On the Brooklyn Nets' tough sell in NYC

[keithting]

Originally Posted by golfer

They could also use Tiny Archibald, Bird Averitt, Super John Williamson, and Bubbles Hawkins!
But they would probably just trade Bernard King again for Rich Kelley

Sorry, don't get much opportunity to use my Nets trivial knowledge these days

Bubbles Hawkins was the man !!!

But really they need a Rick Barry again !!!

[Cannon Shell]

C'mon guys they need the ABA era Dr J to be a factor.

Realistically Williams should have spent the summer getting his ankles fixed up and rested instead of playing in the Olympics. I get that it only happens once every 4 years but he has a gold medal already and the max contract should have created a responsibility as the "guy" in Brooklyn that obviously wasn't a factor. I have always been a fan of his game as he did so many things so well. But the truth is that he has seemed out of shape all season and perhaps the recent revelation that he had PRP on both ankles recently has played a role in that. When you look at his career you start to see that maybe Utah knew that Williams health was going to be an ongoing issue when they surprised everyone by trading him for what seemed like 50 cnts on the dollar. The odd thing about Williams season is that he is shooting less (4 shots per game less than last year) but his assist rate is the worst (by far) since his rookie season. He has always been a more productive playoff player but who knows the way he has played this season.

Humphries IMO is the victim of playing on a better team. His last 2 years where he was a pretty productive NBA 4/5 may have been aided by extensive garbage time as the team was so bad. Shooting 43% for a player with his skill set is indefensible.

Gerald Wallace looks like a horse who was once a solid grade 3 performer that is now really a 50 claimer yet is still paid like a grade 2 horse.

Johnson is a role player paid like a star.

I think the Nets are pretty much screwed this year. IMO trading for Josh Smith is a huge mistake because he isn't what they need (outside shooting) and he is going to be a FA after this year and believes he should be a max contract guy. Having 3 guys who are on max contract deals who aren't worth it is worse than having 2. I have heard Paul Millsap and Ben Gordon mentioned but neither is a difference maker and Millsap is also a FA after this year and is going to want to get paid. I'd trade him for Humphries and Brooks (if you arent going to use him) but I dont think Utah makes that deal. Gordon is an advanced version of Brooks (a really advanced version to be fair) that makes a lot of money. The Nets may be the one NBA team that would pay the luxury tax willingly but cap rules are going to make it harder for teams over the limit in the future. I don't think they are ever going to be a serious contender as long as Billy King is calling the shots.