Are the Nets "rebuilding" or "contending"?

[SportsTicker]

"They are starting to put to rest talk of rebuilding".
--Jonathan Abrams, New York Times, December 7.

The Nets are off to their best start since 2002-03, the last time they went to the Finals. They have the tenth best record in the NBA and the fourth best road record. They're not just winning. They are winning going away. In victories over the Clippers, the Suns, the Wolves and the Sixers, their margin of victory was also their biggest lead of the game. Their 29-point margin of victory vs. Minnesota was their biggest in nearly three years. They're 9-3 in the last 12 games. Their early season defensive issues may have begun to fade. In the last two games, as they held the Wolves and Sixers to 84 points each.

Individually, their back court is arguably the best in the NBA. Vince Carter and Devin Harris are the highest scoring duo in the NBA. Harris leads the league in road scoring (27.9 ppg) and free throws made (9.2) and looks like a lock for the Most Improved Player award. Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson both look like steals of the draft. They have four players in the top 25 of three point shooters, most in the NBA. And Lawrence Frank has silenced his doubters.

Does all that look like a rebuilding team?

Yes, it's VERY early and it could all go south with a catastrophic injury to Carter or Harris. A collision with the rookie wall could slow the development of Lopez and Anderson, and Yi Jianlian is still inconsistent...although getting better. But other than a bad game against Washington, there's been no indication they will regress.

So what does it matter if the Nets are "rebuilding" or "contending"?

A rebuilding team has a "business plan" based on prioritizing player development, limiting salary, stockpiling draft picks, etc. A contending team is more aggressive on the trading block, hoping to add that final piece, willing to sacrifice young pieces and picks for veterans. There's NO indication the Nets are even thinking about abandoning their "business plan" and making a radical roster move but could a shift toward contending mean more minutes for veterans like Eduardo Najera, when healthy, or Stromile Swift? Would they be willing to make a move for a veteran point guard?

Thoughts...

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Retooling.

 

[kk30]

I think there main priority is still developing Lopez and Yi. They seem to be still rebuilding unless they make a major trade they would be etremely happy if they are able to just sneak into the playoffs. The last thing they want to do though is trade first round draft picks though

 

[SportsTicker]

11-8 translates to 47-35 over 82 games. That's not sneaking into the playoffs. That's a fourth or fifth place seed.

 

[kobimel]

If we can keep up this pace, I don't see a reason not to try and go as far as possible. Even if we get kicked out in the 2nd or 1st round, our young guys will get playoff experience and we'll prove ourselves as a team to reckon with in the future. We'll still get a good 1st rounder anyhow.

 

[nets1]

I would have no problem if the nets trade swift or Haskell for draft picks or trade exceptions. Keep this core and continue rebuilding so they can establish a dynasty....

 

[SUPERB]

THEY thought they were rebuilding and soon realized they could contend. one more move to soldify either a swing or a 4 and we are in the game. some people want a backup pg but i think dooling is great there.

very interesting year so far.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I would have no problem if the nets trade swift or Haskell for draft picks or trade exceptions. Keep this core and continue rebuilding so they can establish a dynasty....

Who would give up a draft pick for Swift or Hassell?

 

[Dumpy]

Who would give up a draft pick for Swift or Hassell?

They're worth at least a future third-rounder.

 

[kdub]

They're worth at least a future third-rounder.

Does that equal to a 2020 first rounder?

 

[StroShow4]

Haskell

 

[kobimel]

Does that equal to a 2020 first rounder?

No, it equals to a ball boy.

 

[ffz]

one word describes nets plan perfectly... winning.

 

[d-blockrep2]

I agree with #1_War_Poet_ForLife retooling is the ideal word, any moves will depend on how we are doing mid Jan 09 and also which allstar players are on the trading block. Lopez, Yi and Harris are the only ones that are untouchable

 

[nets1]

Who would give up a draft pick for Swift or Hassell?

i said a draft pick or trade exception. That would be a team that want to cut their salary cap for next year.

 

[SportsTicker]

I agree with #1_War_Poet_ForLife retooling is the ideal word, any moves will depend on how we are doing mid Jan 09 and also which allstar players are on the trading block. Lopez, Yi and Harris are the only ones that are untouchable

If you look at yourself as contending rather than rebuilding it changes how you view Carter. If you're contending, you don't even consider trading him. If you're rebuilding, you have to.

 

[kobimel]

i said a draft pick or trade exception. That would be a team that want to cut their salary cap for next year.

Why would a team trying to cut salary cap for next year trade for Hassell, who is set to earn $4.35 million in 2009/2010?

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

You can't use a trade exception combined with another player; they wouldn't be able to dump a bad contract.

 

[DevinNets34]

In fact I don't dislike Stromile, he is a solid big man, that with some skills, he can dunk, block shot, and some limited post move, decent jumpers.

Other than that, Hassell is a good defensive specialist, don't forget he help us big against suns, I think we can play him when he is useful,

Don't diss them, that are not great, but useful.


Back to the topic, I think we thought we were rebuilding, but right now Devin is great, we have to be retooling and contending.

 

[Claud]

We are still rebuilding and can't rush into things...
We have to keep rebuilding until our young guns begin to solidify themselves in the league. Give them a year or two to establish themselves a little better, and keep our core intact Lopez/Yi/Harris and develop them as well as CDR/Anderson and we'll be fine. No need to rush anything and disrupt the chemestry we have

 

[ghoti]

Who would give up a draft pick for Swift or Hassell?

Chris Mullin?

 

[SportsTicker]

Chris Mullin?

Michael Jordan.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Kevin McHale?

 

[rory]

If you look at yourself as contending rather than rebuilding it changes how you view Carter. If you're contending, you don't even consider trading him. If you're rebuilding, you have to.

Interesting. In my opinion, the Nets should still be in the rebuilding mindset. The winning is a nice bonus, and is greatly increasing their bargaining power when they trade Carter. There is no real rush to trade VC, but if someone asks about him, Thorn/Kiki should listen.

 

[Balla 15]

11-8 translates to 47-35 over 82 games. That's not sneaking into the playoffs. That's a fourth or fifth place seed.

That's funny because before this season started I said that these Nets reminded me of the 06-07 Raptors. The reason I said that was because that team was built around one star (Bosh) and the Nets were built around one star (Vince), although the emergence of Devin has really changed the team into a 2 all-star team. Nevertheless, the next reason I said these Nets reminded me of the Raptors was because of the depth off the bench which was a huge commodity that the 06-07 Raptors had. In the end the Raptors ended up going 47-35, a 20 win improvement from the following year. So far the main difference has been that the Raptors started 2-10 that year and then got really hot after the all-star break. Hopefully the Nets can keep a steady pace throughout the season.

 

[YehYeh]

If you look at yourself as contending rather than rebuilding it changes how you view Carter. If you're contending, you don't even consider trading him. If you're rebuilding, you have to.

Winning changes the picture in more than one way. We have recently moved up to winning at a 50+win rate, but it's still too early to judge whether that just translates to the second round of the playoffs. Why abandon rebuilding when the difference is not a possible run at the final?

Injuries to the guards with this aggressive style of play is quite likely. So I'd be reluctant to lose VC unless a potentially similar caliber player replaced him. On the other hand, we are now starting to run up stats for players other than VC and DH, which will increase their value in potential trades. Perhaps we can now succeed in trading depth for another frontline player.

 

[ghoti]

Kevin McHale?

He only helps teams that retire his number.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

He only helps teams that retire his number.

Memphis retired his number.

 

[ghoti]

Memphis retired his number.

No, but their GM came from the team that did.

 

[ScoringPG1850]

Management planned to rebuild before the season started. Let's stick with that plan. We do have some youngsters who are not ready to get thrown into the fire and perhaps get shell-shocked and/or traumatized by such giant expectations. Give our young players a window in which to grow.

Vince still has some good years left in him and Devin isn't about to dissapear off the face of the earth. That will also allow management some time to fill in some holes on the defensive side.

But if we are kicking b*tt, just go with the flow, don't expect to hit the bulleye in one shot.