I. Personnel Changes
The Nets, led by Executive of the Year Rod Thorn, have been both wise and
lucky in the past two seasons. In 2000, they won the draft lottery and
selected Kenyon Martin who has started for the past two years after
overcoming a gruesome leg injury in his final game at Cincinnati.
After a sub-par 2000-01 campaign, the Nets had the 7th overall selection in
the draft. they selected home-grown power forward Eddie
Griffin. However,
Nets fans were jubilant over the selection for less than an hour. Rod Thorn
traded Griffin to the Houston Rockets for all three of their first round
selections (Jason Collins, Richard
Jefferson, and Brandon Armstrong). Analysts, most notably ESPN's David Aldridge hated the move from the Nets
point of view claiming, "The Nets have done the unthinkable, AGAIN." Thorn
knew better. Collins and Jefferson were important contributors to the Nets
run to the Finals. It turned out to be a good deal for both teams even
though Griffin may eventually be the deal's crowning jewel.
Thorn also pulled off the summer's biggest deal by trading the self-centered
Stephon Marbury and two unused players to the Phoenix Suns for Jason Kidd
and Chris Dudley (who was later waived).
The Nets also signed C Todd MacCulloch away from the 76ers by giving him a
lucrative seven year deal in excess of $34 million.
II. Season Overview
The New Jersey Nets turned it all around this season. Jason Kidd led
the team to a 52-30 mark improving dramatically from the previous year's 26
wins. They defeated the 8th seeded Indiana pacers in 5 games in the Eastern
Conference Play-offs. The Nets then beat the Hornets and Celtics to reach
the NBA Championship Series where they were defeated by the Lakers in four
games.
III. Roster/Contract/Stats
Point Guard:
- Jason Kidd (9 years, $54 million) 14.7 points, 7.3 rebnds, 9.9 assists
- Anthony Johnson (1 year, $1.2 million) 2.8, 0.9, 1.4
Shooting Guard:
- Kerry Kittles (6 years, $49 million) 13.4, 3.4, 2.6
- Lucious Harris (7 years, $13.4 million) 9.1, 2.8, 1.6
- Brandon Armstrong (4 years, $4.4 million) 1.8, 0.5, 0.2
Small Forward:
- Keith Van Horn (5 years, $59 million) 14.8, 7.5, 2.0
- Richard Jefferson (3 years, $4.4 million) 9.4, 3.7, 1.8
- Donny Marshall (1 year, NBA minimum) 1.5, 0.5, 0.0
Power Forward:
- Kenyon Martin (3 years, $11.4 million) 14.9, 5.3, 2.6, 1.6 blocks
- Brian Scalabrine (1 year, $330,000- NBA minimum) 2.1, 1.8, 0.8
Center:
- Todd MacCulloch (7 years, $34.4 million) 9.7, 6.1, 1.3 1.4 blocks
- Jason Collins (3 years, $3.4 million) 4.5, 3.9, 1.1, 0.61 blocks
- Aaron Williams (5 years, $13.5 million) 7.2, 4.1, 0.9, 0.93 blocks
Jason Kidd has an option to void his contract following the 2002-03 season.
The Nets MUST re-sign him to be a competitive squad in the years to come.
Give him the money and keep him in Jersey.
IV. Positional Analysis
Point Guards
Jason Kidd is the league's best point guard. Anyone who disagrees need only
look at how vastly improved the Nets became by adding him to the mix. Yes,
even better than Gary Payton and Stevie Franchise.
Anthony Johnson was not a productive back-up but he didn't need to be because
Kidd logged so many productive minutes.
Shooting Guard's
Kerry Kittles came into his own after two injury-plagued seasons. He played
well through the regular season and the play-offs.
Lucious Harris shot 55% through the first three rounds of the playoffs. The
Lakers held him in check in the Finals.
Small Forward's
Keith Van Horn showed why he deserved to be the 2nd pick in the 1998 Draft.
His 6' 10" frame created numerous mismatches against other SF's in the East.
Richard Jefferson provided all the depth the Nets needed at SF. He played
tough defense and scored big baskets throughout the year.
Power Forward's
Kenyon Martin plays a lot bigger than his 6' 9" frame. He jumps out of the
gym and shuts down opposing PF's.
Aaron Williams is a decent back-up to Martin.
Centers
Todd MacCulloch played great against the East. Shaq manhandled him in the
Finals, but he held his own in the East. Hopefully he can put on 20 pounds
of muscle, as Bill Walton suggested, in the offseason.
Jason Collins is a young solid backup for the future.
V. Coach/ Management
Head Coach Byron Scott could have easily won NBA Coach of the Year. He and
Rick Carlisle did miraculous things this past season. The Nets far exceeded
any expectations by reaching the Finals. Scott deserves much of the credit
for bringing this unit together.
Executive of the Year Rod Thorn pulled the trigger on two key deals during
the offseason as well as signing C Todd MacCulloch.
VI. Draft History
Laughable Selections
- Steve Rodgers- Rd. 2 1992
- Rex Walters- Rd. 1 1993- On the bright side, things can only get better from
here.
- John Best- Rd 2. 1993- ... or so we thought...
- Yinka Dare- Rd. 1 1994 ... will it ever get better?
- Ed O'Bannon- Rd. 1 1995 -- [In fairness, (excluding the top 5) this could be
the weakest draft in recent history.]
- Evan Eschmeyer- Rd. 2 1999-- [Resisted temptation to trade up for Frederic
Weis]
- Soumailia Samake- Rd. 2 2000
Finally Some Good Ones
- PJ Brown- Rd. 2 1992
- Kerry Kittles- Rd. 1 1996
- Tim Thomas and Anthony Parker- Rd. 1 1997 (Traded for Keith Van Horn)
- Kenyon Martin- Rd. 1 2000
- Eddie Griffin- Rd. 1 2001 (Traded for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and
Brandon Armstrong)
VII. Team Needs
The Nets made it to the Finals showing they are capable of great things.
They were the best team in the East all year. I see no reason for that to
change next year but the NBA is unpredictable. They are an athletic team
especially their big men. Kenyon Martin is one of, if not the most, athletic
players in the NBA.
Shaq dominated the Finals no matter who defended him. No one can stop Shaq
so I don't think that a C is a major need area for NJ. They had MacCulloch
and Collins inside.
Richard Jefferson gives them great versatility. He can play the 2, 3, or 4
spots if necessary.
The Nets most pressing need is a back-up PG perhaps even someone to groom
into a starting PG if Kidd flees NJ.
VIII. My Selection
Juan
Dixon, PG, 6'3", Maryland
My selection is Juan Dixon (SG/PG University of Maryland). The Nets could
use the combo guard as a back-up to Kidd and Kerry Kittles. He has
incredible range from the perimeter and can handle the ball. He handled
point guard duties at Maryland when Steve Blake was on the bench. He is a
little undersized but his quickness should compensate for that shortcoming.
Dixon is also a superior defender. ESPN analyst Andy Katz claims Dixon is
the best on the ball defender in the entire draft. He should fit in nicely
with this squad.
IX. Others Considered
Lenny Cooke - An extremely athletic SG with a troubled past. He grew up in
the NY/ NJ area. I think he will be a steal whenever he is selected. Most
high schoolers who declare early for the draft due to financial need have an
incredible passion to succeed. Cooke will be a good one. Maybe the Nets can
grab him in Rd. 2.
Steve Logan - Player of the year candidate at Cincinnati. Will only fall this
far because of his height.
Casey Jacobsen - Won't fall out of the first round. Lack of great
ball-handling skills is the only thing stopping me from taking the sharp
shooter from Stanford.
Carlos Boozer - Too good of a player to fall out of Rd. 1 although I do think
he has been overrated since he got to Duke. Nets have more of a pressing
need at back-up PG though.
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