Nets Are Scorching

The Nets can be competitive real quickly, with a ton of first round draft picks and plenty of cap space, I think the Nets dodged a bullet by not making the deal proposed.

Losing FOUR first round picks and Derrick Favors along with Devin Harris would have been too much.

All New Jersey needs to do is draft well and make smart free agent decisions, not pay a ton of money to Travis Outlaw.

Great column, thank you

I agree with the general idea of this. I've been a Nets fan since 1976 (1st yr in the NBA, post Dr. J unfortunately) and they seem to get pretty good cyclically and it seems to happen in the early-mid part of the decade. And at the very core, it is due to draft picks thay they were able to make because they were so horrible in the last part of the decade. The early to mid 80's, they became close to a 50 win team, they got a stud in Buck Williams, a decent (although somewhat disappointing) pick in Albert King and some solid picks in Mike Gminski and Mike O Koren. Then they get some decent pickups via trade or free agents. Otis Birdsong never did become as good as a Net as he was as a King but he had solid years. But the big pick up was an extremely talented guy but also like Kidd, a guy at his low value point in Micheal Ray Richardson. But without a core from the draft from the 1980-on, they would not have become as successful (and I still believe pre-Sugar Ray, the team could've been better had Larry Brown not nearly imploded them by leaving).

Then came the early 90's with picks like Morris (like Albert King, was decent but probably not as good as expected) and then the ones who were supposed to turn them around like Coleman and Anderson. Then Droz came over in a trade and the pieces seem to be in place (hell, even Bowie had his moments and if healthy, gave them a solid big man in there) and there were many who felt at the time the Nets were a future powerhouse. Again though even with some trades, the core came largely from the draft.

The early 2o00 squad was already covered. Now we are in the early 2010's and the Nets are once again in position with many draft picks to possibly get good again. Especially with an owner willing to spend. But to blow all future draft picks on a guy (unlike Richardson and Kidd) who can make teammates better was a large mistake in my mind and I'm glad it didn't happen. The Nets were saved from their own stupidity on this one.

There is admittedly a danger to this pattern which the Nets have somewhat become victim of that becoming a perennial 40-50 win team can lead to being stuck with mid-low draft picks. But "luckily" the Nets do seem to be able to get in the lottery. After years of being "almost there", they finally almost made it out of the hump in the early 2000's by making it to the Finals (which to be honest, I never thought I'd see in my lifetime). Granted it was a weaker Eastern Conference but still, it gave me hope that if the freaking Nets can make it that far, maybe, just maybe one day they can really win it all. But you have to be smart about it and banking your future on an one dimensional (albeit a great dimension) player wasn't the smart way.

For the time being we may need to reconsider this website's name. Can it really be called the Nets are Scorching? Unless we are referring to how bad they are!!

I still maintain that 3 years from now this trade is going to look terrible from the Knicks prospective. Chances that Amare is breaking down, Melo is far less effective and their cap situation is putrid is about 60-40 right now. I think Nets fans will be happy we didn't gut the team or the draft picks for mediocrity.

That trade sort of screamed Herschel Walker to the Vikings. Glad it didn't happen. Let the Knicks enjoy the next year. They aren't winning the championship.

Waiting for the draft, though, is a big luck game. How many years did the Clips miss in a draft before getting Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin? Also, while Gordon was a lucky pick, because lots of people were turned off by an undersized scoring SG, many of them don't pan out. Blake was the #1 pick by a long shot.

Also, look at the drafts. A lot of talent is at PG and PF. You have Derick Favors and Brook Lopez, so that rules out Enes Kanter, Derrick Williams, Jared Sullinger. Terrence Jones would get shredded by Avery Johnson. Even sleepers like Kenneth Fareid is a PF

The Nets would basically have to hope that they end up top 4, and draft, for example, Kyrie Irving and then trade a draft pick for a player like Gallinari, or trade that higher draft pick for someone like Gerald Wallace and then draft lower for a guy like Kemba Walker/Brandon Knight/Jimmer Fredette.

Players that would really help the Nets, come next season, such as Harrison Barnes, Austin Rivers, LeBryan Nash

I am just glad the drama is over. And as someone already said, I hope the front office doesn't let this let down sway them into another outlaw move (although that was thorn who did that to us)... It's obvious we are attracting no big stars. I don't think the move to brooklyn will attract a big star. We have to build a foundation that is playing well enough that a good playrs will want to come here. And it's obvious this is going to have to happen in the draft. The upcoming draft can either make or break our next 5 years. I hope kings chooses wisely...

Mark I think you got the main points correct. Let's develop the guys we have and draft the best we can possibly draft. The year we had the number one pick in Martin I am sorry but it is literally impossible to get a worst draft. I think you have a top 5 or so that have real potential. Yeah it probably falls off but many of the college players have given solid production so you might a decent role player with a mid to late pick. Look we are going to have to get a little lucky as far as picking in the draft. Unfortunately that's just the way it is. There is a couple of things the Nets have going for them that people are really thinking about. The CBA could be a major issue in terms of service time/season lost and the ability for players to move to other teams. Get ready for a franchise tag and it could quite possibly save the league. Players and Stars shouldn't be allowed to collude and have such discretion. Basedball they have you for 8 years after arbitration and football as the right system. Those two factors give young teams with a lot of draft picks an advantage in keeping good young players.

Avery is a good coach I just am not sure for a young team he has the patience or even the expertise to develop younger players all at once. He could probably integrate one into the rotation, but that's about his limitation.

Right now the only guy they really need to trade is Murphy given the situation. Harris? Maybe I could seee it but do it from a position of strength with the right offer...or someone willing to take back Outlaw. Rome wasn't built in a day and we need to have patience because quite frankly we don't have another choice.

I don't know what people are so down on Favors. He is pretty much what I expected (has actually exceeed my expecations). He's going to be raw, I just hope they bring in someone to teach the guy. He will get better if we give him a cahnce. I also think a pass first PG would help the entire team. One thing with a young team is you need to get them all invovled .

KVH, Jefferson and Collins were all trades.. Albeit draft day trades but trades nonetheless.

One thing many folks are failing to realize is this year's draft is regarded as being VERY weak. It always seems the Nets get high picks in bad drafts. Our franchise seems "cursed" in that regard.

Look the owner tried, and failed, to secure a star. At least he tried. Looks like we will be forced into building from the draft anyway. So the fan base should be happy.

I agree totally with this write up. Prokhorov obviously can't lure in the top NBA players, so lets STOP TRYING. We have 5 first round draft picks in 2 years, what other team can say that? We do not need to force a move before Thursday just to stir things up. Wait Until we know our lottery pick, wait until we know the new terms of the CBA, and draft some talent that can excite NJ/Brooklyn in the next couple of years. Look what happened to the Clippers! One rookie changed the whole perspective of the Franchise, and got players around him excited to play with him (a.k.a Baron Davis). The only move that should be considered is moving Outlaw or Murphy. They obviously don't fit, but do not move Devin just for the hell of it.

Amen to most of this. I still think the Nets need some veteran leadership to guide the younger players (now that it seems like we're keeping them), and I would rather do that than have nine rookies over the next 3 years. Not to sound like a broken record, but Gerald Wallace is the perfect guy for our situation and his value is low now. Of course, even seasoned veterans like Crash can be alienated by the clown act that is Nets management. But we can only hope that after the season Avery is replaced by the Czar or a similarly flexible, low-key guy who understands offense.

Great post Mark. I really think you hit the nail right in the head with this one. Enough alreadywith all these trade rumors especially where we give away our draft picks, our most valuable commodity. I'd personally be trying to get more picks with harris and any other older playerthat we can get something for. Whether Avery is the right coach is a great question. I personaly cant wait to see Damion James come back and see what he's got

I couldn't agree more. I wanted Carmelo bad for this team for 2 reasons. 1, the current format of our team will NOT be competitive in 1-5 years. When it comes down to it..we have a lot of OK role players (Brook being the exception, but lets not call him an all-star) and thats it. All the top teams in the NBA have 1 guy that is exceptional, an All-Star. Celtics have 4, Bulls have 2, Lakers have 2, Heat have 3, OKC has 1, etc etc. The 2nd reason is because a name like Carmelo instantly brings credibility to a team that has zero. I've read this blog for a long time, and it seems like majority of the people here don't believe in Carmelo and have held the stance of "lets rebuild", even though thats what we've been trying to do the past 3 years. Carmelo attracts other players, he himself is a great player and scorer. Adding Melo and Chauncy (the top 2 players on Denver (32-25)) with a real good center, solid SG (Morrow) and even a struggling SF would have turned the Nets around. Melo wants to be in NY, I get it. More so, he wants to be out of Denver. While NJ isn't his first choice, I honestly don't believe he would be unhappy.

The deal didn't get done though, and we can aruge the goods/bads of it forever. More importantly, we need to move forward and get aggressive. We should keep a solid core, and move from there (Harris, Lopez, Favors..with Morrow and Vujacic).

There are a lot of trade rumors with Devin Harris because "he's lost commitment to the team". Instead of shopping him for older/lesser talent (ie. Andre Miller/Jamal Crawford), why not stand behind the guy for once. Devin Harris is a very good PG who just needs some help from the guys who were signed to do just that.

Favors needs some tough love. I saw the guy play at GT several times. He needs to get a personality and a fire lit under him. If he keeps walking around with this humble/head down attitude, hes going to continue being humble on the floor. Dwight Howard had a similar issue coming into this league. This can be turned around, but I'm not sure Avery is the guy to do it (nor is his offense).

Lopez has been Lopez. He's been solid offensively, but has stuggled on the boards (he is running the floor more, and does have to battle with Hump for boards). It's okay that he's not a great rebounding center, but we better get some more guys who can do it.

Anthony Morrow is and will be a solid SG. He needs to get more touches and keep shooting. Ideally hes a guy that comes off the bench and provides a spark. I don't know if we have that luxury right now. I feel the same way about Vujacic. Solid player, great shooter who provides a spark. These two need to feed off eachother.

Avery I think is the biggest problem. He outcasts players, is extremely hard-headed and determined in his ways, and plays favorites waaaaay too much. Troy Murphy is a very good basketball player. He struggled in the beginning of the year, and boom hes gone? I don't get how Avery can be so impatient with him but have all the time in the world for guys like Travis Outlaw.

Management needs to take a hard look at the pieces we have in place, decide who is not working, and get people in here. Galinari and Mosgov would be great additions, but the question is are they worth the picks? I don't think the Nets can afford to get any younger and just hope for a good lottery pick and then in turn hope that player turns out to be something. Galinari is young, but produces. That simple. Mosgov provides depth at center, which means Johan Petro doesn't need to be wasting our time. Its time we took this team back.

AMEN! Thanks for writing what the fans are feelings. Avery is not a good coach, and the fans can see that. I feel sorry for Brook, because a coach should not call a timeout in 19 seconds to berate his player on one play. I hope the "little general" takes his orders somewhere else and we can find a capable coach.

The players are not learning anything from him and I believe they are all regressing. Brook Lopez does not look like the same player, SashaV looked so energized when he initially came here and did not know the playbook. Now he looks as dejected as the rest of the team.

Please find us a new coach...can we get that in a trade?

Whatever they do in the next two days, I hope it's smart and not panic moves. Harris, sadly, is gone, but I hope not for Miller or J. Crawford. I'd take a first round pick or a package that get S. Curry? Here's a thought, BLo and Harris for Curry and Lee. Works in trade machine,,,BLo plays like he doesn't want to be here so send him home to California.

Nice catch with Harris/Williams. Corrected.

Meanwhile, I agree to a point with Favors - you don't take a guy like him unless you're willing to develop him. The Nets have never seemed willing and I sense are losing patience.

Bravo. Well put, sir!

Hyundai's are not BMW's, my aunt is not my uncle and the Nets are not the Knicks. I don't spend my time trying to out-race BMW's while I'm driving...I don't discuss 3rd and 2 goal-line situations with my aunt...I sure as heck don't spend my time wishing my Nets were the Knicks.

Each of these have their own value and we shouldn't wish one was the other...it's pointless. If I wanted to root for a team like the Knicks, I'd just root for the Knicks and not waste my time waiting for the Nets to become the Knicks. I'm also a Devils fan and no matter how many more cups they win over the Rangers, they'll never be the Rangers...THANK GOD.

I didn't (and don't) expect Nets ownership to turn things around in a year. If you actually thought that would happen go hang out with Tara Sullivan of the Record...and you can both try wishing the Winter was the Summer.

wow dude way to bring the negativity..lets wait until after the deadline to get depressed, we still have a chance to make some good trades and at least somewhat improve the team. and whats with the Avery hate? what did he do to you? Granted hes probably not the best for the Nets situation but hes done some pretty good things in the short time hes been here. You like to say we have to wait on Favors before saying hes a bust or not, and rightfully so, how about in that same vein you give Avery more than few months before totally killing him.