NBA Offseason Preview - New Jersey Nets

New Jersey Nets
Record: 34-48
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $51.8M

Draft Picks: #10, #21, #40

Another season ends and the Nets needs remain the same. Sure, Josh Boone quietly put together a strong campaign (8.2 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 2007-08 from 4.2 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 2006-07). Nevertheless, New Jersey remains set at the point guard position for the foreseeable and still have Vince Carter at the 2 and Richard Jefferson at the 3. Though both of are declining, few NBA teams have more talent on the wings. In spite of Sean Williams’s defensive presence at times this season, he lacks offensive upside.

Burning Questions: Jason Kidd has been traded. Carter and Jefferson are on the decline and the latter has had a recent brush with the law. Will they trade either of these stars? Will anyone take Jefferson for anything short of a salary dump of expiring contracts?

Perceived Needs: Frontcourt scoring, wing depth

If I Were GM … I would desperately find a suitor for Vince Carter and continue to get young. If it means trading out of the lottery to offload his salary ($48.8 over the next three seasons with a team option of $18M in 2011-12 which can be bought out for $5M), I would in a heartbeat. Why? If you are a young player and your team’s best veteran has admitted quitting on a team in order to get out of town, just imagine his leadership skills.

If I cannot find a suitor, I would go after a proven interior scoring threat, knowing that I would sacrifice some defense for steady offense. If that is too much of a reach, the best player available who is not a point guard would do. Therefore, the Nets may be poised to select anyone not named DJ Augustin or Ty Lawson with the 10th and 21st picks. With the #40 pick, the Nets are in position to take the best player available.