reflections
May 22nd, 2008 Nets Active In Trade Market

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

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