Who can the Nets realistically pick up in free agency?

[KG Living Legend]

The Nets should just suck it up and compete with Philly for the best tankers ever for the next three years. Focus on 2020 Brooklyn. That's going to be a big decade fit you.

[crimson_stallion]

They'd be much better off trading Lopez (and Young and Jack) for picks, and using their cap space to take on bad salaries next summer for more assets.  Then they can have a cleaner slate in the new CBA with some youth, as well as a better free agency class.  Could they make some moves to maybe become a first-round playoff exit again? Sure.  But that ship has sailed, and to have sustained success they need to be patient for a year or two.

So basically you're advocating they follow Hinkie's multi-year tank strategy except they don't have their own picks for the next couple years to benefit from that strategy.  Following that strategy, its going to be a lot longer than a year or two before they have sustained success.  I don't see them getting enough in return for Lopez and Young to justify trading them.

Yes.  They are far from being contenders.  They can clog up their future salary cap now by going in on some third-tier free agents and maybe sneak into the 8th slot if everything goes wrong for a few other teams, or they can take their medicine and start preparing for the future now.  They are out of draft picks to trade.  They don't even have any seconds until I think 2020.  So they can sign a free agent or two, but can't make any in-season moves to get help.  Look at the teams ahead of them in the East.  A lot of them are younger with key players under contract for multiple years.  The longer they wait to scrap everything, the longer it will be before they're a contender

Clear the books, grab whatever draft picks you can in doing so, and hope that there are 2, maybe 3, free agents in a couple years who think Brookyln is cool and want to play together.

I don't think they should completely Hinkie it, mind you.  I think you keep the bad salaries you take on for picks and have them try to win games with your young players, and that's especially true when you don't control your own picks.  But they're losing now, and they are behind too many teams in terms of franchise development to catch up quickly.  The quick fix didn't work the last time, and they've paid the price.

The Nets lack of picks is exactly why they shouldn't clean house.  However they do still have their 2020 1st to trade.  They can build around Lopez and Young.  RHJ was looking pretty good before the injury.  They need to improve their guards and there are a number of free agents that they could go after this offseason.  They'll have to spend money to get to the minimum team salary anyway.  I'd expect them to sign free agents to 2 or 3 years contracts.

Lopez and Young are really not the type of guys you build around.

Lopez is far too high maintenance, and it's debatable whether Young is pretty good starter, but will never be anything more.  To be honest it's debatable whether Young was any better than Evan Turner when both guys were in Philly a few years back. 

Brooklyn really should blow it up and start over.  Not for because of draft picks, but because their current team is a great big steaming pile of mess that isn't going anywhere soon.

[tazzmaniac]

They'd be much better off trading Lopez (and Young and Jack) for picks, and using their cap space to take on bad salaries next summer for more assets.  Then they can have a cleaner slate in the new CBA with some youth, as well as a better free agency class.  Could they make some moves to maybe become a first-round playoff exit again? Sure.  But that ship has sailed, and to have sustained success they need to be patient for a year or two.

So basically you're advocating they follow Hinkie's multi-year tank strategy except they don't have their own picks for the next couple years to benefit from that strategy.  Following that strategy, its going to be a lot longer than a year or two before they have sustained success.  I don't see them getting enough in return for Lopez and Young to justify trading them.

Yes.  They are far from being contenders.  They can clog up their future salary cap now by going in on some third-tier free agents and maybe sneak into the 8th slot if everything goes wrong for a few other teams, or they can take their medicine and start preparing for the future now.  They are out of draft picks to trade.  They don't even have any seconds until I think 2020.  So they can sign a free agent or two, but can't make any in-season moves to get help.  Look at the teams ahead of them in the East.  A lot of them are younger with key players under contract for multiple years.  The longer they wait to scrap everything, the longer it will be before they're a contender

Clear the books, grab whatever draft picks you can in doing so, and hope that there are 2, maybe 3, free agents in a couple years who think Brookyln is cool and want to play together.

I don't think they should completely Hinkie it, mind you.  I think you keep the bad salaries you take on for picks and have them try to win games with your young players, and that's especially true when you don't control your own picks.  But they're losing now, and they are behind too many teams in terms of franchise development to catch up quickly.  The quick fix didn't work the last time, and they've paid the price.

The Nets lack of picks is exactly why they shouldn't clean house.  However they do still have their 2020 1st to trade.  They can build around Lopez and Young.  RHJ was looking pretty good before the injury.  They need to improve their guards and there are a number of free agents that they could go after this offseason.  They'll have to spend money to get to the minimum team salary anyway.  I'd expect them to sign free agents to 2 or 3 years contracts.

Lopez and Young are really not the type of guys you build around.

Lopez is far too high maintenance, and it's debatable whether Young is pretty good starter, but will never be anything more.  To be honest it's debatable whether Young was any better than Evan Turner when both guys were in Philly a few years back. 

Brooklyn really should blow it up and start over.  Not for because of draft picks, but because their current team is a great big steaming pile of mess that isn't going anywhere soon.

If they add a couple decent free agents around Lopez and Young, the Nets can compete for a playoff spot for the next couple years.  Without their own picks, they gain nothing by blowing it up.  The minimum team salary is going to be around 70 mil next season and the following season it will be around 90 mil.  So whoever they have on their roster, they are going to have to pay them a lot. 

[LooseCannon]

They'd be much better off trading Lopez (and Young and Jack) for picks, and using their cap space to take on bad salaries next summer for more assets.  Then they can have a cleaner slate in the new CBA with some youth, as well as a better free agency class.  Could they make some moves to maybe become a first-round playoff exit again? Sure.  But that ship has sailed, and to have sustained success they need to be patient for a year or two.

Everyone's going to have cap space.  Few teams will need to jettison salaries so badly that they need to send out picks to do so.

I'd consider overpaying restricted free agents on three-year deals, so you have young guys on expiring contracts when the Nets actually have their own first again.  Hand ridiculous contracts to Evan Fournier and Jared Sullinger, fill out the roster with some competent veterans, and see what happens.

[saltlover]

If they add a couple decent free agents around Lopez and Young, the Nets can compete for a playoff spot for the next couple years.  Without their own picks, they gain nothing by blowing it up.  The minimum team salary is going to be around 70 mil next season and the following season it will be around 90 mil.  So whoever they have on their roster, they are going to have to pay them a lot.

A few things:

Firstly, I think it's debateae how much the Nets could compete for a playoff spot next year with a couple of quality, but not star, free agents.  They've been healthy so far (minus the recent RHJ injury).  Their record is very indicative of who they are, if not overselling it slightly (their point differential is worse than their bad record indicdtes).  They're about where the Knicks were last year.  The Knicks added some quality free agents in Robin Lopez and Aaron Afflalo, plus a potential rookie of the year in Kristaps Porzinigis.  Carmelo is also back healthy.  And that has propelled them to 12th in the conference more than a quarter way in.  Adding 2, or even 3, such players is likely to result in nothing better than what the Knicks have done.

Secondly, suppose they add 2 decent free agents, on 2-year contracts because they're trying to not get bogged down long term.  Where will they be in 2018?  Those free agents will be gone, Lopez will be 30 and looking for another new deal.  They'll have a year left or RHJ's rookie deal, and whatever 1st they get from a swap.  So now they get to play free agency roulette again, and if it doesn't land on their number, then what?  They'll be farther away from competing than they are today, because they will either have to pay Lopez or let him walk and get nothing.  Same for their other free agents.

On the other hand, suppose they trade Looez, Young, and get a first and a few seconds.  Then suppose next summer they take on some unwanted contracts in exchange for more assets.  Perhaps they get Kevon Looney for taking on Andrew Bogut so Golden State can pay both Barnes and Ezeli.  Perhaps Houston thinks they can make a run on Durant, so they dump Brewer and McDnaiels, and a 2017 pick.  Those are just some examples.  But anyway, now when 2018 rolls around they're the same boat financially as they would doing nothing, except they have more picks.  Furthermore, they can play acquired guys like Bogit, hopefully causing a better record.

[Quetzalcoatl]

The words of a great Boston politician sort of ring true here, where JFK said, "The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger -- but recognize the opportunity."  Even though I don't think that's actually how they spell the word crisis, the Nets signing a couple of mediocre FAs for bigger deals than they deserve could really work out for our 2018 pick.

Do you remember the Ben Gordon and Charlie Villaneuva to Pistons signings?
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4314591

Do you remember when we signed Jermaine O'Neal and he decided to be lazy for us, then left and was all of a sudden decent again?

What about this?  Do you remember this?



Raef LaFrentz anybody?  Vin Baker?

I'm not worried quite yet.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Sully played for NYK?

[tazzmaniac]

If they add a couple decent free agents around Lopez and Young, the Nets can compete for a playoff spot for the next couple years.  Without their own picks, they gain nothing by blowing it up.  The minimum team salary is going to be around 70 mil next season and the following season it will be around 90 mil.  So whoever they have on their roster, they are going to have to pay them a lot.

A few things:

Firstly, I think it's debateae how much the Nets could compete for a playoff spot next year with a couple of quality, but not star, free agents.  They've been healthy so far (minus the recent RHJ injury).  Their record is very indicative of who they are, if not overselling it slightly (their point differential is worse than their bad record indicdtes).  They're about where the Knicks were last year.  The Knicks added some quality free agents in Robin Lopez and Aaron Afflalo, plus a potential rookie of the year in Kristaps Porzinigis.  Carmelo is also back healthy.  And that has propelled them to 12th in the conference more than a quarter way in.  Adding 2, or even 3, such players is likely to result in nothing better than what the Knicks have done.

Secondly, suppose they add 2 decent free agents, on 2-year contracts because they're trying to not get bogged down long term.  Where will they be in 2018?  Those free agents will be gone, Lopez will be 30 and looking for another new deal.  They'll have a year left or RHJ's rookie deal, and whatever 1st they get from a swap.  So now they get to play free agency roulette again, and if it doesn't land on their number, then what?  They'll be farther away from competing than they are today, because they will either have to pay Lopez or let him walk and get nothing.  Same for their other free agents.

On the other hand, suppose they trade Looez, Young, and get a first and a few seconds.  Then suppose next summer they take on some unwanted contracts in exchange for more assets.  Perhaps they get Kevon Looney for taking on Andrew Bogut so Golden State can pay both Barnes and Ezeli.  Perhaps Houston thinks they can make a run on Durant, so they dump Brewer and McDnaiels, and a 2017 pick.  Those are just some examples.  But anyway, now when 2018 rolls around they're the same boat financially as they would doing nothing, except they have more picks.  Furthermore, they can play acquired guys like Bogit, hopefully causing a better record.

Lots of teams will have cap space next season and there aren't that many bad contracts.  Teams won't be worried about reducing their luxury tax.  So the Nets are unlikely to get much for taking on unwanted contracts.  As for your examples, GSW isn't going to have give up anything to move Bogut.  At worst, they give him away for free.  Houston has no shot at Durant. 

The Nets can keep Lopez and Young and still have the ability to add decent players via free agency or via trades like the ones you suggest.  Unless they can get real value for Lopez and Young (i.e. more than a middling 1st and a few 2nds), there's no reason for them to be traded.