Absolutely. And the three most difficult positions to fill on a basketball court are center, point guard and power forward. Nets already have their future players at all three positions under contract through 2011. Harris is under contract through 2013, Yi til 2011 and Lopez til 2012. The Nets also have as many as five first round picks in place in 2009/2010/2011--Nets in 2009, Nets and Mavs in 2010, and Nets and Warriors (lottery protected) in 2011.
From an outsider’s perspective, I’m not as enthusiastic on the Nets future as you are. All because they have Yi and Lopez locked up doesn’t mean they will be good enough to attract LeBron. Your PF of the future is currently shooting 38% from the field and Lopez is only putting up 6/5. Your mention of the Nets’ first round picks just adds credence to the fact they are rebuilding, a phase which lasts more than two years. And two years is the only time the Nets have to get their act together for LeBron. Also what happened to Swat? Wasn’t he heralded as the next Amare Stoudemire last year by Nets fans? Why isn’t he in the equation?
Who do the Knicks have under contract those years...and at what price? Curry, Crawford, Randolph, Jeffries, Gallinari, Collins but no starting point guard (Duhon has a two year deal) and no true center unless you want to count Curry (D'Antoni doesn't). They will have to sign or give up on both Nate Robinson and David Lee next summer. They won't sign both. Gallinari is this year's Greg Oden. They have no pick in the 2010 draft which means they cannot trade their picks in either 2009 or 2011 since league rules prohibit teams from trading their first round picks in two consecutive years. They have no second rounder in 2009 (nor do the Nets).
We still have two years left which is enough time to unload some contracts. Randolph has been on a rampage this season (20/13) and has renewed interest from some teams including the Clippers, Bulls, and Grizzlies. The Knicks might find a way to unload him. In addition, Walsh can use Lee as bait to unload a bad contract before the deadline.
As for the “true center” it doesn’t matter. D’Antoni is known for playing small ball and being effective with it. What matters is if the Knicks are losing or winning, and so far they have been doing the latter. And while we’re on the subject, D’Antoni is well liked amongst most players, including LeBron. I don’t see LeBron being too eager to play for Lawrence Frank.
I’m not too sure on that rule. Our pick is lottery protected this year and I’m pretty sure we can trade it if we want. If we make the playoffs this year, it goes to Utah and we keep our 2010 pick. And the Knicks acquired a second round pick in 2009 for Renaldo Balkman.
The Nets currently have $25 million in salary commitments that year. The Knicks have $44 million. That could change, but the road to 2010 has a lot fewer twists, turns, ruts, and speed bumps in New Jersey than it does in New York.
Remember, we’re looking two years into the future. There’s plenty that can change salary-wise for both teams, especially with them sharing a similar goal: LeBron.
The Knicks have always been and will always be New York’s team. MSG will always be the mecca of basketball. So if LeBron signs with the Knicks he will be the biggest star, in the biggest market, on the biggest stage. The Nets, even if they move to Brooklyn, will never represent New York. They will be sort of what the Clippers are to LA. They might not even move period. I don’t see any reason why he would play there other than the fact he and Jay-Z are apparently BFF’s.