BREAKING: Nets fire Hollins, King steps down

[Beat LA]

Joe Johnson is still good as long as you don't expect great defense from him. He can still score 1 on 1 against many sfs in the league. Those floaters are annoyingly accurate

Don't forget about his post game and midrange, either, but even more than his scoring, his passing coupled with his intelligence and ability to draw double teams would be a great fit here, and he'd certainly be the best passer on the team since Rondo was traded . I also don't think that it's a coincidence that Joe's had 4 out of 5 excellent games since Jarrett Jack went down.  I watched a few Nets games and that guy sucks.  I don't care how many assists he'd end up with, the dude is a ball hog who would go entire halves without getting Joe more than 4/5 shots.  In one contest, Joe played around 10 minutes in the first quarter and didn't get one shot, only to get 2 in the second quarter . How are you supposed to be able to establish any kind of a rhythm under such circumstances?  Ugh.

Admittedly, I do think that he should lose 15 lbs to get down to 225, because he's just carrying too much weight at this point in his career, even though I realize that he's always been that size.  Lebron lost 10 lbs., didn't he?  I just think that it would really help Joe's quickness and give him his legs back.  Hollins, who is an atrocious coach (if you don't believe me, take a minute to visit netsdaily.  The guy is horrible.), had him playing way too many minutes.  Cut his time down from 35 to 28-30 and he'll be fine.  Let him identify and exploit mismatches (what a concept! (sarcasm)), play intelligent basketball (again, what a concept! (sarcasm)), and set people up for most of the game and then have him take over down the stretch.  I'd also be interested to see if he could help a guy like James Young in his development. 

Obviously, if all of that worked out, I'd love to see Joe finish his career here, but I seriously doubt that he'd be up for that as opposed to joining a contender at this stage of his career.  I still think he's a starter for right now, but those minutes would have to be cut.  After all, we're talking about a guy who has played more minutes over the past decade than anyone in the league not named Lebron James.

[Quetzalcoatl]

If you hired me to run the Nets, my strategy would be to trade Lopez and Young for picks, then overpay three or so restricted free agents to give the illusion of a young core, maybe guys like Fournier, Sullinger, Ezeli, Harkness, Terrence Jones, or Jordan Clarkson.

Reminds me of the moves they made this off season LOL.

Oh my god, that sig is amazing.  TP

[Denis998]

If you hired me to run the Nets, my strategy would be to trade Lopez and Young for picks, then overpay three or so restricted free agents to give the illusion of a young core, maybe guys like Fournier, Sullinger, Ezeli, Harkness, Terrence Jones, or Jordan Clarkson.

Reminds me of the moves they made this off season LOL.

Oh my god, that sig is amazing.  TP

you are free to use it if you'd like. Its a campaign!

[Vermont Green]

I don't think that this changes things much.  I don't think a new coach or GM can do much with the team and the situation that they have.

Trade Lopez or Young?  I guess if they could get a major haul of top picks and young players but that sets them back.  They might never draft a player better than Lopez.  I don't see them trading either of these guys no matter who the GM is.

I think they would trade Johnson (I know I would) but I am not sure they can get anything for him except other bad contracts (like Tyson Chandler).

If I was BRK, I would keep my good players (Lopez and Young) let Johnson expire, and over pay for a coach and GM that can attract (overpay for) some free agents.

Based on other comments I will refine my plan for the Nets; Nets hire Calipari and Thibideau, overpaying both.  They keep Lopez and Young and add whatever FAs they can this off season.  Try to trade Joe Johnson but more likely just let him expire.  Calipari and Thibs should create some buzz that would help them do better in the FA sweepstakes.  Based on this, they will show improvement next season over this season and then they roll the dice the season after on a big name FA like Durant or some other really top tier player.

If this doesn't work and you have reached the end of Lopez's contract, then you punt; trade Lopez for draft picks (assuming he is not injured) along with whatever other decent talent you have been able to assemble.

I just don't see any reason not to try and get FA talent to put around Lopez and Young.  Someone said that this is what the Celtics have done and that it hasn't worked out but we don't have a core that can compete with Young and Lopez.  Building around Young and Lopez is not sure-fire by any means but I think it represents the best option.  I think you need to bring in big name GM and coach though (along with the Brooklyn cache) to create some buzz and hope that you can get some middle tier or lower end of the top tier FAs to sign-up.

[Denis998]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2606803-john-calipari-latest-news-rumors-and-speculation-on-kentucky-coachs-future

I think Brooklyn wants Calipari. I think this is great, he is not a good coach.

[GetLucky]

I never thought I'd see the words "John Calipari" and "Nets" in the same sentence again (at least without "dumpster fire" or "failure" mixed somewhere in-between).

Word is he wants 10 years, $120 million; that's much more than the $15 million they gave him to ruin the franchise the first time.

[Denis998]

I never thought I'd see the words "John Calipari" and "Nets" in the same sentence again (at least without "dumpster fire" or "failure" mixed somewhere in-between).

Word is he wants 10 years, $120 million; that's much more than the $15 million they gave him to ruin the franchise the first time.

He also wants full control of the roster.

[Denis998]

News conference is coming up, should be a good watch.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Thad Young + Brook Lopez + 2020 1st round pick for DeMarcus Cousins + Ben McLemore + Marco Belinelli.

Who says no?

[Donoghus]

Thad Young + Brook Lopez + 2020 1st round pick for DeMarcus Cousins + Ben McLemore + Marco Belinelli.

Who says no?

Is SAC patient enough to wait until 2020 to get that first rounder which may actually have less value due to an improved BKN team by then.?

[fubar089]

Thad Young + Brook Lopez + 2020 1st round pick for DeMarcus Cousins + Ben McLemore + Marco Belinelli.

Who says no?

lol the Kings of course.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Thad Young + Brook Lopez + 2020 1st round pick for DeMarcus Cousins + Ben McLemore + Marco Belinelli.

Who says no?

Is SAC patient enough to wait until 2020 to get that first rounder which may actually have less value due to an improved BKN team by then.?

Well, both Lopez and Young are signed for 3 more years same as Cousins. So the real question is: enough talent coming in vs. going out? The 2nd question is, how tired are "we" of Cousins' drama here? Third question, any better package to be found?

The premise of this is that Sacrament may be ready to move on from Cousins. Secondly they want to compete NOW, so finding a tandem similar to Lopez and Young will be hard to find. As for the picks, you have to figure that with the lack of assets Brooklyn has they probably will have a tough time getting the proper pieces around Cousins (Sacramento themselves have found it hard to do so as it is).

Anyways, that's the reasoning behind the proposal.

[fairweatherfan]

Thad Young + Brook Lopez + 2020 1st round pick for DeMarcus Cousins + Ben McLemore + Marco Belinelli.

Who says no?

lol the Kings of course.

Yeah ditto.  Nets would probably have to throw in RHJ and McCullough to even begin to move the needle, and the Kings likely still say no.

[hwangjini_1]

Thad Young + Brook Lopez + 2020 1st round pick for DeMarcus Cousins + Ben McLemore + Marco Belinelli.

Who everyone says no?

[Hemingway]

Thad Young + Brook Lopez + 2020 1st round pick for DeMarcus Cousins + Ben McLemore + Marco Belinelli.

Who says no?

Sac would say no because we could easily beat that offer and would.