Time to trade RJ?

[NJNetz]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">John Hollinger who writes for both the New York Sun and ESPN.com argues that the Nets lack of defensive intensity is so bad that "it may be time for radical surgery". He prescribes taking out the Nets' Jefferson. Hollinger notes that RJ has been a disappointment defensively and as a result, perimeter defense is the worst in the league. Hollinger proposes some trades, but doesn't seem to understand the league's base year compensation rules. The Nets can only take back half RJ's $10 million salary</div>

http://www.nysun.com/article/23911

 

[XSV]

Hmm not sure about that. Our defensive numbers haven't been bad this year. It's our offense that isn't clicking yet. We just need more time to learn the offensive and defensive systems and gel.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

Pardon me for the harsh language, but what in the world is John Hollinger smoking? Jefferson is the best defender that the Nets have along with Kidd. Jefferson is one the best defenders at the small forward position. Who in the world would the Nets attain in return? The trades he brings up are simply to the Nets' disadvantage on many fronts.

 

[Jurassic]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting xpehbamxyu:</div><div class="quote_post"> Jefferson is one the best defenders at the small forward position.</div>

Haha well...

Artest, Bowen, Kirilenko, Marion and Prince are all better. That's just off the top of my head.

I don't think it's time for them to trade RJ just yet? The Nets are right at the level just below being a contender. In a couple years when Kidd's knees go out they are going to be rebuilding completely. If they trade RJ, they'll be left to build around an aged VC, and we all know about how well that works.

 

[PlaTsanity]

how old are RJ and VC?

 

[NJNetz]

VC is 28 and RJ is 25.

 

[Jerry West]

Carter is the one who has to go if NJ are desperate for a big.

 

[babybulls]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting xpehbamxyu:</div><div class="quote_post">Pardon me for the harsh language, but what in the world is John Hollinger smoking? Jefferson is the best defender that the Nets have along with Kidd. Jefferson is one the best defenders at the small forward position. Who in the world would the Nets attain in return? The trades he brings up are simply to the Nets' disadvantage on many fronts.</div>


he has been off this year though, even he admitted it. I do believe though that his defense will be back to what it was soon enough.

 

[giftedvisionz]

I respect Hollinger in every way, but he's off by saying Jefferson is dissapointing on the defensive end. Hollinger's basis for everything comes from stats, which most of the time he's correct. But he forgets to factor in our weak frontcourt. The Big Three are always forced to help down low, making it easier to help free the opposing team's backcourt for easy open shots. I do agree though that our defense is severely lacking, and if we don't improve in the next two months, than trading either Jefferson or Carter might have to be an option.

 

[kobimel]

I would much prefer trading Carter over Jefferson. He's older and a lot more injury prone, plus, he's at the top of his game, in his prime. He won't be getting much better. RJ, on the other hand, is already nearly at Carter's level, if not at it, nearly 4 years younger, a much better defender (sorry, Hollinger, Jefferson is top 10 at defense at the SF position), and a much better rebounder. If we are so desperate to improve the defense, why trade a guy who's defense is 2nd on the squad only to the great Jason Kidd? If somebody will have to go from the Big 3, it'll be Carter, for either a great perimeter defender or, more likely, a solid, consistent big man.

 

[PlaTsanity]

i agree..trading carter would be much better
and i really think you guys can get a good big man in return

nets should try pulling a KG trade

 

[NJNetz]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PlaTsanity:</div><div class="quote_post">i agree..trading carter would be much better
and i really think you guys can get a good big man in return

nets should try pulling a KG trade</div>


Didn't the GM say that he isn't trading KG? Plus no matter what I they would want VC and RJ.

 

[babybulls]

Carter is the exact guy the twolves wouldn't want to trade for. The problem is that carter has showed he doesn't want to go through a rebuilding stage and the twolves w/o KG are in just that, though carter is playing great GMs will never forget how he acted at the end of his toronto days

 

[B.e.]

They would be better off traded Kidd, or VC. Trading away your young talent and keeping the older players isn't the smartest thing to do, because those players are going to start aging soon and J Kidd has already shown signs of it. Keeping RJ for the future would be smart in my opinion.

 

[rookie789]

no RJ needs to stay with the nets

 

[og15]

It's hard to defend on the perimeter if you're frontcourt sucks. I'm not sure about Jefferson being on of the best defensive SF though, but he could be Top 10. Guys I can think of that are better:

Artest, Marion, Prince, Kirilenko, Posey, Battier, Bowen, G.Wallace

If the Nets trade someone it would have to be Carter, and then maybe Kidd, but Kidd's trade value isn't high right anymore.

 

[Henacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">It's hard to defend on the perimeter if you're frontcourt sucks. I'm not sure about Jefferson being on of the best defensive SF though, but he could be Top 10. Guys I can think of that are better:

Artest, Marion, Prince, Kirilenko, Posey, Battier, Bowen, G.Wallace

If the Nets trade someone it would have to be Carter, and then maybe Kidd, but Kidd's trade value isn't high right anymore.</div>


You said it all with that statement, inorder to be a good perimeter defender, especially trying to guard the likes of Tracy Mcgrady & some of the other guys that have gave it to RJ, this year...you have to have some guys around the basket that will at least make guys think about not penetrating you have to have strong help defending bigs in the pick & roll. Jeff has no weakside help what so ever.

Look at the best perimeter defenders in this league and you will see that it goes hand and hand with an at least quality, sometimes even elite defensive bigman watching their back.

Bowen= TD watching his back
Artest= Oneal watching his back
Prince= Raheed & Ben Wallace watching his back
Walace= Okafor young but a quality defender, heck that is the reason he went 2nd in the draft

Kirineko doesnt have a noted defender playing behind him...but I think Jerry Sloan puts in a system that is extreley cohesive on defense and it makes guys appear or become a bit better on D in Utah then they would be else where. That is not to take anything away from Kirilenko but I do think Jerry Sloan's coaching style does help Utah's overall D, so it benefits Kirilenko to play in that system.

Posey has Zo playing behind him this year....but in Memphis even though guys werent really defensively mind set with their bigs guys Like Swift, Wright and Gasol were alot more moible then any bigmen we bring to the table this year. And latteral quickness is a key on defense...our bigs dont have any.

Marion is probably the only one that has been consistently put in a weak defensive situation but still manages to be one of the best at his position, defensively. But this year even he has stronger defensive bigs playing by his side with Kurt Thomas and B.Grant then Jeff does.