Nets sign Jeff McInnis

[Next Level Game]

http://www.nj.com/nets/ledger/index.ssf?/b...6400.xml&coll=1

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Nets sign McInnis to be Kidd's backup
Friday, July 29, 2005
BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff

They called Jeff McInnis a quitter last season in Cleveland, and that was probably one of the nicer things they said about him.

Both Paul Silas and Brendan Malone benched him. Teammates raised their eyebrows when the point guard complained about not getting enough touches and about LeBron James taking too many shots. Fans turned against him after hearing McInnis call himself "an independent contractor."

And when he skipped a flight to Toronto in mid-April, management considered leaving him off the playoff roster entirely -- if the Cavaliers made the playoffs, which didn't happen, ostensibly because they had too many players like McInnis.
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Great signing. He'll be very good as a backup.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

Well, this is definitly going to be his chance to do things differently and learn a lot of things from Kidd. He adds more depth to the Nets' guard and small forward line up. I sure hope that he came cheap because the Nets still need to attain some depth in the big man department. I have the feeling that the Nets are waiting for when some current high contract guys will be cut in light of new contract provision.

I made a short list and here is a possiblity of the guys (of interest) who might become available:

Raef Lafrentz
Webber or Mashburn
A. Foyle
Jawan Howard
Szcerbiak (unlikely)
Theo Ratliff
Corliss Williamson
Rasho Nesterovic
Danny Fortson
Mehmet Okur

There are a lot unlikely guys here, but you never know which of them may become availible. The Nets may attempt to make a gamble and press thier luck here. It will be very interesting to see how every thing will play out.

 

[Really Lost One]

wow! you guys have been very active this off season. can you say atlantic division champs??

 

[NJNetz]

Thats a great sign. I didnt know they might sign Mcinnis. I was just about to post the story but realized theres a thread already

 

[Apollo]

Good signing and McInnis will be a perfect backup for Kidd, but looking at his past of complaints on playing time and coming off the bench, lets hope it all goes well.

 

[typemilitant]

Let's go, I can see the Nets goin far this year. All they need is some more big men. Some more beasts down low, defensively and offensively. Or atleast one.

..I still miss K-mart, man.

 

[Tesh15]

ya def. a great signing. he can score and pass. b4 there were aiming for keyon dooling or milt palacio but mcinnis was the perfect signing....

 

[Miami Flash City]

The Nets roster is looking really good,to the point where im starting to get scared for my fav. teams lol

 

[AirJordan]

I hope you guys know Jeff and Vince were teammates in college and are very good friends.

 

[thedude9990]

yea great signing now kidd's minutes will be lower and hopefully that will help his health....and yea i think vince carter was a big reason on why he came

 

[Run BJM]

Great signing, assuming McInnis is kept in check. Now all the Nets need is a interior defender/ shot blocker and they are set. The Birdman would be a good fit; great shot blocker, can finish some nasty alley-oops from J-Kidd, wouldn't mind playing off the bench, and would come at a cheap price.

 

[Bobcats]

If McInnis can keep his head on straight, he could be a very good pickup. Key work is <u>could</u>.

 

[Mr.Wade]

The Nets are looking pretty good... they still need more depth and need one key thing... DEFENSE.

Carter is too lazy on the defensive end, and Kidd has lost a step or two. Even Shareef and Nenad arent' very good defenders.

Frank needs to preach that a lot this year... and I mean a lot.

 

[Next Level Game]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Great signing, assuming McInnis is kept in check. Now all the Nets need is a interior defender/ shot blocker and they are set. The Birdman would be a good fit; great shot blocker, can finish some nasty alley-oops from J-Kidd, wouldn't mind playing off the bench, and would come at a cheap price.</div>

We do need a shot blocker and those don't come so easy these days. However, Jason Collins and Cliff Robinson are both good to great interior defenders with a lot of toughness.. They should be good off the bench. Shot blocking is hard to find, and there aren't many prospects.. Maybe Eddie Griffin again? or someone finally find Keon Clark?

Even without shot blocking I can see this team going to the ECF again.

 

[B.e.]

The Nets have definitely gotten a lot better so far. McInnis will be nice off the bench and aquiring Abdur Rahim helped a lot as well.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Raef Lafrentz
Webber or Mashburn
A. Foyle
Jawan Howard
Szcerbiak (unlikely)
Theo Ratliff
Corliss Williamson
Rasho Nesterovic
Danny Fortson
Mehmet Okur</div>
Webber will not be cut, and Mashburn is retiring.

 

[Henacy]

Great signing, I think this type of signing will allow us to limit Kidd's regular season minutes to a degree because he really burned out the last two playoff series....in 04' vs Pistons and 05' vs Heat, now he is going to be fresher going into the postseason. McInnis gives us a scoring look at the pg spot off the bench, which will be a nice compliment to Jason Kidd's playmaking with the starting group. Getting McInnis ,if he excepts the role Coach Franks has for him in the motion system, is better then if we wouldve signined Keyon Dooling earlier in the offseason. God for bid Kidd goes down, I have alot more confidence in handing the starting job to McInnis then I would have Dooling.

As far as Eddie Griffen goes, nah, I still think he is a very solid player but not right for this team at this time. Having two bigman who spend alot of time standing around at the three point arc like we would have with Robinson and Griffen could be hard to deal with....I dont think we should focus on a bigman who is main strenght is scoring or offense....I think someone who is pshyical and willing to throw his body around is the main need right now. Some one who can truely play the 5 spot because Rahim, Robinson, and Krstic are all 4's in my opinion. I know everybody likes to catogrize Nenad as a 5, which he can play in certain situations...but defensively he has a hard time dealing with that size at the 5 spot(starting 5's) .

 

[Shapecity]

I don't like the signing if I'm a Nets fan, McInnis is a punk and I don't see him changing for anyone. The Nets lost out on Dooling, but there are still some PGs out there who are better than McInnis, and probably for the same price. Also what about Jacques Vaughn, I thought he was a solid backup for Kidd.

The Nets need a defensive speed guard, I think a player like Speedy Claxton would have been perfect, or maybe Kidd and Reef could have worked on bringing Payton over. Kidd and Payton have that Bay Area bond and so does Reef after playing at Cal.

McInnis is a piss poor defensive player and is even worse when he doesn't get his "touches."

 

[P.A.P.]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't like the signing if I'm a Nets fan, McInnis is a punk and I don't see him changing for anyone. The Nets lost out on Dooling, but there are still some PGs out there who are better than McInnis, and probably for the same price. Also what about Jacques Vaughn, I thought he was a solid backup for Kidd.</div>

He's returning from what I know.

 

[Henacy]

Give him a chance he was never in a enviroment that stressed winning first, Portland, Cleveland, Clippers etc...He knows winning is the first and most import thing in Jersey because Kidd demands that type of mindset from teammattes. Jacque Vaughn will be used as a insurance point guard. And a point guard that you can use as a defensive guy...he puts alot of on-ball pressure despite his size...so you can use Vaughn in those defensive situations.

I think that if McInnis buys into0 the concept of the motion offense and finds the right direction on that thin line between being agressive and poor shot selection continously then he will be an excellent compilent to what Kidd will bring to the table. He gives us a pg who can operate more effectively when the game slows down, when 2nd unit guys are on the court.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't like the signing if I'm a Nets fan, McInnis is a punk and I don't see him changing for anyone. The Nets lost out on Dooling, but there are still some PGs out there who are better than McInnis, and probably for the same price. Also what about Jacques Vaughn, I thought he was a solid backup for Kidd.

The Nets need a defensive speed guard, I think a player like Speedy Claxton would have been perfect, or maybe Kidd and Reef could have worked on bringing Payton over. Kidd and Payton have that Bay Area bond and so does Reef after playing at Cal.

McInnis is a piss poor defensive player and is even worse when he doesn't get his "touches."</div>

McInnis is athletic, he can run an offense to a certain degree and it is not as if the Nets have signed him to a long term deal (one year plus a player option second year). Lawrence Frank made a defender out of Buford last year and McInnis, with his athletisism will not have problems doing the same. My view is that the Nets took a risk on McInnis, but a well founded one considering that Vaughn is availible.
I do not buy that McInnis is a punk or a guy that is detrimental to a team. Even if he said the things that the media reports said that he said, I he made well founded points that it is not good for a team to rely too much on one guy (LeBron).

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting xpehbamxyu:</div><div class="quote_post">McInnis is athletic, he can run an offense to a certain degree and it is not as if the Nets have signed him to a long term deal (one year plus a player option second year). Lawrence Frank made a defender out of Buford last year and McInnis, with his athletisism will not have problems doing the same. My view is that the Nets took a risk on McInnis, but a well founded one considering that Vaughn is availible.
I do not buy that McInnis is a punk or a guy that is detrimental to a team. Even if he said the things that the media reports said that he said, I he made well founded points that it is not good for a team to rely too much on one guy (LeBron).</div>
Trust me McInnis a punk, I've actually met him on a few occassions when he played with the Clippers. He is a class A jerk, and has a warped sense of how good he is. It's one thing to be confident, but McInnis is delusional. In his mind he probably thinks he should be starting ahead of Jason Kidd and getting equal shot attempts to Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson. I'm not exaggerating either, when he was with the Clippers he claimed he was the best player on the team and should be the franchise player. He's been a team cancer everywhere he's been, Clippers, Blazers, and last year with the Cavs. Sure it's not a long term deal and maybe McInnis does a 180, but when you are on the verge of making a title run, why take that risk by bringing in a disruptive player?

Right now the Nets have a solid rotation in the backcourt with Kidd, Vaughn, and Planinic.

Jeff McInnis has never accepted being a reserve player, not with the Clippers, not with the Blazers, and not with the Cavs. I just don't see anything to suggest he would do so now.

 

[Henacy]

Planinic is horrible at the point guard spot, when he has the ball in his hands as a decsion maker it leads to alot of turnovers...I dont think Planinic will have much of a roll with this team next year. And if he does it will be more as a wing player at the 2/3 not point. And Vaughn is solid but doesnt bring much to the offensive side, other then making an occasional spot up 15 footer. I really think he will be the third isurance pg and a guy used in certain defensive spots and that is good for him.

McInnis knows when he is signing the contract that a bench role is what is instore for him..so that shouldnt be much of a concern. In Portland, he was backing up a flaky inconsistent Damon Stoudmire. And in Cleveland, they were trying to cut his minutes for Eric Snow,who I always repect the way he plays the game, but still past his hay days of Seattle and Philly, so Mcinnis was of the mindset that he is better as a starter then those guys at this point. But coming to New Jersey, I doubt that he feels the sameway, way with Kidd as the head guy in charge. I think he will be happy with a role playing about 20 minutes a game.

 

[Shapecity]

What makes you think he will be happy as a role player only getting 20 MPG? Especially when those minutes will likely come in garbage time and not during crucial times in a game. McInnis might be the back-up PG because he is more talented than Vaughn, but I don't see him holding onto the position for long. Jacques Vaughn knows his limitations and excepts his role and is willing to do the little things. McInnis is a headcase and cost the Cavs a chance at the playoffs last year, ironically to your Nets.

I really liked all the moves the Nets made up to this point. I liked the draft choices of Wright & Ilic, I loved the addition of Reef and I also liked them bringing back Cliff Robinson. Losing Scalabrine was also a positive IMO. Giving a player like McInnis a chance on a quality team just pisses me off. I was hoping he would go unsigned and not be back in the NBA period.

 

[Next Level Game]

I really doubt McInnis signed with the intention of beating Kidd, Carter, or Jefferson out of their starting position. It just doesn't make sense no matter how bloated his head may be. He had a chance to start for other teams and get paid a good amount of money to do that.... I say McInnis will have trouble adjusting but at the end of the day winning keeps players happy. If the Nets have a rocky start then yes, McInnis might open his mouth but if the Nets are winning and he's getting around 9-12 shots as the 6th man.. he'll be fine.

 

[jkidd]

I like the sign between the nets and mcinnis! i think when he agreed to play for the nets, he also agreed to be a Back up PG. even though alot of people say that he is a jerk and all, there is no sense for him to even Think that he will start! not unless something bad happens to Kidd (God 4bid)!

the addition of Mcinnis to our roster will greatly help our offense we will have 6 ledgit double figure scorers(Kidd,Vince,RJ,Reef,Krstic and now McInnis)

I hope we can still add a additional Big body and a good defender and our team is as solid as ever!

Rod Thorn keep on going!!!

 

[bronbron23]

firstly i'm quite shocked that they have signed Jmac as I forgot he was a free agent. What will cleveland be doing now they only have snow or has dujaun wagner recovered from his injury?? I think they can make it to the ECF just imagine New Jersey the same as they were last year but with abdur rahim and jeff mcinnis and a more experienced nenad krstic and more up and coming rookies. Oh and don't forget NJ made it to the playoffs without Jefferson how couldn't New Jersey make it to the playoffs.

 

[og15]

I have to agree with Shape here, I don't understand the McInnis signing, he's always been a guy that had an ego, and was never afraid to express his displeasure. I even remember when Lebron was a rookie, he was complaining about having to guard the best opposing guard every night because he was a better defender than Lebron [which he was], but still.

Maybe he's decided to change his ways in order to win because obviously he knows he's signing with the Nets, and can't expect to start at either the 1 or 2 spot with Kidd and Carter there.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What will cleveland be doing now they only have snow or has dujaun wagner recovered from his injury?? </div>
Cleveland had no plan of bringing him back, so it's not like they hurt by this. I'm also pretty sure Wagner is a FA, and he's not a PG anyways. They're looking to get a PG in the market, they were going after Jaric, and their's other candidates out there.


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh and don't forget NJ made it to the playoffs without Jefferson how couldn't New Jersey make it to the playoffs.</div>
Yes, and they also didn't have Shareef last year either, or much of a bench, right now, they're looking more like an elite Eastern team than just a playoff team.

 

[swyftdahoe]

I don't think McInnis has ever been on a team with a locker room leader like Kidd.. Kidd ain't gonna stand for his bs and will be able to keep him in check.. JMac's got the game to be a solid backup.. Tho his defense is surely lacking, he'll bring sum offense off the bench as a backup 1 (with spot minutes at the 2).. Good signing..

Don't be so pessimistic shapecity lol.. Tho I agree that there's a definite chance that he'll revert to his cancerous ways, I'm hopeful that he'll fit in well with this team and accept his role.. So, let's just wait and see..

 

[Henacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">What makes you think he will be happy as a role player only getting 20 MPG? Especially when those minutes will likely come in garbage time and not during crucial times in a game. McInnis might be the back-up PG because he is more talented than Vaughn, but I don't see him holding onto the position for long. Jacques Vaughn knows his limitations and excepts his role and is willing to do the little things. McInnis is a headcase and cost the Cavs a chance at the playoffs last year, ironically to your Nets.

I really liked all the moves the Nets made up to this point. I liked the draft choices of Wright & Ilic, I loved the addition of Reef and I also liked them bringing back Cliff Robinson. Losing Scalabrine was also a positive IMO. Giving a player like McInnis a chance on a quality team just pisses me off. I was hoping he would go unsigned and not be back in the NBA period.</div>

What makes me think he will be happy? because he wouldnt have signed with New Jersy if he wasnt willing to accept such a role. It is not like the Nets threw the entire MLE at him, so he couldnt have signed for the money. He could have recieved that 3.5 mil offer from alot of teams, especially after Payton, and Stoudimre go off the market, which problably will be soon. So it seems to me that he took the Nets offer because it is a chance to have the success from a team standpoint that was never there in Portland, LA, or Cleveland.

Its easy to say that McInnis was the reason the Cavs didnt make the playoffs. And Iam sure his acts played a role....but there were alot of factors on why the Cavs didnt make the playoffs. They let Paul Silas go at the wrong time, other guys like Drew Gooden folded down the stretch. And the biggest reason the Cavs didnt make the playoffs is because they just realistically wasnt as good as their 1st half record made people believe they were. The Cavs had a light schedule early so every figured they were a lock to make the playoffs, but as the games got harder...their youth and inexperience started to show. And certain guys started to panic. And tried to do to much and others folded and did to little.

 

[Shapecity]

Actually McInnis wasn't getting any offers, the Lakers told him no thanks, and the majority of the teams in the league are set at PG. You have to be concerned about a player who's played for 6 teams in his 9 year career. McInnis has some talent and will impress you in practice and workouts, but something upstairs just isn't right with him and it's just a matter of time before he snaps. Having a veteran leader like Kidd is a plus for a knucklehead like McInnis, but Kidd is not going to coddle McInnis and will keep him on a shortleash. I could see Kidd alienating McInnis by mid-season because Kidd wants to win a title before his career is over, and doesn't want to deal with any b.s. or unnecessary drama. Bringing McInnis aboard invites that type of atmosphere and can potentially kill your team chemistry.

I'd rather see them bring players aboard who are hungry veterans that leave it all out on the court and except a specific role. How about some former Nets like Kerry Kittles or Lucious Harris or bringing back Travis Best? Travis Best was great in the playoffs for the Nets.

Other vets still out there Brevin Knight, Darrell Armstrong, Jon Barry, Gary Payton, Mateen Cleaves, Keith McLeod, Eddie House.

I'd sign any of those players ahead of McInnis.