Countdown from 30: #28 New Jersey Nets
Over the next six weeks, our writers will analyze the off-season chess game that took place and give our two cents on how we believe things will shape up this coming season. These rankings are based upon how teams would fare at the beginning of the season. My sincerest apologies for any faithful followers who have teams that are presently operating in the ‘potential’ and ‘upside’ stages of building for the future. Unfortunately, these rankings will be based on the here and now, but nonetheless, the analysis will be sound and effectively whet the appetite for all of those famished NBA fans out there.
Last Season’s Record: Fans of the Nets have come to expect the playoffs from their team, which advanced to the NBA Finals in 2002 despite getting swept by the powerful LA Lakers. The 2008 season for the Nets was not one to be proud of, mostly because the playoffs were out of reach late in the season. New Jersey finished third in the Atlantic division at 34-48 with a .415 winning percentage.
Arrivals: Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, Terrence Williams
Departures: Maurice Ager, Ryan Anderson, Vince Carter, Stromile Swift
Biggest Question: Will the inexperienced young core be able to make up for the significant loss of Vince Carter or will the Nets be trying to make a run at Derrick Favors in the 2010 draft?
Off-Season Changes:
The stranglehold that the New Jersey Nets had on a spot amongst the Eastern Elite is effectively over, and has been for quite a while now. Seven years removed from that NBA Finals appearance, many new faces now don the Nets uniform. Gone are the days of Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Richard Jefferson, Rodney Rogers, and Lucious Harris; days that are remembered fondly by Nets fans. Even supposed franchise saviors Jason Kidd and Vince Carter have been sent packing.
The new regime and subsequent new roster has taken over. Ed Stefanski has built the talented young roster that Rod Thorn could never seem to assemble. The fates of top draft choices Terrence Williams and Yi Jianlian have yet to be sealed, but young stars Devin Harris and Brook Lopez have already taken their place among the top young players in the game.
Some say that Stefanski got taken for a ride by Orlando GM Otis Smith, as Stefanski traded Vince Carter and a budding Ryan Anderson for Tony Battie, Courtney Lee, and Rafer Alston. Count me as one of them. Even with all of the antics, Vinsanity is still an elite scorer in this league, and some scouts think that Anderson has the potential to become a very solid rotation player for a contender. Rafer Alston will supply the much needed rest for the fleet-footed Devin Harris, but with Keyon Dooling on the roster already, was Alston really a necessary addition? I personally believe that Courtney Lee is overrated with limited upside, due to his size and lack of overall athletic ability. Also, his confidence has taken a hit after getting embarrassed by Kobe Bryant on national television in the NBA Finals.
All in all, this is still one of the best looking rebuilding projects in recent history. Good teams are built through the draft and supplemented on the trade market. There is significant upside in young talents Josh Boone, Sean Williams, and Chris Douglas-Roberts, who have not yet reached their full potential. This could be the year when those young players get the experience that they have been craving.
X-Factor: Terrence Williams
During his Junior and Senior campaigns as an amateur at the University of Louisville, Williams had never been expected to be drafted any higher than a low first round pick. After the NBA combine and exceptional pre-draft workouts, Williams shot ahead of more accomplished players like Ty Lawson and Sam Young to be drafted eleventh overall by New Jersey. Only time will tell if he can live up to the hype. One of the strongest players in the draft, his physical build will not be what keeps him from success, but his mediocre ball handling and basketball IQ might.
Money Moves or Championship Moves?
General Manager Ed Stefanski is building one of the best young cores in the NBA. The only problem is, they are one of the youngest teams in the league. This fact alone could lead to some higher numbers in the loss column this season and probably next season as well. There is no shame in rebuilding, because every franchise has to do it at some point.
Whenever a team is rebuilding, management is very cost conscious, mostly because team revenues are largely expected to be down for the upcoming seasons. Revenues could be taking a hit from ticket sales, sponsorship agreements, or even television ratings. Nobody wants to be associated with a loser.
Usually the best fans will stand by their local team, because fans understand the logistics of the rebuilding process. The only problem is, New Jersey hasn’t stood by its team, as the Izod Center ranks as one of the lowest attended arenas in the NBA. The potential loss of the team to the New York borough of Brooklyn probably has something to do with it, but that doesn’t make the players feel better.
Three Predictions:
1) New Jersey will finish with less than 30 wins.
2) Yi Jianlian will score over 10 PPG.
3) Lawrence Frank will be sitting on his couch at the start of the 2010-11 NBA season.
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