Draft picks galore.

[Next Level Game]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nets trading past for future

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

By AL IANNAZZONE
STAFF WRITER



The Nets are continuing their search for a team to take Kerry Kittles and his $9.8 million salary off their hands.

With talks breaking off between New Jersey and Portland for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the suddenly cost-conscious Nets are discussing a deal with the Clippers that would send Kittles to Los Angeles for a pair of draft picks, according to league sources. The Clippers are under the cap, so they could pull off this potential trade.

It would seem the Nets don't need more draft picks after they dealt Kenyon Martin to Denver last week for three first-round choices.

But they are building for the future, and trying to clear up more money so they can offer Richard Jefferson a long-term contract extension for max or near-maximum money. The Nets also would like to use part of their midlevel exception to sign free agents, among them either Eric Williams or Ron Mercer.

The Nets are still speaking with Cleveland about a sign-and-trade deal of Eric Williams and Dajuan Wagner for Kittles. The Nets are waiting to see what happens with Kittles and Williams before they pursue Mercer.

Undrafted 6-foot-10 center Kyle Davis became the Nets' first free-agent signing of the summer Monday. Davis, who played for the Nets' summer league team, received a partially guaranteed contract for 2004-05 with a team option for the following season. The former Auburn star ranks second in SEC history behind Shaquille O'Neal in blocked shots.

Another big man will sign with the Nets today, as 7-footer Nenad Krstic will ink a three-year deal for more than $3 million. Krstic, the Nets' 2002 first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall), has played the past two years for KK Partizan in Serbia Montenegro.

Later in the week, the Nets may add well-traveled swingman Rodney Buford to their roster. The 6-5 Buford, who has played with four teams in his four NBA seasons, is expected to sign a one-year deal for the league minimum of $745,046. Buford has averaged 6.2 points per game with the Heat, 76ers, Grizzlies, and Kings.

Eddie Griffin remains on the Nets' radar. The troubled forward spent six weeks with the Nets last season before leaving the team to receive additional treatment for alcoholism and depression. The Nets seem willing to take still another chance on their 2001 first-round pick.

E-mail: iannazzone@northjersey.com
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Wow, getting more and more draft picks? I guess we're in full rebuilding mode now. If this is true, then the Nets need to get rid of Kidd, he deserves a ring.

 

[jbbNJNetz]

Kidd does deserve a ring and he deffinately not going to get it in new jersey with all the young bucks that will be coming in its kind of weird this looks really different from last year. Jefferson will be the veteran of the team crazy

 

[Henacy]

Kerry Kittles value sure did seem higher a few months ago. Now the Nets cant give him away. Anyway call me crazy but I feel its the stupidest thing in the world to keep loading up on draft picks, when the drafts nowadays absolutely stink. At 1st I was kind of upset when I heard kidd was ready to abandon ship, now that times got a little diffcult But now it looks like this rebuilding process is going to take more than a season like Rob Thorn proclaimed right after the Nets got rid of Martin, so I can understand if he wants out.

The Nets say they are trying to clear room to sign RJ to a long term extension but why would he want too, playing alongside the likes of Kyle Davis,Jason Collins, Rodney Buford, Nenad Kristic for the next 5 or 6 years would not sound to promising to me if I was him.

And Rodney Buford? what happen to the Nets going after Rodney White? How much is White asking for in the open Market? because he seems to have alot more upside then Buford. I mean Buford was solid one year in Memphis and he was apart of that sixers team that went to the finals a few years back. But last year with the Kings I never even seen him get off the bench until that one game in the playoffs vs the t-wolves. And that was because Bobby Jackson was injured, Christie couldnt play alot of minutes because something was wrong with him that game. And Anthony Peeler had gotten ejected for throwing a punch at KG. So Buford came in the 3rd quarter made a jumpshot or two but then that was it, never heard from again in the series. But if it takes all that for the guy to get off the bench, then he definately wont be helping to fill any holes in our wing spots.

 

[Next Level Game]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I feel its the stupidest thing in the world to keep loading up on draft picks, when the drafts nowadays absolutely stink</div>

Well the talent in the NBA is getting worse these days so relatively it's all right. In four or five seasons later the best players will be coming out of these drafts and if the Nets can properly capitalize on this then they're set.