well and would hinder the development of Favors. Why on earth would we draft a power forward and then trade for another young power forward who is also trying to make their mark in the league?
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At least DD could have suggested a player like Andrei Kirilenko who is a veteran defensive master who could start a season or two (if we re-sign him for cheap--he is a free agent after this season) teaching Favors his tricks before Favors ultimately takes the starting spot. But even this is a bad idea since we can just keep our wing player(s) and simply sign the 2011 free agent Andrei Kirilenko next summer--if he is affordable.
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Instead we need exactly what numba is suggesting, a creative smallish lineup and a rental of a veteran power forward (whether its Kurt Thomas this season, or AK47 next) for those few bigs that need that extra girth and length and experience/smarts that either Outlaw or Favors lacks.
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And I personally believe the Nets are finally deep enough to be good. Yes, there isn't enough playing time for all 6 point guards/wings on the Nets, but thats why we got a versatile forward in Travis Outlaw (who has proven he can play the four) and Anthony Morrow who is more of a specialist than a 20+ minute player. So there are minutes for everyone. And lets not forget there are such things called injuries. And Devin Harris seems very capable of getting them. So maybe Dave D'ellasandro knows something I dont about Taj Gibson and Carl Landry, but I don't think they make very good backup point guards when Jordan Farmar is starting. Nuff said.
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But most importantly, more important than mentioning Derrick Favors development, or potential small lineups, or players roles and necessarily depth for unforeseen injuries, the most important factor in deciding whether Terrence Williams should be traded is Terrence Williams style of game. He is a completely unique player that makes other players around him better.
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Maybe he is not Jason Kidd, but Terrence Williams' game is very unique and invaluable in the NBA today. Yes there are better specialist (ie. the Morrows (shooting), Lowrys (defense) and Gibsons (rebounding)) but there are not better all-around versatile talents as gifted as Terrence is-save Kobe Bryant, Brandon Roy, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Chris Paul and a few others. He really has a superstars game and the potential to reach it. Whether he turns into a superstar or simply into a Stephen Jackson/Jason Richardson type of player is up in the air. But that's enough to conclude that we should NOT trade Terrence Williams--well unless Mr. Chris Paul is involved. In that case, SAYONARA Twill!
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If they Trade T-Will it will be a big mistake.

I'm from Louisville and watched twill all four years, freak athlete. Would twill been the teams best rebounder last season if he played as much as Lopez?, yes. Would he had more assist or finished in second if he played as much as Harris?, yes. Is his shot shown 100% improvement over the last two years, yes. Rememeber his team mates thought he would be all pro this year. Play him 35 mins a game and watch a double double every nite at the least. Where can you get that at?

All I have to say is this better not happen and watch him burn us

If I were Billy King and I wanted a PF now, I'd look to the Kings. They are loaded on bigs (Cousins, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, Samuel Dalembert, Jon Brockman and Hassan Whiteside). They barely have any wings. They would probably take someone else (C. Lee) and we could get one of those guys back in return.

LJ-- um, you couldn't tell that my suggestions were tongue-in-cheek? Don't actually shoot me.

Yi had to be one of the worst players I have seen in the NBA. He is very overrated.

Don't even think about trading T-Will. In my opinion he's a small version of lebron James skillwise n upside at that honestly not jokin at all. Please just trade Kris humpries because he is terrible plus like two draft picks and the this minor issue is solved. Once again don't touch T-Will cause I simply love his freakish hops and superb playmaking in the makin. Can't recover from the mistake like that if u trade him. Billy u better be smart ha ha

calling all toasters Trade outlaw for Lee? NO WAY! Outlaw is too good to trade him for Yi onluy. I would trade Wall and Yi for Outlaw.

Trade outlaw for Lee. NO WAY! Outlaw is too good to trade him for Yi onluy. I would trade Wall and Yi for Outlaw.

God, it does seem inevitable....
Yet more problems from the disastrous Outlaw signing. When we're a contender in a few years and need a versatile 6th man, you think we'll get TWill back for whoever we get? Yeah, me neither.

Possible solutions:
1) Put Outlaw on steroids and play him at the 4.
2) Trade Outlaw for Yi.
3) Trade TWill, then make a few more really stupid moves so we won't be a contender and therefore won't need TWill.
4) Shoot me now.

For those including the media dummies that keep saying BS that this is Avery's team not Kings this is what Avery said "We’re both basically coming into it together,” Johnson said. “My day that I signed on it was June 15th. Today it’s July 15th and so basically we’re one month apart. We both have come in with new ownership. We both were approved by Rod Thorn, we both were highly recommended by Rod and that’s what we’re excited about.”

I really hoppe not. TWill is better than even john wall. If they do it better be someone really good and really young.

Double-D is poking the hornets nest - well said. I really don't agree with this but do acknowledge he is our best trade commodity outside of Devin Harris. But I don't want to trade either of them. He says TWill is 3rd string at all 3 positions and I would argue he can start at 2 of them and dominate. He wouldn't get us anything worth his talent that would make us significantly better.
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I actually like the idea of picking up Kurt Thomas and running a variable lineup this season. KT would start against "the plodding type" of PF, Outlaw could start against the stretch-4's and Favors could get his against the big athletic 4's every once and while.
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I prefer a lineup of Harris/TWill/James/Outlaw/Lopez against a lot of the small lineups that exist in the NBA right now. Our potential PF just needs to be there for the big and strong lineups, and I don't think we need to trade one of our best pieces for that.