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

[BitterJim]

In all honesty, it's better for our future if we lose to the Suns tonight (so of course we will end up winning).

Hate to say it... but GO SUNS!!!

Celtics should win as many games as possible.

Yes - we shouldn't help ourselves get the top pick but instead we should finish around 500 to get swept in round 1 by Cleveland - excellent idea! Ingenious!

Wow the parochial mindset and lack of looking at the big picture by some on here is quite unnerving :/

Ah yes, because our only possible options are "Get the 8 seed and face Cleveland" and "Tank"

Even after our horrible stretch, we're 2 games back from the 5 seed, 3 games from the 4 seed, and 4.5 from the 3 seed.  Getting a middle seed isn't out of the question, nor is winning a playoff series.

[mef730]

I HIGHLY recommend the latest edition of the Lowe Post. There's a ton of Nets talk and it's extremely interesting.

I listened to it yesterday. It's very interesting though I am mad that they can't cuss like they could on Grantland...

TP from those of us who couldn't get the webcast.

Right or not, so long as the Nets have a plausible chance of making a run at the playoffs with Brook and Thad on board, I think they'll use this summer to try and reload while making sure not to tie up their cap space beyond 2018.  They'll begin truly rebuilding in 2019, when they finally control their own pick again.

So this is what I keep going back and forth on. I don't see any scenarios in which Brooklyn gets one of the top free agents. But there are enough 2nd and 3rd tier guys who would sign with Brooklyn simply for the opportunity to be overpaid for a couple of years. BKN massively overpays for a couple of 2nd tier guys through the end of 2019 and get to a point where they might snag an 8-seed in the playoffs and generate a few bucks for their owner.

But here's where the rubber meets the road: There are a lot of teams who are going to end up overpaying FAs this summer because of the salary cap increase. How many of them are going to go to the Nets, if the money is equal? Not many.

Where the BKN "sweet spot" is going to be below the second tier, the NBA equivalent of the kid who got picked last, potentially next to last, in kickball. There are going to be plenty of other teams willing to overpay Jordan Clarkson. We might be looking in Gerald Henderson territory for the Nets.

Mike

[GC003332]

What are the chances they trade away their 2020 first rounder?
Heat traded 2018 & 2021 first rounders for Goran Dragic, Memphis traded a pick that will probably be 2019 at the earliest for Jeff Green.
Maybe they will be willing to go that avenue to try and add another quality guy to Lopez & Young to try and dig their way out of it.Then add some mid level free agents , not a championship team by any means but that could be a playoff squad for the next couple of seasons.
Virtually just go the free agent route and back their ability to add guys to a borderline playoffs team and not look to add rookies to their squad.

[mef730]

What Matters Tonight

Hard to believe that we're halfway through the season. Virtually every team that matters to our draft picks play tonight:

Min at OKC: OKC has won 22 of their last 25 against the Wolves. Anyone want to bet against their going to 23 out of 26?

Phoenix at Boston: Under any other circumstances, I'd be rooting for a Phoenix win. But I don't think that they get #14 tonight. Cs coming off a good win against Indy and will take the opportunity to get some mojo back.

Portland at Brooklyn: From ESPN, in regard to the Knicks game:

"Games like this, it's going to help turn our fan base around," Brown said. "If we continue to play in this kind of fashion, we'll fill the seats -- but we've got to show them first. It'll take time, but (Wednesday) was a good start."

Were it not for a Melo injury, the Nets would likely be hoping for their first home win since they beat Philadelphia in early December. Pick 'em.

Dallas at Chicago: Butler played 49 minutes last night in an almost loss to Philly. Dallas has been one of the big surprises in the NBA this year. Gotta go with the Mavs in this one.

Charlotte at NO: Charlotte has been an overachiever and is playing down to where they should be. True, they just broke a seven game losing streak, but it was against Atlanta. Who hasn't beaten Atlanta? And why does it seem like ATL loses every game they play, but they are fourth in the conference? There must be an explanation. In any case, I'll take the Pelicans.

Miami at Denver: Let's hope the thinness of the air gets to the Heat. Otherwise, Miami wins.

Mike

[PhoSita]

So this is what I keep going back and forth on. I don't see any scenarios in which Brooklyn gets one of the top free agents. But there are enough 2nd and 3rd tier guys who would sign with Brooklyn simply for the opportunity to be overpaid for a couple of years. BKN massively overpays for a couple of 2nd tier guys through the end of 2019 and get to a point where they might snag an 8-seed in the playoffs and generate a few bucks for their owner.

What I'm envisioning is they go after guys like Demar Derozan and Chandler Parsons.  Even if that fails, they try to do what the Celts did with Jerebko and Amir Johnson -- sign MLE-caliber players by offering two or three year contracts worth considerably more than the MLE.

[mef730]

So this is what I keep going back and forth on. I don't see any scenarios in which Brooklyn gets one of the top free agents. But there are enough 2nd and 3rd tier guys who would sign with Brooklyn simply for the opportunity to be overpaid for a couple of years. BKN massively overpays for a couple of 2nd tier guys through the end of 2019 and get to a point where they might snag an 8-seed in the playoffs and generate a few bucks for their owner.

What I'm envisioning is they go after guys like Demar Derozan and Chandler Parsons.  Even if that fails, they try to do what the Celts did with Jerebko and Amir Johnson -- sign MLE-caliber players by offering two or three year contracts worth considerably more than the MLE.

Totally understood, and that's what I'm trying to figure out. I don't think they could get the first two. Jerebko and AJ would normally be in their wheelhouse, but there are a lot of teams that would spend money on them this year. I'm just curious how far down the talent ladder we have to go before finding the intersection of "Nets willing to overpay" and "Nobody else wanted them or they preferred BKN over another equally priced offer."

Mike

[PhoSita]

I'm just curious how far down the talent ladder we have to go before finding the intersection of "Nets willing to overpay" and "Nobody else wanted them or they preferred BKN over another equally priced offer."

Mike

Well, I think you combine the willingness to offer above market value, plus the opportunity for a starting spot (Nets will have openings at 1-3 in the starting lineup), plus getting to live in Brooklyn, and the pitch isn't so hard to make.


Pick 3 or 4 of the following:


Forwards - Evan Turner, Luol Deng, Jeff Green, Lance Stephenson

Ballhandlers - Brandon Jennings, Jeremy Lin, Mo Williams, Greivis Vasquez

Shooters - J.R. Smith, Courtney Lee, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo, Gerald Henderson


Brooklyn could have something like $45-50 million in cap space.  Could sign a handful of guys like the above to $10-12 million per year.


If your starting lineup is Jennings - Lee - Deng - Young - Lopez, are you making the playoffs?  Almost certainly not.  But they can offer fans the hope of being a .500-ish team, at least.

[Rondo9]

So according to ESPN, the Nets have a strong interest in Thibs. Will he take the job?

[jpotter33]

So according to ESPN, the Nets have a strong interest in Thibs. Will he take the job?

Ugghh, I hope not, unless he gets a dual coach/gm role. If so, I could then see him tearing down first and building from the ground up. After the issues with management in Chicago, I can't imagine Thibs wanting a non-dual role, especially given his surliness.

[SHAQATTACK]

So according to ESPN, the Nets have a strong interest in Thibs. Will he take the job?

That Russian an't rebuilding one bit ......he is planning on contending with Lopez I'm hearing.

[Rondo9]

ESPN reports that the Nets won't pursue Thibs until they find a replacement GM.

[jmen788]

Blazers choking... F--k!

[SHAQATTACK]

Not looking good


Nets play n like its a playoff game

[SHAQATTACK]

Ok.  .....Blazers close this baby out.

[Vox_Populi]

I was worried about Portland losing, but Lillard just went off on the Nets. Killed Brooklyn's momentum.