Frontline Additions: Best Option?

[King James X3]

I'm just curious as to how the rest of this forum believes the best way to go about addressing New Jersey's frontline issues would be? A trade? Perhaps missing the playoffs and using a lottery pick? Certainly a free agent signing is out of the question, so is it even possible to improve this team anytime in the near future?

My opinon, Andrew Bogut needs to wind up in New Jersey. He's the 7 Foot Center playing his sophomore year in Utah at the collegiate level, he's done nothing but impressive thus far into the season.

That's certainly an option for New Jersey next season, but that would require this franchise to miss the playoffs for the first time in years. Is it worth it? Is New Jersey even capable of getting a the 8th-12th selection? What options does this team have? Is making the playoffs a bigger priority than improving their postion for the future? Comments?

 

[jbbCourtVision]

^I think Bogut will be gone by the 3rd pick for sure. You never know, the Nets are making a real push for the playoffs so they could end up with a mid-rounder, around the 15-16 range.

Johan Petro sounds like a good choice. He is projected to go around that pick and he could be a solid addition to play alongide Kristic. A defensive monster who can guard 3 positions. Very adept at blocking shots and rebouding. His offense is a little raw but with Jefferson, Carter and Kidd running the show, offense won't be needed.

 

[Henacy]

The long term way to address the frontline problem is definately looking like the draft. But now a days alot of the bigs in the draft especially the ones from overseas are not ready to step right in and make an immediate impact. So I wouldnt be shocked if the Nets sign a cheap but capable big during the offseason, along with drafting a big. Maybe a Dan Gradzoric or Udonas Haslem, if they dont get re-signed by the Bucks or heat.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

I think that all the Nets need is two though defensive bigmen. To gain I think that they seek for one in the draft and might even trade for thier other first round pick for what they need.

The Nets might also, although I am not so optimistic about it, sign a free agent such as Sharif-Abdur-Rahim or even Ilgauskas. The only way they will be able to do this is if these players accept a pay cut, which makes the possiblity unlikely.

 

[Tesh15]

nets are making a big push to the palyoffs and probably going to win the division, so they will probably get 15-18 pick and will probably get johan petro if they keep it up and go to the playoffs, if not then probably still get petro cuz not that great big men in the draft becuz Andrew Bogut is going 2nd in the draft

 

[Next Level Game]

Chris Taft has been playing inconsistently. A few lackluster performances at camps, which is possible with the way he has been playing, might make him drop. But that is still being very optimistic. My goals for the Nets are for them to go for a guy like Stromile who seems to do nothing but get better. In my opinion, he's a better rebounder than Kmart and will do well as a fourth option. However, there are concerns if he's playing well for a contract. Nevertheless, under Kidd he will really shine. If not Stromile, then perhaps Donyell Marshall that will go well with the jumpshooting rhythm the Nets have been. He still rebounds well and has played well with Carter before.

 

[kdub]

you don't want donyell marshall playing with the nets. The Nets needs a big man to play the middle, and marshall is mainly a perimenter oriented bigman. If the nets grab stro show, that would be amazing pickup by ed and rod. He'll be great, great kmart replacement who jkidd could throw alley's to all day. The only problem is that he's seen as a player with low bball IQ. But of course, kidd seems to increase that characteristic in everyone who plays around him, so no sweat.

 

[King James X3]

I was just reporting off the information from Hoops Hype's mock draft, they have Andrew Bogut slated as the 9th selection...

 

[Henacy]

If Rod Thorn can pull off Stromile in the offseason, then Iam all for it. Stro will fit in extremely well next year, as our running game will take it up another notch with Richard Jefferson and Carter playing with each other full time alongside kidd. The options Kidd would have on the break.....

Anyway, a Roster of....

PG: Kidd
SG: Carter
SF: RJ
PF: Swift
C: Collins or Krstic

Bench
Collins or Krstic
Buford
Mercer
Planinic
Smith

That isnt that bad of a roster at all, honestly imo that lineup has more depth then the two teams we went to the finals with because of the bigs are better. Yeah no k-mart, but their is also no inconsistent Rodney Rogers over aged & out of shape. And we arent carrying dead weight at the 5 spot like Mutombo. And JC is slowly becoming a better player when he isnt in foul trouble, which is rare. I would keep Jabari Smith for solid depth purposes. Krstic will be better. So with Stromile our lineup of bigs doesnt look all that bad imo. But of course Rod would have to pull off a miracle selling point of playing along side Kidd-Jeff-VC, inorder for Stro to take the less money to come here.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

I dont think that the above line up is all that great. Offensivly its spectacualar, but defensivly it seems iffy. I think that the Nets need to get a solid defensive big man. I welcome Stro, but even with him, I think that the Nets will need a big shot block off of the bench that can drive teams out of the paint and at least maintain a lead at the end of a game.

 

[kdub]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting xpehbamxyu:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont think that the above line up is all that great. Offensivly its spectacualar, but defensivly it seems iffy. I think that the Nets need to get a solid defensive big man. I welcome Stro, but even with him, I think that the Nets will need a big shot block off of the bench that can drive teams out of the paint and at least maintain a lead at the end of a game.</div>

stro show's your man then. this guy is tenacious. you may be right concerning team defense, but it's not like he's bad at it. and if you an explosive shot blocker, stro's your man. If anything, everything (including defense) he does is off freak atheletic explosiveness, including monster blocks.

 

[King James X3]

Stromile and Samuel Dalembert would both fit perfectly into system. They both bring a shot blocking presense that New Jersey hasn't seen since the loss of Kenyon Martin last year. They both are very agile for their size and extremely quick for their postion, allowing them to excel in the fastbreak style of play that The Nets tends to run. Perhaps they aren't post up big men who can get things done in the half court, but now that New Jersey has aquired Vince Carter, that type of production wouldn't be expected of them. However, I could easily see these type of players entering this system and averaging 12-14 Points, 8 Boards, and 2 Blocks if they're indeed granted starting minutes. Granted the aforementioned player's athleticism matched with the simple fact that they'd be playing alongside Jason Kidd, you would see plenty of fastbreak converted and several backcuts and pick and rolls for these unique bigmen.

 

[Henacy]

Realistically there wont be alot of bigs out there in the market that can change the face of the Nets team defense. And the one guy who maybe can have a huge impact Samuel Dalembert, is going to be extremely sought after. And him being a restricted free agent makes it nearly impossible he will land in Jersey. The Nets are not going to land two decent bigs in the free Agent market with the crop of bigs being so slim. And the Nets having nothing to spend. And reallly not that much trade bait without giving up Carter-kidd or RJ, which isnt going to happen. So the Nets are problably likely to land one big time frontline player who they can convinence to take less to play alongside our big 3. And then find away to get another big thru the draft, but may have to just settle for the acquiring one quality big this offseason.

 

[kdub]

yes definitely won't be getting dalembert and stro together for next season (but i suppose we all hope heh)

what you said henacy is what will very likely happen, although the chances of getting someone like stro will be very hard by itself, even drafting a bigman seems more likely. The good thing is that, although they might not have the money, they do have reasons to join the team... mainly a great tandem of kidd carter and rj, all of which love to pass (to open big men) and can definitely lead a team to a championship/high playoffs with servicable big men.

Money talks, but so does championship hopes (which one takes more significance depends on the player i suppose).