Official 2015-16 Brooklyn Nets Season Watch Thread (21-59, 3rd slot as of 4/12)

[mef730]

I just don't get it (maybe because I don't want to). Even if you did pick up a few players at the deadline, you're still guaranteeing yourself a few years of, what, mediocrity? And what do you have to give up? From the article:

They’ll still have an eye on what they can develop that will make them better in the next year or more, he said, but the Nets have to do everything they can to project the idea that they’re getting better and that they’re a place that free agents should want to sign.

But they're not, and picking up a few middling players from teams that want JJ's expiring contract isn't going to convince anyone that they have a future.

And then there’s the part about wanting to do everything they can to avoid the abuse that would come if the Celtics were to walk away with a premier player in June because of that 2013 deal. It’s the kind of thing that could have an adverse effect on the Nets’ season ticket campaign.

Hey, Nets, the draft picks are gone. Poof. Disappeared. They're sitting in Boston, and that doesn't matter if they are the first, fifth or last picks. Do you really want to make yourself long-term worse just so your fans don't feel (quite as) bad? Lopez and Young are playing well. Trade them for 2017/18 picks while you can. RHJ and McCullough will be back by the end of the year. Let them get some reps in.

“Oh, I definitely think Brooklyn’s going to be one of the more active teams leading up to the deadline,” one NBA source said. “They’re already working. They don’t have a draft position that they’re trying to protect, so they’re going to be out there trying to make something happen that can get them better now and have the right effect down the line.

So they're looking for a trade that will make them better now and in the future? Hey, that's great. So are 29 other teams. Who's going to be on the other side of that trade? I guess there's always Minnesota...

Mike

[BleedGreen1989]

http://nesn.com/2016/01/celtics-draft-pick-watch-nets-reportedly-trying-to-improve-via-trade/

According to the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett, the Nets are actively looking to make an in-season trade that could “make them better in the short term as well as in the distance.” An NBA source even told Bulpett the expectation is the Nets will be “one of the more active teams” leading up to the February trade deadline.

Joe Johnson's 24 mil expiring contract could come in handy if someone is looking to dump some overpaid role players.   I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Brooklyn makes a move to make them a bit better this year.

Bill Simmons also had the idea that Brooklyn should just trade Joe Johnson for Derrick Rose... just take the gamble on Rose since they had nothing to lose. 

I wonder what Johnson's expiring + Hollis-Jefferson could get them.

Well there's the catch.

They'd have to include RHJ. JJ has been absolutely BRUTAL this season and has one of the largest contracts in the league. I don't care if it's expiring, that $25mill is tough to match.

Let's start looking at struggling teams with overpaid vets to see if we can figure out what kind of move might make sense. 

So far, all I'm seeing is overpaid bigs... like Tyson Chandler making 14 mil a year on the Suns.  Makes no sense there, but the Nets are pretty set on their bigs right now.     Pelicans have Asik making 10 mil a year for the next 5 years... bet they'd want from under that contract.  But again, Asik doesn't really make sense on Brooklyn.   

Maybe look towards the Rockets.  You think they want to keep paying Ty Lawson 12 mil a year for the next 2 years?  Would they benefit by giving up Ty Lawson and Trevor Ariza (8 mil for next 3 years) for Joe Johnson and Hollis-Jefferson?

Timberwolves badly want to trade away Kevin Martin (7 mil next two years)... wonder if they'd package him with Pekovic (12 mi - 3 years) in a salary dump.  They don't need either.

Tyson and Asik make no sense in Brooklyn. They won't take on long term money.

The Rockets idea makes sense if HOU just wants to dump money, but Lawson himself is essentially an expiring. Doubt they want to "dump" Ariza. Maybe Brewer.

[celticsclay]

Do any of those deals make them better? Lawson has been awful. Pek and Martin do not move the needle at all (if they could even get, stay healthy). How does that help them?

[BleedGreen1989]

Do any of those deals make them better? Lawson has been awful. Pek and Martin do not move the needle at all (if they could even get, stay healthy). How does that help them?

Good news for Celtics is it really doesn't.

You're shuffeling deck chairs and hoping somebody like Lawson goes back to his fringe all-star level not playing next to James Harden.

[celticsclay]

Do any of those deals make them better? Lawson has been awful. Pek and Martin do not move the needle at all (if they could even get, stay healthy). How does that help them?

Good news for Celtics is it really doesn't.

You're shuffeling deck chairs and hoping somebody like Lawson goes back to his fringe all-star level not playing next to James Harden.

Dude has 4 dui's. James harden is not his problem.

[BleedGreen1989]

Do any of those deals make them better? Lawson has been awful. Pek and Martin do not move the needle at all (if they could even get, stay healthy). How does that help them?

Good news for Celtics is it really doesn't.

You're shuffeling deck chairs and hoping somebody like Lawson goes back to his fringe all-star level not playing next to James Harden.

Dude has 4 dui's. James harden is not his problem.

Wasn't insinuating it was but Brooklyn would hope so. He was drinking in Denver and putting up 18/10.

[Evantime34]

I'm really glad that was the last time we play the Nets this season.

They are a terrible match up for us. They slow the pace down, which prevents our offense from being at our best. On the other end they have Lopez who is a huge math up problem for us.

Hopefully the Nets don't play as well against other teams as they have in the games against us.

[TheSundanceKid]

I just don't get it (maybe because I don't want to). Even if you did pick up a few players at the deadline, you're still guaranteeing yourself a few years of, what, mediocrity? And what do you have to give up? From the article:

They’ll still have an eye on what they can develop that will make them better in the next year or more, he said, but the Nets have to do everything they can to project the idea that they’re getting better and that they’re a place that free agents should want to sign.

But they're not, and picking up a few middling players from teams that want JJ's expiring contract isn't going to convince anyone that they have a future.

And then there’s the part about wanting to do everything they can to avoid the abuse that would come if the Celtics were to walk away with a premier player in June because of that 2013 deal. It’s the kind of thing that could have an adverse effect on the Nets’ season ticket campaign.

Hey, Nets, the draft picks are gone. Poof. Disappeared. They're sitting in Boston, and that doesn't matter if they are the first, fifth or last picks. Do you really want to make yourself long-term worse just so your fans don't feel (quite as) bad? Lopez and Young are playing well. Trade them for 2017/18 picks while you can. RHJ and McCullough will be back by the end of the year. Let them get some reps in.

“Oh, I definitely think Brooklyn’s going to be one of the more active teams leading up to the deadline,” one NBA source said. “They’re already working. They don’t have a draft position that they’re trying to protect, so they’re going to be out there trying to make something happen that can get them better now and have the right effect down the line.

So they're looking for a trade that will make them better now and in the future? Hey, that's great. So are 29 other teams. Who's going to be on the other side of that trade? I guess there's always Minnesota...

Mike

I don't think trading Lopez and young for draft picks helps the Nets. At least not this year. To me their best route is to overpay on some mid tier talent in the summer, say one or two like Sullinger and Delladova. Then next year look to flip Lopez or Young for a rookie contact, picks and filler. Develop a group that is mostly under 25 and try to build value again. So by 2020 you have built up some valuable assets and you have your draft picks back.

You also have to keep in mind that they still don't have that firm a fan base so sucking for the next 3 years with no draft pick of their own would be a nightmare

[fairweatherfan]

Getting yet another decent-but-not-great prospect that may or may not be starting caliber but definitely can play in the NBA just won't cut it.  Unfortunately, when you pick outside the top 3 you can't really expect to necessarily do better than that.

Sure, though there are lots of examples of studs outside of that range, and duds in it.  The ratio definitely drops though.

But no matter what, the odds will be better than not that Brooklyn's pick is outside the top 3 no matter where they finish.  Only the worst record has a better than 50-50 shot at top 3, and not by much (~57%?  Didn't look it up).  And Brooklyn almost certainly won't be worst.  So we should be prepared to get a pick outside of that range.


EDIT: See below post for actual odds, I was a bit off.  It's likely to be below 50/50 in any event.

[mef730]

Getting yet another decent-but-not-great prospect that may or may not be starting caliber but definitely can play in the NBA just won't cut it.  Unfortunately, when you pick outside the top 3 you can't really expect to necessarily do better than that.

Sure, though there are lots of examples of studs outside of that range, and duds in it.  The ratio definitely drops though.

But no matter what, the odds will be better than not that Brooklyn's pick is outside the top 3 no matter where they finish.  Only the worst record has a better than 50-50 shot at top 3, and not by much (~57%?  Didn't look it up).  And Brooklyn almost certainly won't be worst.  So we should be prepared to get a pick outside of that range.

64% for the worst (although Philly would be slightly higher, since they have SAC's pick), 56% for the second-worst, but your point is well taken. Even with the third-worst record, you're just under 50/50 for a top-3 pick.

Top 10 Ways to Know that You Are Spending Way Too Much Time Worrying about This Stuff:

You have the Wikipedia NBA Draft Lottery page bookmarked:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_draft_lottery

Mike

[mef730]

Joe Johnson questionable for tomorrow night.

The way he's been playing, I'm not sure that's actually good for us.

Mike

[max215]

Joe Johnson questionable for tomorrow night.

The way he's been playing, I'm not sure that's actually good for us.

Mike

He's actually been really good recently despite his struggles on the year.

[mef730]

Joe Johnson questionable for tomorrow night.

The way he's been playing, I'm not sure that's actually good for us.

Mike

He's actually been really good recently despite his struggles on the year.

I haven't been watching him too closely, but in his last 10 games, he's shooting .361 and averaging 11 points in 35 minutes, almost exactly the same as his season average.

Mike

[max215]

Joe Johnson questionable for tomorrow night.

The way he's been playing, I'm not sure that's actually good for us.

Mike

He's actually been really good recently despite his struggles on the year.

I haven't been watching him too closely, but in his last 10 games, he's shooting .361 and averaging 11 points in 35 minutes, almost exactly the same as his season average.

Mike

I guess it was just the two games against us. For some reason I thought he'd been solid for a week or so.

[mef730]

Joe Johnson questionable for tomorrow night.

The way he's been playing, I'm not sure that's actually good for us.

Mike

He's actually been really good recently despite his struggles on the year.

I haven't been watching him too closely, but in his last 10 games, he's shooting .361 and averaging 11 points in 35 minutes, almost exactly the same as his season average.

Mike

I guess it was just the two games against us. For some reason I thought he'd been solid for a week or so.

Hey, these games are so spread out that it might be two games in a week! But it was definitely only those two games against us. He also scored 17 against us in November. Maybe it's not that he's so good...

Mike