Nets in cost cutting mode

[Sinobas]

Unbelievable that many of you Blazer fans would balk at acquiring Devin Harris if it meant giving up Rudy. 85% of Rudy's shots are jumpers, and out of those 80% were assisted. That means, aside from his occasional ally-oop dunks, he's the Steve Blake of SGs. I think people love Rudy because he's a rookie that came in with a lot of hype, but he has A LONG way to go before he starts living up to the love he gets from Portland fans.

Devin Harris would solve our PG problem and his age fits perfectly with our core. We can only hope that Bayless becomes as good as Harris one day. To boot, he also has a decent contract (~8.5 mil a year) that runs till the end of 2013.

Rudy, Bayless, Outlaw and draft picks for Devin Harris.

We still may have enough money for a 2nd free agent as well.

 

[Minstrel]

Quick question would you do LMA for Harris straight up? Just curious maybe I undervalue LMA but I was not impressed with his playoff performance and I questions his "baller" status. I worry about a Cliff Robinson on steroids effect. Super excellent in the regular season but just kind "Meh" in the playoffs. I'm not saying I despise the guy I just think you have to consider that trade. People laughed me off the board last summer when I suggested LMA for D. Rose I still wonder what that would have been like.

That's a really, really tough one. If Portland didn't have Oden, I definitely wouldn't do it. As it is, I think Harris is a bit better than Aldridge in terms of production, but Aldridge has more defensive impact on the team defense. I also think Aldridge has more potential remaining than Harris.

I'd consider it, but probably ultimately not do it. I think Aldridge has the ability to be a Chris Bosh level player with superior defense. That's too valuable to trade for Devin Harris.

 

[Minstrel]

I really don't see the Nets getting rid of Harris unless it's for somebody like Rubio. The only possible way I can see players we're prepared to give up (i.e., non big-three) coming close is if we also took on Bobby Simmons.

I'd happily take on Simmons' contract if it meant getting Harris without giving up Roy/Oden/Aldridge. If Portland could also somehow retain Batum, aces...but Batum would certainly not be off the table.

 

[oldguy]

Harris would be a great pickup.
For Harris and Simmons I'd give:
Rudy - I love his game, but you have to give to get. +
Bayless - See above
Along with their choice of these guys to match salaries:
Martel
Travis
Steve

Sweeten with cash and draft picks as needed.

No to LA, he's too perfect a compliment to Greg.

No to Joel, if Greg doesn't get over his foulitis, we're screwed without Joel.

No to Nic, too much upside to add to the above.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I'd definitely give Rudy, Outlaw, Bayless and would consider including Batum. This guy is an ideal fit for us or for almost anyteam. He is the best PG that might be available. Good height but also an excellent defender against small quick guys like Tony Parker. His scoring is a bonus.

 

[ebott]

Do people realize that Devin Harris is an All-Star? I don't think some of us do. Because if they did they wouldn't be making claims that they wouldn't trade Rudy, Bayless and Batum for him. None of those guys will ever be All-Stars. That makes Harris an upgrade to them. Thus it would be a good trade.

Not like it matters, Harris is a pipe dream. All this talk that the Nets are holding a fire sale is BS over-reaction to the Vince Carter trade.

 

[Uther TheGardener]

answer me this didnt Harris have a great start of the season but faded badly as the season went on? Like non-existent? is that the type of player we want to give up the farm for?

 

[B-Roy]

answer me this didnt Harris have a great start of the season but faded badly as the season went on? Like non-existent? is that the type of player we want to give up the farm for?

IIRC, he started fading off because he was dealing with a few injuries.

 

[Cake]

answer me this didnt Harris have a great start of the season but faded badly as the season went on? Like non-existent? is that the type of player we want to give up the farm for?

How is trading a player for a better play selling the farm?

We're not talking about trading Roy, Aldridge and Oden for Harris. we're talking about trading a bench player or two for an all star point guard.

 

[Further]

I really doubt that they trade Harris. It's not like he has a large contract. 7 mil, he is worth more than that. A team has to have some moderate contracts, and Simmons will be their only other fairly big contract at 10mil. I say bullshit to anyone who writes that NJ will be trading Harris, at least for financial reasons. If they trade him it will be because there is an offer too good to pass up talent wise, and thats not what is being floated in this thread.

 

[Denny Crane]

I really doubt that they trade Harris. It's not like he has a large contract. 7 mil, he is worth more than that. A team has to have some moderate contracts, and Simmons will be their only other fairly big contract at 10mil. I say bullshit to anyone who writes that NJ will be trading Harris, at least for financial reasons. If they trade him it will be because there is an offer too good to pass up talent wise, and thats not what is being floated in this thread.

+1

Spot on

 

[MrJayremmie]

Harris would bea dream, but this is tough to see.

But I'd give up anyone not named Roy, Aldridge, Oden for Harris. I'd hesitate w/ Batum, but i'd give him up as well.

 

[Wheels]

I don't think your summation is accurate at all. LA, Boston, San Antonio, Miami and the previous LA incarnation did not win with depth. In fact, I wouldn't even say Detroit won with "depth." Detroit didn't win with the best 1-2 players, but they absolutely rode their fantastic starting five.

All of those teams won primarily by riding their starters hard. They all had some players off the bench, but not excellent players. They had the types of players you can get with decent drafting at the end of the first round and in the second round and/or wise uses of the MLE or even LLE. None of them were fielding a second unit of players who could start on some teams.

Portland needs some players who won't completely embarrass themselves, but they don't need high-level players (starter-quality or near-starter quality) like Fernandez, Outlaw and Przybilla on the bench. Most of the players that get lionized as "great reserves on championship teams" are actually pretty ordinary players that can be counted on to do a few things when defenses are focused on the superstars. They often then get overpaid or given too large a role on non-descript teams, due to having been shown to "winning role-players," and prove to be nothing special.

So, sure, you need an Eddie House or past-his-prime Jason Williams...you don't need a Rudy Fernandez. A Rudy Fernandez off the bench certainly is nice, but it's less valuable than an improved starting unit.

Sorry I think it came across I was emphasizing the wrong point.. probably due to my poor writing.
One of the first lines I was mentioning to look who the runners up were. The runners up to those finals were teams that had star power and good starters.. but a lot of them didnt have the depth the other team did, and fell short, whether it was due to depth, or superior starting lineup is something that can be debated. But not really something that can be proven, sorry that I emphasized the wrong point though, and looking back at my writing I wrote it all wrong lol, thats what I get for trying to write a decent post at work.

 

[oldguy]

Do people realize that Devin Harris is an All-Star? I don't think some of us do. Because if they did they wouldn't be making claims that they wouldn't trade Rudy, Bayless and Batum for him. None of those guys will ever be All-Stars. That makes Harris an upgrade to them. Thus it would be a good trade.

Not like it matters, Harris is a pipe dream. All this talk that the Nets are holding a fire sale is BS over-reaction to the Vince Carter trade.

So, we send out Travis, Rudy, Bayless and Nic. Who is going to play SF? If Martel can't go, we have a scrub starting. So much for great perimeter defense.

No to trading Nic.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

BRoy, Oden, Aldridge, Harris, and scrubs > What we got now

 

[oldguy]

BRoy, Oden, Aldridge, Harris, and scrubs > What we got now

I don't know Crim. Harris is a big upgrade over Steve, but a scrub would be a big downgrade from Nic, especially on D. Overall, a smaller upgrade than folks around here are expecting. IF he's available, I guess we'll see what KP thinks he's worth.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I don't know Crim. Harris is a big upgrade over Steve, but a scrub would be a big downgrade from Nic, especially on D. Overall, a smaller upgrade than folks around here are expecting. IF he's available, I guess we'll see what KP thinks he's worth.

True. I don't forsee Harris being moved unless it's for a top flight player on a rookie contract.

 

[B-Roy]

I don't know Crim. Harris is a big upgrade over Steve, but a scrub would be a big downgrade from Nic, especially on D. Overall, a smaller upgrade than folks around here are expecting. IF he's available, I guess we'll see what KP thinks he's worth.

NICOLAS PLAYED 19 MINUTES LAST SEASON AND PUT UP MEDIOCRE STATS. His production, including his good defense (Not great defense) can be replaced fairly easily. We're banking on Nic becoming a better player, but his production last season was not anything special. There's no way we'd be downgrading on something that wasn't so great in the first place.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If we can sign Ariza, we'd have the most athletic 5 in the League

Harris
Roy
Ariza
Aldridge
Oden

 

[ironcrotch]

NICOLAS PLAYED 19 MINUTES LAST SEASON AND PUT UP MEDIOCRE STATS. His production, including his good defense (Not great defense) can be replaced fairly easily. We're banking on Nic becoming a better player, but his production last season was not anything special. There's no way we'd be downgrading on something that wasn't so great in the first place.

You realize he's a 19 year old rookie right? I can see that complaint with a veteran but to discredit Batum for not being 'so great' is kinda premature. He was drafted in the 2nd round and we didn't even expect anything from him. So far he's pretty great IMO.

 

[B-Roy]

You realize he's a 19 year old rookie right? I can see that complaint with a veteran but to discredit Batum for not being 'so great' is kinda premature. He was drafted in the 2nd round and we didn't even expect anything from him. So far he's pretty great IMO.

The guy was talking about how we would be downgrading from a guy who played mediocre in 19 minutes per game! That's ridiculous!

And yes, I know Batum is 19, and his appeal is that he will become a better player, but the Batum of LAST SEASON is not hard to replace.

 

[Minstrel]

You realize he's a 19 year old rookie right? I can see that complaint with a veteran but to discredit Batum for not being 'so great' is kinda premature. He was drafted in the 2nd round and we didn't even expect anything from him. So far he's pretty great IMO.

He was drafted in the first round...I believe at #22.

That said, his age is very relevant. It was a very impressive rookie season considering how old he was. He was a decent player and he should be even better next season.

 

[B-Roy]

Batum was drafted 25th.

It was impressive given the circumstances, but his production wasn't all that great.

 

[Foulzilla]

I agree with those who say Harris really isn't available. However, if he was, I'd do everything I could to come up with a trade that didn't include Batum. However, at the end of the day, if the Nets say Rudy + Batum or no deal, I do it and walk off satisfied. Batum and Rudy had good rookie years, but are not irreplaceable. Maybe one of them becomes a real stud. Harris already is.

 

[oldguy]

NICOLAS PLAYED 19 MINUTES LAST SEASON AND PUT UP MEDIOCRE STATS. His production, including his good defense (Not great defense) can be replaced fairly easily. We're banking on Nic becoming a better player, but his production last season was not anything special. There's no way we'd be downgrading on something that wasn't so great in the first place.

How about a few names of available scrub 3's that can do everything Nic did, or better yet, everything the improved Nic will do next season?