Last game: Jan 20, Phoenix Suns 118 – New Jersey Nets 94
Next game: @ Golden State Warriors, Jan 22 10:30pm ET

This team is gonna struggle all season and thats with Devin Harris healthy, with him banged up….. its really ugly.

Countdown to July 1st is well underway but unlike the Knicks, the nets do have a few pieces in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez that could help them lure a big time free agent.

New Jersey Nets – The Nets are looking toward the future after trading Vince Carter in the offseason. The Nets strength is still on the perimeter, Devin Harris is one of the games quickest guards. Terrence Williams, the nets first round pick will be ready to contribute right away tho his offensive game still needs some polish. Brook Lopez did much better then expected in his rookie season and will need to improve upon as hes the nets only low post presence. Yi Jianlian has clearly not lived up to expections and this will be a make or break season for him. Second-year guard Courtney Lee played well for the magic in their run to the finals but will need to step up to his bigger role with the nets this season and i expect him to be one of the nbas most improved players this season.

Key Additions: Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie

Key Subtractions: Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson

Projected Starting Lineup: Devin Harris/ Courtney Lee/ Bobby Simmons/ Yi Jianlian/ Brook Lopez

Key Reserves: Terrence Williams, Rafer Alston, Keyon Dooling, Josh Boone,  Chris Douglas-Roberts

-Bennice

This off-season, the New Jersey Nets officially have fully committed to rebuilding this franchise. It all became official when they decided to trade Vince Carter to the Orlando Magic for cap relief in the up coming off-season. Now Devin Harris has rookie Terrence Williams to throw lobs to, but Vincanity is no longer an option in Jersey. General Manager Rob Thorn has already came on claiming that next off-season that the Nets will have cap room to offer two maximum contracts, so we all know where the Nets focus is, but how will they fair the season? The off-season isn’t over yet, but the Nets are probably looking at a season filled with growing pains as they try and wait it out and hope to make a big splash next season.

In other Nets news, their new arena in Brooklyn, New York is on shaky ground according to a report of the New York Daily News. The plan is to break ground by 2012 (about 2 1/2 years away). Development is expected to take more time, cost more money and will differ from the original plan that was created when the idea of moving to Brooklyn first came about. It’s bound to happen (the move), but it’s so long away that the Nets promising players they’ll be in New York soon might not be in their arsenal come time to sit down and talk to free agents.

They traded Richard Jefferson last season, Jason Kidd two seasons ago, but haven’t decided to pull the trigger on a deal for Vince Carter and one has to wonder whether or not the Nets are willing to fully commit to rebuilding and if the answer is no, what do they do next?  Yi Jianlian is supposedly on the trading block and to be honest, the Nets roster isn’t overly talented outside of Harris, Lopez, and Carter and with the 11th overall pick in their hands. One thing is for certain, New Jersey should be looking to draft the best available player, regardless of the position, unless of course it’s point guard or center.

A guy like Jrue Holiday or Gerald Henderson could be a value asset to this Nets organization. Holiday is someone who’s going to have to develop and come into his own as his pro-career progresses, but he has loads of potential and could be key, even in a bench role as a rookie for the Nets. No matter what the plan is or who the selection is, it has to count. The Nets found themselves right into the thick of things as the regular season drew closer and closer to an end and if they want to get over the hump, they’ll need someone who can contribute right away.

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By: Dustin Chapman

Transactions

• Pre-Draft: Traded Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.

• Selected Brook Lopez 10th overall.

• Selected Ryan Anderson 21st overall.

• Selected Chris Douglas-Roberts 40th overall.

New Jersey was one of the real winners on 2008 draft day, as they came away with a pair of big steals and set themselves up nicely from a financial point of view via trade.

The first steal New Jersey picked up was Stanford center Brook Lopez, who after being touted as a likely top five pick for the bulk of the draft process, fell all the way down to 10. At that point, it was a virtual no-brainer for the Nets (and Charlotte, but we won’t go there). Lopez fell right into their lap. He gives the Nets the post presence that they’ve been seeking for years, and his upside is up there with any other big in this draft class.

The other big steal New Jersey came away with was swingman Chris Douglas- Roberts of Memphis, who was expected to be a late-first round pick but winded up slipping to 40. For a team that just got rid of Richard Jefferson and has no set starter alongside Vince Carter on the wing, Douglas-Roberts has a real shot to get some playing time right away. Down the line, who knows? He may even develop into a formidable starter if he plays his cards right. Regardless, his slashing ability and perimeter defense will benefit New Jersey right from the get-go.

My only legitimate concern regarding New Jerseys moves and additions is this: are they too soft? Yi Jianlian certainly has upside, but does he possess the toughness to be good? Ryan Anderson can play the game, but is he another 6’10’’ player who refuses to use his size to his advantage, and settle for jump shots? Thank god for Brook Lopez, who plays with great intensity, because New Jersey looks as though they are softening up on the whole.

Nevertheless, a great draft day for them. No doubt about it.

Grade: A-

Just before Monday’s Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline, reports suggested that Italian forward Danilo Gallinari had the intent of pulling his name out of the draft if he did not receive a guarantee in the top 10. The deadline has passed, Gallinari kept his name in the draft pool, and rumor has it that the New Jersey Nets are the team that offered the insurance.

We’ve been trying to piece together the Danilo Gallinari conundrum today, after we saw those conflicting reports — from Chad and number of others – about whether the Italian kid has a guarantee.

Here’s one (very) prominent agent’s take on it: Of course he does.

The deadline for pulling out of the draft has passed, Gallinari is sticking around, and that may serve as ample confirmation that the agent is right.

“I think Jersey has given him a guarantee,” the agent said. “Though it’s more like, ‘If you’re still around at 10, we’ll take you.’ Just to keep him in it, a promise that they’re not going to pass on him.”

With trade rumors swirling around swingmen Vince Carter and/or Richard Jefferson, the pieces of this puzzle could very well gel together.

The truth will be told in just nine days.

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Posted By: Dustin Chapman

Dave D’Allesandro of The Newark-Star Ledger reports that Nets President Rod Thorn has been relatively active regarding trade talks around the NBA, and although he expects to use the #10 overall pick in this year’s draft, is not opposed to dealing it (or the #21 overall pick) if the right deal comes about.

And though they are interested in a few players at No. 10 — notably, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook of UCLA, Anthony Randolph of LSU, plus guards Jerryd Bayless of Arizona and Eric Gordon of Indiana if they happen to slip — Thorn doesn’t dismiss the notion of moving the pick.

According to team officials and NBA general managers — all of whom require anonymity because they cannot reveal Thorn’s intentions — the most promising discussions the Nets have had are with teams that were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Among them: They have made some cursory inquiries with Phoenix (about Boris Diaw and Leandro Barboso), more substantive discussions with Toronto (about Andrea Bargnani), and there has been some dialogue with Denver about Carmelo Anthony.

Though one Nets official claims that “other conversations have a much better chance of fruition,” the Anthony scenario is the most interesting — and hazardous. The 6-8 forward is one of the league’s elite scorers, on the threshold of his prime, and no one knows him better than the guy who drafted him, Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe.

But the downside to any deal for Anthony — which would have to include Richard Jefferson and the Nets’ pick, if it falls in the top 3 — is considerable. Character tops the list: Anthony’s five-year career has been marked by incidents that make him a risk, including — but not limited to — his June 5 court date on a DUI charge.

If Marcus Camby is part of the deal, more questions arise. Most GMs believe he has joined the litany of 30-somethings who seem incapable of logging long postseason minutes. Moreover, the venerable big man has $21 million coming to him in the next few years — though his salary comes off the cap in time to play the potentially historic 2010 free-agent market.

Any deal for Anthony cannot occur before June 30, when the base-year compensation restriction on his contract expires.

Nets forward Richard Jefferson, who’s name has swirled multiple trade rumors, would rather stay in New Jersey than go elsewhere.

Aware that his name had already come up in trade rumors “a million times” throughout his seven-year career, Jefferson was certain when the regular season ended on April 16 that it would come up again. So, Jefferson stated that night what his preference was, saying, “I do want to stay.”

More than a month later, Jefferson’s feelings haven’t changed.

“I don’t think so,” said his agent, Todd Eley. “I think that he really loves playing there, loves being a Net and would like to stay with the Nets. I think that’s his preference.”

Over the past two years, Nets fans have had every right to feel apathetically about this team and its direction. This summer, however, it looks as though the tables are finally beginning to turn. Stay tuned, Nets fans, this offseason is going to be a roller coaster.

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Posted By: Dustin Chapman