Free Agent Scramble Begins Tuesday

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetsDaily)</div><div class='quotemain'>The draft produced a wave of trades, but next week is likely to see more players moved in trades and free agent signings. The Nets hope to add scoring to their young roster, particularly at the wings, as well as veteran depth�"and protect their own free agents: Nenad Krstic, Boki Nachbar and Gana Diop. Don’t expect another blockbuster on the scale of the RJ trade. There are names, but few are big ones.</div>

Thorn's roster review leads to decision to retool - Tom Canavan - AP

Nets have plenty of holes to fill - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger

Nets have new-look roster with Vince Carter still the main man - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News

Nets rebuild for future with new-look frontcourt - Larry Fleisher - HoopsWorld

Nets get younger, stronger up front - Al Iannazzone - The Record

Nets happy with moves - Fred Kerber - New York Post

Now that the trades have started, and the draft is over, I can't wait to see what other moves we're going to make.

I can't wait to read these articles - but it looks like I'll have to. I'm out.

 

[FOMW]

I'd be looking at James Jones, although I doubt he wants to come to a rebuilding team. Indeed we will have a hard time attracting quality FAs that are looking for real contention. Our best chance is with a guy like Pietrus, who is after playing time (and $, of course) more than anything. We can certainly offer that at the SF position.

One thing we definitely need is a vet's minimum type of point guard. DA would be great to have back in that role if he wanted it, maybe with the lure of being an assistant coach, too. If not him, Anthony Johnson would be a good guy to target. It was just two short years ago that he was lighting Kidd up nightly in the Indiana series.

If TPTB are determined not to add salary beyond 2010, that's another problem and a potential deal breaker for late 20s guys who may fear this is their last contract.

One interesting note is that Dave D suggested the Nets would NOT be willing to use any of their MLE this year. One of the other beat writers, in listing Net assets and resources, included the MLE, so I'm not sure what the scoop is there. But you can forget about quality FAs if we're not willing to at least split the exception in a couple of pieces.

 

[Basileus777]

We really need to get another swingman in FA or through a trade. Simmons or Hassell starting at the 3 would be a nightmare.

 

[go nets]

just out of speculation Kristic to Memphis for Kyle Lowry seems like a good trade for both teams

 

[downunderwonder]

Free agents eh... BOOM THO!! hahahaha

That said there are some reasonably good bargains floating around but our status as a rebuilding team makes it harder to attract someone on the cheap...

Julius Hodge reminds me of the Jay Williams situation a while back. A feel good story that stinks of marketing exercise as opposed to actual interest...

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Free agents eh... BOOM THO!! hahahaha

That said there are some reasonably good bargains floating around but our status as a rebuilding team makes it harder to attract someone on the cheap...

Julius Hodge reminds me of the Jay Williams situation a while back. A feel good story that stinks of marketing exercise as opposed to actual interest...

 

[JCB]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FOMW @ Jun 28 2008, 02:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>One interesting note is that Dave D suggested the Nets would NOT be willing to use any of their MLE this year. One of the other beat writers, in listing Net assets and resources, included the MLE, so I'm not sure what the scoop is there. But you can forget about quality FAs if we're not willing to at least split the exception in a couple of pieces.</div>

...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dave D)</div><div class='quotemain'>That means the Nets will probably be more willing to use the midlevel exception -- which Thorn has been reluctant to use in the past -- without fear of exceeding the luxury tax threshold.</div>

???

Am I missing something? (which is definitely quite possible this early in the morning)

 

[Kmart06]

JR Smith would be nice at the 2 and move VC to 3. Then hassle & simmons can be back up if they dont resign BOKI.

 

[NOMAM]

So I guess free agency means offering a max of 2 years on the contract, eh?

Swingmen (someone to step into the starting lineup incase Simmons ends up stinking or gets injured):

Maurice Evans(could be a good fit. athletic and 3 point shooting)
James Posey(veteran help)
Mickael Pietrus(talent)
Ryan Gomes(some potential to get better?)
Bonzi Wells(talented but also trouble?)


Tony Allen(defense)
Devin Brown(can play some point as well?)
Devean George(Birds rights!)
Eduardo Najera(hustle play and some shooting)
Jarvis Hayes( shooting)
Kelenna Azubuike(some potential to get better?)
Matt Barnes(cheap?)
Kareem Rush(one dimensional shooter)
Fred Jones(athletic)
Gordan Giricek(one dimensional shooter)
James Jones(3 point shooting)
Michael Finley(veteran help)
Antoine Wright(CDR can teach him some offense maybe?)

Josh Childress(not likely)

Point Guards (backup for Devin and possible Marcus replacement or maybe just a backup for Marcus)

Gibson (I wish!)
Dooling (they've tried to get him before. defense and scoring)

Chris Duhon
Earl Boykins
Delonte West
Tyron Lue
Juan Dixon
Dan Dickau
Jason Williams
Beno Udrih
Anthony Johnson

 

[ffz]

Is it wise for you to dedicate any of your newly found caproom for 2010 on any free agents in 2008? I'm betting on 2 year deals or 1 year rentals.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (go nets @ Jun 28 2008, 03:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>just out of speculation Kristic to Memphis for Kyle Lowry seems like a good trade for both teams</div>

Seems like a great trade to me. Include a draft pick for good measure, along with maybe even prying Warrick from them somehow, and I'd be happy with that trade

 

[NJ savior]

The only player the nets need to target is jr smith. He is only 21 and is already a vet. Lebron is 23 years old and I can see JR being Lebrons pippen when he comes over. 4 years 24 million is my offer and believe me give him the starter job at sg and he will be begging for the nuggets to not resign him. The nuggets are putting up a front for every nba team to not pick him up, when they are well over the cap and have no chance of resigning JR. My only problem with JR is his imaturity and his shot selection. But give him two years to season and he will be read to take over VC spot permanent. Imagine Harris/ Smith/ James/ Yi/ Lopez and have carter off the bench.

 

[FOMW]

If the Nets are going to try for a restriced FA, the man to target -- post Jefferson trade -- is Josh Childress. Atlanta is said to be in a bit of a pickle with BOTH Josh Smith and Childress being RFAs and having 3 young SFs, including Childress, on the roster. They are going to have to decide soon who is most worth long-term investment, with Smith being the head of that list. Childress might well be available for MLE money or a reasonable S & T, and he is a young vet that plays fine defense, runs, finishes well at the rim, has a decent handle, and has a decent (if unorthodox) shot.

 

[danxcr]

id rather go after josh smith... hes a star in the makin... id trade marcus, KVH contract, S&T krstic, and our 2009 first round a the mavs 2010 for josh smith... the kid is good... and he isnt like Yi... he likes to attack the rim and his defense is great as well

if not go after ben gordon! hehe thats a stretch

 

[rory]

At this point, it is probably in the Nets best interests to just use Boki as a stop-gap. I'm looking at the other available SFs, and he's probably the only one who a) would definitely get playing time (and not be a McInnis or Magloire) and b) wants to play here. He knows the staff, the staff knows him. 2 years, 8 Mil should do it.

 

[danxcr]

JOSH SMITH... is the RFA i want...

 

[reganomics813]

Denver likes Smith and Smith likes Denver so that's gonna be tough to pry him away. Going after him could be a waste of time where if we went hard after a guy like the ones I have below we could really bowl them over with our desire to get them and choose to come here over glitzier places.

James Jones no question, Kelenna Azubuike, Matt Barnes (maybe the easiest to get), Ryan Gomes are my short list. Pietrus is a potential tease but I could understand the thinking behind signing him, he has been eyeballing Miami though since last season and he could be tough.

Kyle Lowry would be a dream but I imagine other teams are vying for him as well and Curly might not be enough even if he would be a nice compliment to the Gasol/Milcic combo they have now. They probably want another athlete at the 4 to counteract the bulkiness (but underrated agility) at the 5 spot.

 

[reganomics813]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (danxcr @ Jun 28 2008, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>JOSH SMITH... is the RFA i want...</div>

I would be in heaven if we landed him but we do not have the money to sign him, nor do I believe we have a package to interest Atlanta in a sign and trade. But then again it is the Hawks. Hmmm.

 

[Kenyon Martian]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (danxcr @ Jun 28 2008, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>JOSH SMITH... is the RFA i want...</div>

As has been pointed out the 2 positions we desperately need are a solid backup PG and another wing. Good thing for us there do seem to be a lot of mid level of those type of players available this offseason.

The 3 PGs that would interest me are Janerro Pargo (set to be a UFA, might have resigned), Lowry (would do the Kristic trade in a heartbeat), and Anthony Johnson.

As for wings, Pietrus would be a nice pickup. Playing 30 minutes a game he would easily average 2 threes, 2 steals, and 6 rebounds which is a very solid all around production for a SF/SG. If he would commit to his defense he would also be very solid in that regard. His attitude is the only thing that worries because I simply can't understand how he fell into such a bad rap with Nelly.

Josh Childress would be another guy I would love to nab, as others said that might be tough. Although with Marvin Williams progressing, Joe Johnson under contract, and Josh Smith needing a new deal perhaps Childress is primed to be picked off.

Deng and Gordon would both interest me btu I doubt either of them is available for what we have to trade.

Lastly I think it would be important for us to get our hands on a solid backup vet PF/C to help bring the kids along. Kurt Thomas is available and he might be that kind of guy. Would love to an older guy way past his prime on the cheap to impart some of the tricks of the trade on these young guys (a Cliff Robinson type who would pretty much never play).

Anywho here is a nice little mock up of what our lineup could look like if everything goes our way (IMO a playoff team in the East easily):

PG-----Harris -------------------Pargo (MLE) or Lowery
SG-----VC-----------------------CDR
SF------Childress(S &T)--------Simmons
PF------Yi------------------------SWAT----------Anderson
C-------Lopez-------------------Boone---------Thomas

 

[Kenyon Martian]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rory @ Jun 28 2008, 12:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>At this point, it is probably in the Nets best interests to just use Boki as a stop-gap. I'm looking at the other available SFs, and he's probably the only one who a) would definitely get playing time (and not be a McInnis or Magloire) and b) wants to play here. He knows the staff, the staff knows him. 2 years, 8 Mil should do it.</div>

I would rather start Simmons then bring Boki back. IMO Anderson was drafted to be a more consistent replacement for Boki. Boki had his moments but he was quite simply too hit or miss to fill the role of shooter off the bench.

 

[SeanWilliamsTheFuture51]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kmart06 @ Jun 28 2008, 09:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>JR Smith would be nice at the 2 and move VC to 3. Then hassle & simmons can be back up if they dont resign BOKI.</div>
i agree

 

[SeanWilliamsTheFuture51]

PG-HARRIS--MARCUS WILLIAMS

SG-VC--CDR

SF-JOSH SMITH--SIMMONS--ANDERSON--CDR

PF-YI--SWAT--ANDERSON--BOONE

C-BOONE--LOPEZ--SWAT



maybe a trade with carter or someone else

 

[SeanWilliamsTheFuture51]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Paraphrasing:

I really want Monta Ellis, he made about 700k last season, and we should sign for him because there's no way he'd want a raise.

-GMJ</div>

 

[BrooklynBound]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SeanWilliamsTheFuture51 @ Jun 28 2008, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I DON'T UNDERSTAND</div>
You're right about something.

 

[cpawfan]

Because he won't be cheap once he signs a new contract

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SeanWilliamsTheFuture51 @ Jun 28 2008, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY DON'T WE GO FOR MONTA HIS SALLARY WAS $770,610 IN 2008 HE CAN BE ARE NUMBER 2 AND MOVE VC TO 3 OR TRADE HIM</div>

he's a restricted free agent and he's gonna at least push for mid-level exception...and and unless a team offers alot more than that...I see the Warriors matching offers

 

[tim]

He's too good for the Warriors to let go. They will match ANY offer that is given to him.

 

[Johnny_Chan]

Just sign LBJ+D.Howard...Monta who?

u know im kidding.

.....

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rory @ Jun 28 2008, 12:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>At this point, it is probably in the Nets best interests to just use Boki as a stop-gap. I'm looking at the other available SFs, and he's probably the only one who a) would definitely get playing time (and not be a McInnis or Magloire) and b) wants to play here. He knows the staff, the staff knows him. 2 years, 8 Mil should do it.</div>

I disagree with this. Although Boki was a nice shooter that one season, and he has a tendency to take charges more than any other Net recently...I can't stand him on the defensive end, or when he's trying to do too much offensively. We need someone young, who can defend well, and who knows his role (preferably as a shooter) in the offense.

 

[pegs]

Monta's a free agent...so I merged with the free agent thread, to clean things up a bit