SportsTicker
News Feed
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2003
- Messages
- 6,105
- Likes
- 9
- Points
- 38
--The Nets may not hit their stride for a while. Nenad Krstic is still working his way back into basketball shape, although there are encouraging signs every time he takes the court. The team is adjusting to Frank's attempt to revive the Princeton offense. You wonder why Vince Carter seems out of sorts? It isn't age. Not to mention integrating FOUR bigs who were not with the team most of last year: Krstic, Jamaal Magloire, Malik Allen, Sean Williams. Problem is that unless they get out of the first 10 games (8 at home) with a good record, patience may start to wear thin.</p>
--Antoine Wright keeps playing well. I don't think it's a transitory thing. He did a very solid job defensively last night and is now averaging 13.0 ppg, shooting 51.7% from the floor, 46.4% from the arc in 27 minutes of action per game. Lawrence Frank even played him at point in the fourth quarter of the Raptor game. Why not? My understanding of the CBA: the Nets have Wright's Bird Rights but can't give him a contract with a starting salary above $2.56 million per, what he would have gotten if the Nets hadn't decided against extending him. They would then have to use part of their MLE. Nets will have to pay the tax next year unless they can perform some roster magic. Of course, if they are mediocre again, who knows who goes.</p>
--The two three pointers Boki Nachbar hit in the fourth quarter last night represented the first time since the first preseason game that he has hit more than one in a game. In preseason and regular season, he had shot 9 for 35 from beyond the arc before last night. He has been 1-for-7, 1-for-6, 1-for-5 in games. A lot of those shots were off the back of the rim.</p>
--The two players the Nets considered taking in the 2005 and 2006 drafts before taking Wright and Marcus Williams were not extended as well. The 2005 decision on Wright came down to Wright vs. Gerald Green, the Nets international scout told NBADraft.net in 2006. Timberwolves decided against extending an offer to Green and now he sits on their bench. With the Wolves having no reason to play him, and a lot of other young players, he won't get playing time. Word was that if Williams hadn't been available in 2006, the Nets would have taken Shannon Brown. He didn't get his contract extended either. Cavs are now looking to send him elsewhere. They won't accept a player in return since they are trying to get under the cap...and no one will give them a first rounder for Brown, who is seen as a one year bust. Problem for the Nets is that even if they wanted him, who knows if they still do, taking on his contract--$687,456--would put them once again over the luxury tax. Of course, the Cavs could work out a buyout if all else fails.</p>
--Only three teams are carrying 13 players--Nets, Suns, Wizards.</p>
--If you're wondering what Christian Drejer did in Europe after his 23-point game against the Raptors, here's the short answer: very little. In his one Euroleague game, against perennial power Panathinakos, he played 12 minutes, took a three pointer and missed it. He finished with three personal fouls...that's it. No points, rebounds or assists. In the Italian League, he has played five games and scored 34 points on 61.3% shooting, but has been hurt. He didn't play in today's game. Speaking of Italian League, Jumaine Jones has joined Eldo Napoli and is expected to play his first game today. Hassan Adams is reportedly negotiating with a European team as well.</p>
--Antoine Wright keeps playing well. I don't think it's a transitory thing. He did a very solid job defensively last night and is now averaging 13.0 ppg, shooting 51.7% from the floor, 46.4% from the arc in 27 minutes of action per game. Lawrence Frank even played him at point in the fourth quarter of the Raptor game. Why not? My understanding of the CBA: the Nets have Wright's Bird Rights but can't give him a contract with a starting salary above $2.56 million per, what he would have gotten if the Nets hadn't decided against extending him. They would then have to use part of their MLE. Nets will have to pay the tax next year unless they can perform some roster magic. Of course, if they are mediocre again, who knows who goes.</p>
--The two three pointers Boki Nachbar hit in the fourth quarter last night represented the first time since the first preseason game that he has hit more than one in a game. In preseason and regular season, he had shot 9 for 35 from beyond the arc before last night. He has been 1-for-7, 1-for-6, 1-for-5 in games. A lot of those shots were off the back of the rim.</p>
--The two players the Nets considered taking in the 2005 and 2006 drafts before taking Wright and Marcus Williams were not extended as well. The 2005 decision on Wright came down to Wright vs. Gerald Green, the Nets international scout told NBADraft.net in 2006. Timberwolves decided against extending an offer to Green and now he sits on their bench. With the Wolves having no reason to play him, and a lot of other young players, he won't get playing time. Word was that if Williams hadn't been available in 2006, the Nets would have taken Shannon Brown. He didn't get his contract extended either. Cavs are now looking to send him elsewhere. They won't accept a player in return since they are trying to get under the cap...and no one will give them a first rounder for Brown, who is seen as a one year bust. Problem for the Nets is that even if they wanted him, who knows if they still do, taking on his contract--$687,456--would put them once again over the luxury tax. Of course, the Cavs could work out a buyout if all else fails.</p>
--Only three teams are carrying 13 players--Nets, Suns, Wizards.</p>
--If you're wondering what Christian Drejer did in Europe after his 23-point game against the Raptors, here's the short answer: very little. In his one Euroleague game, against perennial power Panathinakos, he played 12 minutes, took a three pointer and missed it. He finished with three personal fouls...that's it. No points, rebounds or assists. In the Italian League, he has played five games and scored 34 points on 61.3% shooting, but has been hurt. He didn't play in today's game. Speaking of Italian League, Jumaine Jones has joined Eldo Napoli and is expected to play his first game today. Hassan Adams is reportedly negotiating with a European team as well.</p>
