Who Would You Trade For Carmelo Anthony (Part II)
Sep 1, 2010 Brook Lopez, Carmelo Anthony
By Evan Kaplan
Would You Trade Brook Lopez
The Case for Trading Brook Lopez:
Brook Lopez is easily one of the best young centers in the NBA. The numbers he has put up in his first two seasons are very impressive and any team would love to have him on their roster. While the upside is there, the question the Nets organization has to ask is whether they think Lopez can single handedly win them an NBA title? In the past, the NBA was built on the big man and having a dominant center was a key to winning a championship. But it is now the age of the prolific wing player, and acquiring a guy like Carmelo Anthony could be worth getting rid of Lopez.
Daily Link: Patience is Key for ‘Melo
Aug 30, 2010 Brook Lopez, Carmelo Anthony, Daily Link
The Examiner’s Gregory Hrinya discusses recent rumors involving the Nets and Carmelo Anthony and advises GM Billy King not to blink first in a potential deal, especially if it involves Brook Lopez:
The Nets have the assets and the location to lure Anthony. The pieces are in place to make a deal happen without giving up Lopez.
Billy King needs to avoid the panic button. Patience is the better part of valor here.
Denver will realize that New Jersey has the best package to offer, it just might take a little time while Ujiri tries to hold one team hostage.
Agreed. NAS will discuss potential packages for ‘Melo later this week, but Hrinya makes a great point and being patient.
The Nets Will Make The Playoffs If…
Aug 17, 2010 2011 Playoffs, Brook Lopez
After struggling with a 12 win season last year, Nets fans are feeling good about their current situation. A much improved roster, a successful coach, and an owner willing to spend has fans thinking about the playoffs. We here think that the playoffs are a possibility but not a guarantee. Over the next two weeks, we are going to look at four things that need to happen for the Nets to make the playoffs.
The Nets Will Make The Playoffs If…Brook Lopez has a 20/10 season
Why Is It Important?
Devin Harris might be the former all-star on the Nets, but without a doubt, Brook Lopez is the best player on the New Jersey Nets right now. That is pretty impressive for a center who is entering his 3rd year in the NBA, after just recently turning 22.
So why is a 20/10 season from Brook so important? Well, because if Brook Lopez can make himself a threat every time he touches the basketball, it opens things up all over the court. Look at how the Orlando Magic run their offense with a 4 out and 1 in strategy. The Magic surround Dwight Howard with 4 shooters, and dump the ball in. Eventually teams are forced to send double teams, and that opens up shooters. While the Nets don’t have the shooters the Magic do, they have a roster that you can consider a “poor man’s Orlando Magic,” and that means they can have success with the 4 out and 1 in. Brook Lopez has a better post game than Dwight (not saying that he is a better player), and that will lead to more double teams. Lopez is a solid passer, and he will be able to find open teammates on the perimeter.
Even without the 4 out and 1 in (not sure how much it would be run…never saw Avery’s Dallas teams run it), the Nets and Avery Johnson seem to be a perfect fit. Their projected starting five isn’t a team that is going to get out and run (Brook Lopez and Troy Murphy are two slower guys and Anthony Morrow isn’t the most athletic player, just a spot up shooter), but that is just fine for coach Johnson. Despite his Mavericks teams being near the bottom of the NBA when it comes to pace, his teams were always near the top when it came to offensive efficiency. That tells me he was good in the halfcourt, mainly because of Dirk. With the Nets, he is going to need a guy to go to in the halfcourt when the team needs a basket, and that will be Brook Lopez. If he is able to put up 20 points with these touches, the Nets could have a successful season.
Can It Happen?
Yes, it can. Brook Lopez put up 18.8 and 8.6 last year, while he was still raw in the post (in my opinion). At 22, Brook still has a ton of time and potential to develop a more mature post game (right now he relies on his size and touch, and while it works, it can be stopped), and I think that development will start this upcoming season. In addition to creating more baskets, a more fundamental post game will lead to more fouls on his opponents, sending him to the line more. For most bigs, this would be a problem…however, for Brook this is a good thing as he has a very good stroke from the line.
Another reason why this will happen is because of the quality of his teammates have improved. Much like how Brook’s success will help his teammate, his teammates’ shooting ability will help Brook. Last year, Brook faced constant double and triple teams because there was no shooting threats on the outside. With guys like Troy Murphy and Anthony Morrow on the court, there will be less double teams thrown in Brook’s direction, meaning more room to operate.
Nets On Twitter
Aug 10, 2010 Anthony Morrow, Brook Lopez, Johan Petro, Sean May, Travis Outlaw, Twitter
We’ve already all heard the Nets organization declare “It’s All New” this year, and so far, despite striking out on the “big” free agents, that slogan has been true to form: a new owner, head coach, GM, arena (albeit temporary), and new scouts and assistant coaches. But what may be the most exciting “new” thing about this upcoming season – especially for those who thrive for communication in 140 characters or less – is the beefed up Twitter presence the Nets will bring to the social networking stratosphere.
With the additions of Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro and Sean May (if his non guaranteed contract makes the cut), the Nets have more than doubled their presence on Twitter in the off-season. While this isn’t going to result in more wins or losses in the standings, this added presence does give fans more access to players, as well as more insights into their personalities – so at the bare minimum it should hopefully make this season a little more fun than last year.
While NJNETS.com superstar Ben Couch was fantastic working the Twitter account for the organization last year, the amount of social networking taken on by the players was about as disappointing as the team’s play on the court. In Devin Harris and later Kris Humphries, the Nets had two guys, who like Oprah Winfrey, seem to have a Twitter account in name only, infrequently updating and providing very little entertainment or flair when they occasionally did take to their accounts. The other two Nets on Twitter brought controversy on themselves at different points in the season with their tweets: Terrence Williams when he famously “wondered” how life would be if he was drafted by another team, and Chris Douglas-Roberts, whose tweets often focused on haters, women who stalked him, and the number of people who bought his jersey that day. This season, TWill is back and seemingly more mature with his tweets now, while the last tweet I (thankfully) read from CDR dealt with fearing the deer and how happy he was to be out of New Jersey. Good luck in Milwaukee Chris, yes yes.
I still think Brook Lopez and his quirky personality and pop culture sensibilities would be a perfect match for Twitter, but alas, Brook still seems to be focused more on other activities. Could you imagine Brook sitting at home with mono updating his Twitter page 30 times a day? It’s one of the bigger disappointments I have in my sports fandom life (outside of the Mets, every single year), but with this new cast of characters, maybe Petro or Morrow will just sign Brook up one of these days and get him online. Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at the tweeting habits of the team’s newcomers:
Daily Link: Brook Drops Out of Team USA
Aug 5, 2010 Brook Lopez, Daily Link
Given his health issues this summer, not surprised at all by this, but Brook Lopez has withdrawn from Team USA consideration. From Fred Kerber:
(Nets GM Billy) King had said Nets coach Avery Johnson watched Lopez working out in Las Vegas under Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and felt that though Lopez had regained his weight, he still was lacking in stamina. After the tryouts, Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo said Lopez needed to have a strong New York showing to make the team that will compete at the World Championships in Turkey.
Personally, I’m relieved. While it’s not for a member of the Nets to gain international exposure, Brook clearly hasn’t looked right in his recovery from mono and he needs all the time he can get to be ready for the regular season.
Daily Link: Maybe no Brook on Team USA
Jul 25, 2010 Brook Lopez, Daily Link
What seemed like an obvious choice earlier in the week is now maybe less so. With Brook Lopez coming off mono and having some conditioning issues and Team USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski looking to go small and athletic in his rotations, Brook looks like he only has an outside shot to make the Team USA roster this summer, according to John Schuhmann and NBA.com.
That’s a little disappointing, but I think my biggest concern is that Lopez be ready and healthy for the 2010-11 regular season. When it was announced that he had mono earlier this summer, I was kinda shocked how nonchalant the organization was about it, especially since Lopez lost so much weight. Just keeping my fingers crossed.
Daily Link: Brook Lopez and Team USA
Jul 21, 2010 Brook Lopez, Daily Link
Nets fans for a while have called Brook Lopez one of the NBA’s best big men and he has a shot of proving that on a wider scale this summer as a member of the U.S. FIBA World Championship team. Ben Couch of View from the Couch fame sizes up the competition:
If Brook Lopez again performs well during camp, he should earn a spot among the group reassembling in New York City for the first-ever World Basketball Festival, which tips off August 12 with a special showcase in Times Square before moving uptown to Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park basketball courts on Aug. 13 and 14. A glance at the 2008 Olympic roster shows that USA Basketball carried only a single center, two-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard, and two power forwards: Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer. While Lee and Stoudemire can each play the 5, Lopez is the best of the true centers, and will likely beat out Chandler and brother Robin.
Could The Nets Still Get Evan Turner?
Jun 17, 2010 2010 Big Board, 2010 Draft, 2010 Offseason, Brook Lopez, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, Devin Kharpertian, Evan Turner, HOPE!
He’s looking at you, Rod. Right at you.
News broke today that the Sacramento Kings and the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a trade, with Samuel Dalembert heading to the West Coast for Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni. Now, normally this would be irrelevant to the Nets & their fan base, but since the draft is now under a week away, and the Nets pick one spot below the Sixers, this could potentially have mass implications:
The Sixers have been deciding whether to select Evan Turner or Derrick Favors with the No. 2 pick. Although Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski is a Turner fan, new coach Doug Collins is high on Favors. With Dalembert gone and Nocioni in, it could push them in the direction of Favors.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5297829
There’s still a good chance that the Sixers will end up taking Turner on draft night, but trading your center – a renowned defensive monster and rebounder extraordinaire – for a decent small forward and a 7-footer who averaged six rebounds per game with little defensive reputation is not a sign that you’re interested in a swingman who replicates the skillset of your best player. You have to think that they’re looking at Favors very closely; the Sixers can’t possibly believe that Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes can handle the frontcourt every night. They’ll get abused on the defensive side of the floor and be one of the worst rebounding tandems in the league. Derrick Favors fits what they need more, and if Doug Collins has any say, he’ll be a 76er. I can even see Favors donning a Sixers cap now & Turner competing with Brook Lopez in the “who has the most ridiculous voice in New Jersey” contest. (Don’t sleep on this. It’s basically Goofy Andre the Giant vs. Kermit the Frog. I would love to see these guys in a tandem interview.)
Crazy sounds aside, two more wild cards in this:
1) How they view DeMarcus Cousins. They just traded away their center, Cousins could fill that role instantly. If they’re truly enamored with his talent they might also consider him at the #2 spot as well considering his size and skill at rebounding the ball.
2) How badly Minnesota wants to move up. There have been countless reports that Minnesota is trying to trade their #4 and #16 pick for the Sixers second choice, and after this deal it would be hard to pass that up. The Sixers would still get one of the major big talents in this draft (Cousins or Favors after Turner goes to the Timberwolves) plus a bonus pick. The only way that deal falls through is if either side tries to ask for too much, or if the Timberwolves are able to swing a better deal for Al Jefferson or Kevin Love to open up space in the frontcourt.
Basically, the Sixers have just blown the draft (after the Wizards pick) wide open. Anything is possible at this point. I know that I’ve made my opinion very clear that the no-doubt #1 prospect in this draft is John Wall. I also know that I’ve spent far more time than anyone should deconstructing the debate between DeMarcus Cousins and Derrick Favors. I also know that I haven’t talked much about Evan Turner (I left that to Dennis). Because of that, let me just go on the record now: if Evan Turner is available at #3, the Nets should take him immediately and start dancing in the war room. The Evan Turner hype has been low; he didn’t measure out as an unbelievable athlete and isn’t flashy or interesting. But let’s be entirely clear: if you had the first pick in an NCAA 5-on-5 game this year, and your life depended on your team winning, you’d take Evan Turner in a heartbeat with that first pick. No question. The guy is an absolute warrior. I have little doubt that barring injury he’ll be a great player for the next dozen years. I’d be ecstatic to see him at the Rock next year.
Why DeMarcus Cousins Isn’t The Pick
May 27, 2010 2010 Draft, 2010 Offseason, Brook Lopez, DeMarcus Cousins, Mikhail Prokhorov, Opinion, Rod Thorn
Regarding this year’s NBA Draft, conventional thinking has John Wall going first to the Washington Wizards and the Philadelphia 76ers, in all likelihood, selecting Evan Turner, the second best prospect by most standards. So, how about the Nets with the third pick?
What I gather most from what I’ve read of New Jersey Nets owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, is he likes to take calculated and minimized risks in business. Sure, a certain amount of luck is needed to succeed, but for the most part, he seems like he makes moves with a purpose (his recent media circus around the tume of the NBA Draft Lottery and his ownership becoming official being an obvious example). So, just knowing that, I don’t think he would chance having a potential seemingly issue-laden player on his team, drafted third overall in Prokhorov’s first NBA Draft, despite this player’s talent. It’s a new beginning for the Nets and DeMarcus Cousins shouldn’t be a part of it. Read the rest of this entry »
Why Evan Turner Is The Number One Pick For The Nets
May 13, 2010 2010 Draft, 2010 Free Agents, 2010 Offseason, Brook Lopez, Carlos Boozer, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Courtney Lee, Devin Harris, Draft, Draft Lottery, Evan Turner, Free Agents, HOPE!, John Wall, Mikhail Prokhorov, Opinion, Rod Thorn, Terrence Williams
There is no questioning that John Wall is an excellent talent and NBA prospect. Ask anyone that watches basketball and they will tell you in no uncertain terms that he’s phenomenal, an athletic freak, and quite the dancer. My NAS colleague, Devin, praises Wall and makes excellent points about Wall’s game. However, if I were the New Jersey Nets, I’d select Evan Turner if the Nets’ luck is as good as a picture of a bikini-clad Jessica Alba and the team wins next week’s NBA Draft Lottery. Turner is as versatile as they come and many consider Wall and Turner, Pick 1A and 1B, but we’ll get down to Turner and his skill set a bit later. First, let’s peep the point guard that most people think is no longer in the Nets’ plans and seemingly expendable.
Oh, and for the record, the Nets have a 25% chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery and receiving the first overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft and I have a -25% chance of gaining any attention from the aforementioned Alba. Snowball meet hell.