How would you build a team around Devin Harris?

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Mar 8 2008, 11:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 6 2008, 06:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>OK, now I'm home.

I am a proponent of getting the centerpiece of the team in place first and building from there.

I think gathering complimentary pieces and then trying to find a championship-level player to add to fit those pieces is the exact wrong way to build a title team.

That said, you have to have players on your roster. You can't throw cap space out there to play.

So during the rebuilding or retooling process it's important to identify what kind of players will be most likely to fit with any type of roster and develop those players.

That's why I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to hang onto Devin Harris.

First of all, good defenders are always in style. Nobody has ever wanted to get rid of a player for being too good defensively no matter what style the team plays. Harris has demonstrated in high-pressure playoff situations that he can guard star players and get his team stops. That's a valuable, tough-to-find asset to have - especially in such a young player - if the goal is to win it all.

Second, he is a versatile offensive player who can fit a variety of different styles. He can penetrate and dish in the half court. He can create his own shot and get to the rim. He's great at pushing the ball in transition. Whether the star the Nets eventually get is a big man or a Kobe-style initiator, Harris will have an important offensive role that he will be able to perform well.

Third, Harris is still developing. He has not reached his full potential and many feel (and this is why his value around the league is so high) that the underdeveloped parts of his game (distribution, court awareness, jump shooting) are improving and will eventually become assets.

Finally, Harris is a hard worker. He plays with intensity and it's not hard to envision him as a team leader in the future. I'm not a big "intangibles" guy, but a good litmus test (that I think many teams have actually started using) is the "Spurs Test". As in "Would the Spurs commit to having this guy on their roster long-term?" I think he passes that test.

I agree with the premise that Harris' value is high and a lot of that value is based only on potential. That screams "trade!" But if no incredible offers come along or there is opportunity to gather assets and dump salary another way (*ahem*, the 6th leading scorer in the league - hint, hint) I don't think it would be a terrible thing to stick with Harris and see what shakes out.</div>

To your centerpiece concept, how do you propose obtaining one? Is it the 2008 lottery pick?

To your third point about Harris, how long do you believe it will take for him to reach that level?
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1. I think the Nets are going to stumble into the playoffs, so no. Maybe the 2009 pick but more likely a trade. (Something like picks and a player for a lottery pick and cap filler - similar to what Seattle did last year.)

2. It's hard to say, because I don't even know what level he can reach. I've heard "All-Star" being thrown around, but I'm not too sure I buy that. I'll say his real value lies in his ability to affect the game on both ends during key possessions in the playoffs. That's worth his salary if the Nets can't put together a deal they like for him.

 

[reganomics813]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Mar 8 2008, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So the only players you want to keep for any significant period of time are Devin, Sean, Boone and Diop? If you are looking for two of three bigs to be starters, that is putting a tremendous amount of pressure to score on the wings that aren't on the roster yet.</div>

It also puts a lot of pressure on them as well to step up to the challenge without question. We are going to struggle after we move our vets even more so than we are now, there's no bones about it, but I feel that's necessary to really test what we have now to figure out what kind of a base we truly have to build from. Decent pg's and bigs are tough to come by and luckily we're starting out with a few as we try and figure out the best way to build this squad.

As I said before, opportunities we wouldn't even think possible could arise and our rebuilding could take a dramatic turn in a completely different direction but the players mentioned above are 4 players who could thrive together or fetch us something we're lacking so yes those are who I would like to see stay.

 

[logik15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Mar 8 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Elton Brand fits that role. He WILL be available. Inside source says he WILL opt out. LA could use star power like Carter's to offset the loss of Brand, Cassell, Maggette, etc. Might work as an s&t with one of those picks and some of that cash. (Also, I have great faith in the Nets' orthopedic staff to assure Thorn his achilles issue is past)

In short, your original post was, as usual, a red herring. I have brought it back to the bright, bold, beautiful world of reality.</div>


OMG i was thinking the EXACT same thing. What we've been missing for the longest time is a dominant big man to put our cast around. Harris and jefferson are solid at their roles, but sometimes i also think harris may be better fitted at SG, but no other point guards come in mind. It seems like the plays lawrence frank draws up requires a dominant big man instead of giving the ball to carter/jefferson in the post all the time and letting them create from there. We need the shooters to be on the perimeter, and that dominant big man who can score down low. Our big men are all inconsistant in offense which I believe is a big problem in our gameplay. Another problem is that we need shooters, because the zone kills us and we need to spread the defense more, or have that big guy down there to draw the zone in and kick out. Elton brand woudl complement us perfectly, and a future being built around harris jefferson and brand seem nothing but bright.