Dave D on the Roster

[SportsTicker]

If you've lost track, the Nets currently have 13 players with guaranteed contracts, and Malik is the sixth player to come aboard without a guarantee. The five others looking for jobs are Robert Hite, the 6-2 shooter who excelled in summer league; Rod Benson, the 6-11 Cal-Berkeley product whose claims to fame are an NBDL title with Dakota and being Jason Kidd's second cousin; Mateen Cleaves, once a hot point-guard property after leading Michigan State to the 2000 national championship, but no longer considered NBA material; old friend Eddie Gill, who had an eight-game stint with the Nets in 2000-01; and 6-10 forward Matt Freije, who had a short stint with Atlanta last year.</p>

Of course, that first figure could be cut to 12, because the Nets have been discussing a buyout for Mile Ilic -- without success. The 7-1 center has been unable to convince the Nets that he'll develop on their timetable, and he has yet to fully recover since suffering that high-ankle sprain on March 31. </p>

http://blog.nj.com/netsblast/2007/09/rod_says.html</p>

</p>

 

[GMJ]

GMJigga on the Roster:</p>

Kidd, Marcus
Vince, Antoine, BRob
RJ, Boki
Krstic, Boone, Williams
Magloire, Collins, Illic (13 players)</p>

Buyout Illic (12 players)</p>

Sign Benson, Houston (14 players)</p>

Whether Malik Allen makes the team really is of no consequence to me. How bout youse guys?</p>

 

[pegs]

hite and benson, all the way. </p>

screw houston, i'm extremely skeptical about how he could help this team.</p>

 

[Legacy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'>

hite and benson, all the way. </p>

screw houston, i'm extremely skeptical about how he could help this team.</p></div>

I was too at first, but would you rather have veteran help or two guys who haevn't proved themselves yet?</p>

I would buyout Illic also.</p>

 

[zєяσ]

I prefer Houston and Benson finishing out the last two spots. Even Houston wouldnt really get any minutes, neither would hite. I choose Houston over hite simply because of some of the media he might generate for the team. Allen and Benson wouldnt see much either, but I choose Benson just for comedy relief.

 

[ghoti]

Don't sign Hite, Houston or Allen.</p>

I look forward to reading Rod Benson's impressions of Greece, Italy, Spain or Russia.</p>

Sign Jalen Rose.</p>

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'>

hite and benson, all the way. </p>

screw houston, i'm extremely skeptical about how he could help this team.</p></div>

I was too at first, but would you rather have veteran help or two guys who haevn't proved themselves yet?</p>

I would buyout Illic also.</p> </div>

</p> a couple young guys with real potential, who have actually really shown it. well, rod benson is more about comedy relief than anything else.

 

[Legacy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'>

hite and benson, all the way. </p>

screw houston, i'm extremely skeptical about how he could help this team.</p></div>

I was too at first, but would you rather have veteran help or two guys who haevn't proved themselves yet?</p>

I would buyout Illic also.</p> </div>

</p>

a couple young guys with real potential, who have actually really shown it. well, rod benson is more about comedy relief than anything else.</div></p>

I guess he could be real good in the locker room then. </p>

But we got people like Jason Kidd for that.</p>

</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'>

hite and benson, all the way. </p>

screw houston, i'm extremely skeptical about how he could help this team.</p></div>

I was too at first, but would you rather have veteran help or two guys who haevn't proved themselves yet?</p>

I would buyout Illic also.</p> </div>

</p>

a couple young guys with real potential, who have actually really shown it.</div></p>

All Robert Hite has shown is the ability to shoot 31%.</p>

The Nets need a REAL PLAYER who can play point guard and fill in at other positions when there are injuries (and there WILL be injuries).</p>

</p>

 

[ly_yng]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Don't sign Hite, Houston or Allen.</p>

I look forward to reading Rod Benson's impressions of Greece, Italy, Spain or Russia.</p>

Sign Jalen Rose. </p></div>

The All-Comedy bench would consist of Jalen Rose and Rod Benson. That's really my ideal here, because honestly, I don't think we have a chance in hell of contending for the Finals.</p>

Seriously though, Rose is HILARIOUS. I'd LOVE to have him coming off the bench.</p>

 

[Dumpy]

You're being unfair. Just because Rob Benson is funny doesn't mean that he's a stooge. Give him a chance to show that he can play.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>You're being unfair. Just because Rob Benson is funny doesn't mean that he's a stooge. Give him a chance to show that he can play.</div></p>

As the roster stands right now, there's no room for him. </p>

If they buy out Ilic or make a trade or whatever, then they can root around through these fringe players and keep the best one.</p>

</p>

 

[Dumpy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>You're being unfair. Just because Rob Benson is funny doesn't mean that he's a stooge. Give him a chance to show that he can play.</div></p>

As the roster stands right now, there's no room for him. </p>

If they buy out Ilic or make a trade or whatever, then they can root around through these fringe players and keep the best one.</p>

</div> </p>

. . . you're assuming that Houston accepts the invite and makes the team, I think. Right now, as NetIncome remindsus twicedaily, the Nets have 13 players under contract:Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, Nenad Krstic, Boki Nachbar, Jamaal Magloire, Antoine Wright, Mile Ilic, Bernard Robinson, Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, Sean Williams. There's 1 player with a partially guaranteed contract (Robert Hite); 1 player with a non-guaranteed contract (Malik Allen); 4 players (at least) with training camp invites (Rod Benson, Mateen Cleaves, Matt Freije, Eddie Gill), and 2 players who've worked out and who the Nets are talking to about non-guaranteed deals(Allan Houston, Jumaine Jones). So, including potential cuts BRob and Ilic, there are ten players to fill four roster spots. Of those ten, four are guards (and possibly SFs in the case of BRob)(Hite, Cleaves, Gill, Houston,BRob), and five are big men (Benson, Freije, J. Jones, M. Allen, and Ilic). Nets could keep two players in each category (one from each if they keep BRob and Ilic, obviously). There is clearly still room for Benson. The Heat would probably keep Gill, Houston, Malik Allen, and Jumaine Jones.</p>

 

[ghoti]

The Nets can't afford a 15 man roster.</p>

The 14th spot has to go to a guard. This guard must be able to at least log some minutes at the point.</p>

My suggestion is to sign the best player left that fits that description - Jalen Rose. The fact that he can back up the wing positions is a nice bonus.</p>

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

The Nets can't afford a 15 man roster.</p>

The 14th spot has to go to a guard. This guard must be able to at least log some minutes at the point.</p>

My suggestion is to sign the best player left that fits that description - Jalen Rose. The fact that he can back up the wing positions is a nice bonus.</p></div>

</p>

yeah, i agree with you there. i just like youth better, and don't really like the fact that jalen rose barely got playing time in phoenix. (btw, can anyone explain why him and jumaine jones couldn't get playing time??? thanks in advance) </p>

i figure robert hite might be a better bet, cause he's a youngin and he seems to have potential to be a better player than house, who was pretty damn good for us last season. </p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

The Nets can't afford a 15 man roster.</p>

The 14th spot has to go to a guard. This guard must be able to at least log some minutes at the point.</p>

My suggestion is to sign the best player left that fits that description - Jalen Rose. The fact that he can back up the wing positions is a nice bonus.</p></div>

</p>

yeah, i agree with you there. i just like youth better, and don't really like the fact that jalen rose barely got playing time in phoenix. (btw, can anyone explain why him and jumaine jones couldn't get playing time??? thanks in advance) </p>

i figure robert hite might be a better bet, cause he's a youngin and he seems to have potential to be a better player than house, who was pretty damn good for us last season. </p>

</div></p>

Where are you getting that Hite has potential or is anything but a fringe NBA player? He's done nothing.</p>

If someone goes down for a while or there's a crucial playoff situation and you are forced to rely on Robert Hite, the season is over. </p>

</p>

</p>

 

[Dumpy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

</p>

Where are you getting that Hite has potential or is anything but a fringe NBA player? He's done nothing.</p>

If someone goes down for a while or there's a crucial playoff situation and you are forced to rely on Robert Hite, the season is over. </p></div>

If Kidd goes down the season is over. Which might be a reason to just carry two PGs. </p>

 

[Universe]

I'm a big fan of Eddie Gill on this roster especailly over the likes of Hite and Cleaves.

 

[Kidd Karma]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

</p>

Where are you getting that Hite has potential or is anything but a fringe NBA player? He's done nothing.</p>

If someone goes down for a while or there's a crucial playoff situation and you are forced to rely on Robert Hite, the season is over. </p></div>

If Kidd goes down the season is over. Which might be a reason to just carry two PGs. </p>

</div></p>

Yep, look at the start in 04-05, horrible, horrible. We may get a spot in the playoffs, because of the least, but without Kidd, much rather see us in the lottery. </p>

</p>

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Where are you getting that Hite has potential or is anything but a fringe NBA player? He's done nothing.</p>

If someone goes down for a while or there's a crucial playoff situation and you are forced to rely on Robert Hite, the season is over. </p>

</p>

</p></div>

when will we ever need to rely on hite like that?</p>

and speaking of crucial playoff situations, didn't the Suns have one? funny, i seem to remember jalen rose sitting on the bench during that game 5, where the suns basically only used 6 players. </p>

and i completely missed eddie gill there...i wouldn't mind giving him a try. </p>

i just don't really see any veterans out there who could really help us, and i figure it'd be a good idea to give a guy like robert hite a try. who knows, he might work out, and with the 1-3 guys we have, it couldn't hurt too much. </p>

 

[Kidd Karma]

With that said:</p>

RJ, Krstic, Magloire, Kidd, VC must stay healthy 75 games minimum</p>

</p>

It would hlep if Boki, Wright, Boone, Williams, Collins can stay healthy and produce off the bench consistently.....</p>

</p>

then guys like Hite, Malik, Houston, Sean williams will not be needed. </p>

 

[GrandKenyon6]

If Houston can still shoot, he's worth adding. We could use a spot up shooter, and that's all Houston will be. Malik Allen has a very nice midrange jumper and would give us additional frontcourt depth. Those two are fine players to have at the end of the bench and are the players who should fill out the roster. Who the hell cares about Robert Hite and Rod Benson? Benson's a nice story, but c'mon. He's not going to help us win. Neither is Hite. If Houston can still spot up and hit a 3, he can help. A bench of M.Williams, Wright, Nachbar, Boone, Collins (hopefully), Houston, Allen, S. Williams is pretty good. It's just a shame we couldn't get a backup point this offseason. Cleaves doesn't count.</p>

 

[ly_yng]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

If someone goes down for a while or there's a crucial playoff situation and you are forced to rely on Robert Hite, the season is over. </p>

</div></p>

Didn't you recently say the same about Jacque Vaughn?</p>

Just cause a player hasn't done anything YET doesn't mean he never will. I'm not that high on Hite either, but it's not completely inconcievable that he's capable of being a rotation player for a good team.</p>

 

[SportsTicker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrandKenyon6)</div><div class='quotemain'>

If Houston can still shoot, he's worth adding. We could use a spot up shooter, and that's all Houston will be. Malik Allen has a very nice midrange jumper and would give us additional frontcourt depth. Those two are fine players to have at the end of the bench and are the players who should fill out the roster. Who the hell cares about Robert Hite and Rod Benson? Benson's a nice story, but c'mon. He's not going to help us win. Neither is Hite. If Houston can still spot up and hit a 3, he can help. A bench of M.Williams, Wright, Nachbar, Boone, Collins (hopefully), Houston, Allen, S. Williams is pretty good. It's just a shame we couldn't get a backup point this offseason. Cleaves doesn't count.</p>

</div> </p>

IF the Nets are satisfiedthat Marcus Williams has improved significantly, then is there that much of a need for another backup PG. Obviously that is abig IF, particularly on defense. But Carteris one hell of a backup PG...and IF (even bigger IF) Houston can still shoot and signs with the Nets, I can see Carter and Houston in the backcourt for long stretches. Bombs away!</p>

The team has a lot of IF's: Krstic and Boone's knees, Magloire's motivation (don't see any reports of him in camp),significant improvements by Wright and Marcus Williams, continued development by Nachbar, opening roster spots while not paying luxury tax. I don't expect much from Sean Williams or Robert Hite. If they can provide anything, great. If not, they will look very good in Armani.</p>

</p>

</p>

</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

If someone goes down for a while or there's a crucial playoff situation and you are forced to rely on Robert Hite, the season is over. </p>

</div></p>

Didn't you recently say the same about Jacque Vaughn?</p>

Just cause a player hasn't done anything YET doesn't mean he never will. I'm not that high on Hite either, but it's not completely inconcievable that he's capable of being a rotation player for a good team. </p>

</div></p>

If someone goes down for a while or there's a crucial playoff situation and you are forced to rely on Jacque Vaughn, the season is over.</p>

</p>

 

[Charles]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrandKenyon6)</div><div class='quotemain'>

If Houston can still shoot, he's worth adding. We could use a spot up shooter, and that's all Houston will be. Malik Allen has a very nice midrange jumper and would give us additional frontcourt depth. Those two are fine players to have at the end of the bench and are the players who should fill out the roster. Who the hell cares about Robert Hite and Rod Benson? Benson's a nice story, but c'mon. He's not going to help us win. Neither is Hite. If Houston can still spot up and hit a 3, he can help. A bench of M.Williams, Wright, Nachbar, Boone, Collins (hopefully), Houston, Allen, S. Williams is pretty good. It's just a shame we couldn't get a backup point this offseason. Cleaves doesn't count.</p></div>

I absolutely agree. Not many people are going to find it funny to see Rod Benson on the court if the Nets are losing games. I'm sure he'll still have a blog even if he's not on the Nets roster. Houston hasshown he can play in the NBA, and by all accounts has shown in his workouts that he is healthy. Even if Marcus Williams struggles again, I'd be willing to bet Frank puts Antoine Wright or Vince Carter at the point before handing Hite the keys. Houston fills a need- outside shooting. The only thing Hite and Benson have going for them is that they are the cheapest options. </p>

If Hite and Benson were so good, how come they're not off on some other team w/ a guaranteed contract as a backup? Did any other team show interest in either player, aside from a non-guaranteed camp invite? I don't see why people are excited about these guys.</p>

 

[Real]

If Kidd goes downjust enter the Derrick Rose/Michael Beasley sweepstakes