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When you follow a team day-in and day-out, you grow a pseudo-relationship with each of the key players, good or bad. It’s tough to watch Boki Nochbar and Marcus Williams walk away, especially for these two reasons: (1) the Nets are better off with Boki than Najera, and (2) Marcu has a chance to be a special player.

No time to play Monday Morning Quarterback, I give my take on Marcus and Boki in the latest NJNetscast. My thoughts on them as players, did the Nets make the right move, and where they are heading. Take a listen. Send in your thoughts about this duo, hosts@njnetscast.com.

All that, a check on the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League, Keyon Dooling, and spin around the NBA:

NJNetscast #53

Monday the Nets officially acquired combo guard Keyon Dooling in a sign and trade with Orlando after days of speculation. 16 players under contract, 15 roster spots, you do the math - Thorn is not done. Check out the latest podcast, as I dive into Dooling and more:

• Keyon Dooling Officially a Net
• Clarifying my Stance on the Najera and Hayes Signings
• Nets Ready Infantry for Rocky Mountain Revue in Utah
• Roy Rogers Coming to A Bench Near You
• Nenad, Marcus, Sean: Coming or Going?
• Spin Around the NBA Hot Stove

Netscast #52 - 7/20/2008

You laughed, you cried, you agonized - the schintillating games and storylines of the 2008 Orlando Summer League. Alright, it’s not exactly the playoffs. In fact, it’s not much more than an inter-squad practice, a more organized extension of the pre-draft camps, with structed 5-on-5 games, and a few veterans mixed in.

For now, summer league is our only evaluation tool for progress. Early indications, Brook Lopez can play center in this league, Sean Williams still can’t play in this league. Lopez displayed adeptness in the post scoring almost 20 points a game, more importantly improving each day. Williams showed no ability in the post, picking up right where he left off last season. The Stanford rookie even recored more blocked shots than Williams in slightly more minutes.

The team posted a 4-1 record, which means…well, NOTHING. When players can record 8 fouls and keep playing, you can throw the proverbial record books out. However, this week did confirm my beliefs that Lopez and CDR will both make contributions as rookies. CDR more so than Anderson, even though the Nets selected the Pac-10 leading score 19 picks ahead of CDR - and don’t think he’ll forget that. I envision Lopez finding his way into the starting lineup at some point in the first half of the year. He’s simply better than Josh Boone. CDR will crack the Top 8 for this team, unless they decide to play these veteran free-agent signings by virtue of experience.

If you’re scoring at home, here are the Nets final stats:
Nets 2008 Summer League Stats

Drop your comments on the summer performance here. More on the free agent signings later. But here’s a hint - I have a strong opinion on it. Stay tuned.

1) Sean Williams MUST Dominate – No if’s, and’s, or but’s, the only Net from last season’s regular rotation needs to assert himself. Williams will match-up against a host of rookies and players that will never see an NBA roster, he needs to be the best player on both ends of the floor. Taking plays off and not hustling are inexcusable. With experience under his belt, Williams is viewed as a leader for this Summer League team, and must do so by example.

At a skill level, Williams has an opportunity to show his offensive repertoire. Last season he displayed flashes of a foul line jumper and a jump hook. Now is the time to refine it, and show he is capable of more than highlight reel dunks. On defense, we know he can jump through the roof to block shots. The question remains if he can stay out of foul trouble, and actually play solid man-to-man defense rather than trying to block every shot in sight. If he keeps finding himself out of position, Lawrence Frank may need a visit to Hair Club for Men when he gets back to Jersey.

2) Rookies Ready to Contribute – Alright, they have only been pros for about two weeks, it takes time to assimilate to everything. Summer Leagues do not make or break careers, in fact they mean very little in the bigger scope of things. However, Lopez, Anderson, and CDR will all have a chance to prove to Frank that they can step in and contribute. They can earn a lot of equity with the coach with solid efforts here.

And that’s where it starts – Effort. The first thing coach will look for is consistent effort and hard-nose, tough defense. If any of them can prove that, it will earn playing time. Otherwise, Lopez will get a chance to prove he can score with his back to the basket and generally be a presence inside. Joakim Noah and Aaron Gray are the only other NBA-caliber center/7-footers in Orlando. Can Anderson fill shooting gap for the Nets, and can CDR slash his way to enough scoring to become VC’s backup.

3) Where is Cinderella? – Each year at least one unknown player emerges that impresses a team enough to receive roster consideration. This year more than most, the Nets need help off the bench, especially at guard and small forward. Julius Hodge, the local product, tasted life in the NBA briefly before an overseas journey. Rumor has it the Nets like what they see, and would consider him. Hodge now has a chance to prove it on the court. One desirable attribute he possesses is the versatility to play the point and off guard. A few other names to keep an eye on Will Conroy, Jaycee Carroll, and Jamar Butler – a trio of guards that play a position of need.

If Yi was not enough, the first Japanese player to don an NBA uniform is on the Nets roster: Yuta Tubase. The Nets are taking it international, following the league trend.

Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe promised off-season changes. On Thursday they delivered, first completing a trade to send Richard Jefferson, the last link to the back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams, to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons, then drafting three players in last nights draft that could contribute immediately.

The Nets made the decision to rebuild with the February Jason Kidd trade, making one of last night’s draft picks possible. Completing the long rumored Jefferson deal continues the break up of the previous Nets core, leaving only Vince Carter, who may or may not be dealt. RJ had his best scoring season last year, however his rebounding and assists dropped, while his defense suffered. Questions even arose about his committment to the team. I once touted RJ as the next captain after Kidd, a player who gave his all, and didn’t complain about losing, took the blame, and faced the media - unlike Kidd. Yet, this trade makes perfect sense. The NEts may not have received equal player value in Yi and Simmons. More important, they shed the Jefferson’s long term contract in exchange for Simmons’, which expires after 2010, lowering the New Jersey’s salary committments by $15 million in prepartion for the summer of Lebron. Even if Lebron is a pipe dream, Bosh, Wade, Amare, and company are not bad potential consolation prizes.

On the court, Yi, last year’s sixth pick in the draft, is a 7-footer with upside. The 20-year-old averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in Milwaukee last season, but garnered comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki because of his face-up and perimeter offensive game for a big guy. Simmons is a formed Most Improved Player that has never lived up to his contract. The 6′6″ swingman was included purely for salary reasons, and if he never contributes on the court, he still brings tremendous value in the form of that expiring contract.

Later in the day, Thorn and Vandeweghe receive a gift from the nine teams that selected ahead of them, in the form of a 7-foot center from Stanford. In the past few weeks, Mock Drafts slotted Brook Lopez as high as third to Minnesota. A few surprises early on, notably Seattle opting for Westbrook at four and Charlotte going for Augustin at nine, left Lopez on the board for New Jersey at ten. As Jay Bilas put it, he didn’t grade well in some of the workouts because he was slow running around the cones and completing other drills. Bilas continued, if you’re picking a 4×100 relay team I would not take Lopez, but for 5-on-5 basketball he’s a good pick. Bilas always provides great analysis, and his commentary appropriately trashed the workouts impact on a player’s selection.

Lopez can score with his back to the basket - an area the Nets desperately needed help with. He averaged 19.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks, in the tough Pac-10 conference as a sopohmore at Stanford. The 20-year-old fills a major need, has the potential to become a legit NBA center, and should compete for the starting center spot right off the bat. A potential steal at number ten.

Later in the first round, New Jersey used the pick acquired in the Jason Kidd trade to take a forward from Kidd’s alma mater, University of California-Berkeley - Ryan Anderson. Another scoring big man, at 6′10″, Anderson has more of a face-up, outside shooting offensive game that mimics Yi. He quietly led the Pac-10 in scoring last season with 21.1 points per game. Anderon’s a skilled scorer, who many saw as a sleeper in the draft. In a matter of hours, the Nets got younger and bigger - acquiring two 7-footers and 6′10″ player all 20-years old.

The Nets yielded another heist in the second round, grabbing Chris Douglas-Roberts with the 40th pick. CDR was an option at #21, so to have him fall into their lap seventeen picks later was a surprise, and completed a solid draft for New Jersey. The 6′6″ swingman provides more help on the perimeter, and can add much needed scoring off the bench.

Thorn and Vandeweghe made lots of headway in the rebuilding project Thursday, yet they are far from done. As currently constituted the average team age is slightly over 24 years old, closer to some college teams than NBA teams. Expect the Nets to exchange some youngsters for veteran role players to help compete this season, and nurture the youngsters. Thursday was a leap in the right direction. Jefferson had to go, he ran his course ith this team, and his contract was out of line. Lopez has a chance to be a legit center, a gaping hole in recent years, and almost a necessity to compete in the league. Yi has upside. Anderson and CDR should both develop into serviceable pros, one may even become a major contributor. With a few moves, the Nets can compete for the playoffs in the East next season. The plan appears to be improve every year, and yield a big free agent in 2010 that elevates the team to championship contention. So far, so good.

A month filled with percentages and possibilities ended Tuesday night. Not even Jay-Z could bring the Nets luck as they stayed put with the 10th pick in the lottery, as expected. Trade rumors have already surfaced that involve the Nets swapping the lottery pick, and even their other first-rounder (#21), for a proven All-Star in Carmelo Anthony or to move up in the draft for a chance at Michael Beasley. The rumors will continue right until draft night, as everyone expects the Nets to make big changes after a disappointing 34-win season. For now, we’ll focus on the possibilities at the 10th and 21st picks, until rumors become reality.

Ahead of next week’s pre-draft camp in Orlando, where many top picks only show up to get measured, potential draftees are busy working out at various academies or with basketball trainers. ESPN documented the progress on a few notable underclassmen that fit the Nets needs: Kevin Love, Chase Budinger, Joe Alexander, and Marreese Spreights.

Frank needs a big man with offensive post skills that can bring toughness to a team that lacked an edge last season. Love displayed great footwork in college, an ability to score both from the post and to step outside and knock down the mid-range jumper. His passing skills and basketball IQ are impressive for a 19-year-old. On the downside, Memphis exposed the UCLA freshman in the Final Four by pushing the tempo. Not known for his conditioning, Love was a non-factor, often trailing plays in transition. In the second half, he tired from the pace, evidenced by his inability to get his legs underneath his jump shot.

Critics question his defensive ability, particularly against much quicker NBA players. Dedicated to full-time training since leaving school, reports say Love has dropped significant weight, mostly through nutrition and conditioning, and plans to trim his 275-lb frame further prior to individual workouts. The 19-year old has the offensive skills New Jersey needs, if his quickness and defense improve with better conditioning, Love could fill the hole in the paint.

Another player popping up for the Nets in Mock Drafts is Florida’s Marreese Spreights. The 6’11” Florida Gator also reportedly dropped significant weight, appearing strong and fit at Joe Abunassar’s Las Vegas camp. Spreights is still raw, a freshman like Love, his game is not matured to the same level as the UCLA star, nor does he possess the basketball IQ. Spreights played under the radar most of the season, as the rebuilding Gators struggled. The Nets need a contributor now, Spreights has nice upside, but still needs more development time.

Budinger fills a different need – outside shooting. Teams often reverted to zone defense against the Nets forcing them to shoot from outside. Left without a knock down, pure shooter after Eddie House’s departure, the Nets often succumbed to the zone defense, and suffered when their guards were unable to penetrate. The lanky Arizona swingman can hit the 3, but critics question his defensive ability, dribbling, and toughness. At the same Las Vegas camp, Abunassar has Budinger working on using the dribble to create space on the perimeter, a key to creating your own shots. He has the offensive ability to be a lottery pick. With questions about his heart, aggressiveness, and the poor defense he showed in college, if he slides to 21, the Nets should snag him. At 10, they can do better.

A sleeper in this year’s draft, Alexander almost came out of nowhere down the stretch last season. Scouts rave about his athleticism. He displayed great offensive skills in the postseason play, using a stellar mid-range game, good range on his jumper, and an innate ability to find the basket at all costs. The 6’8”, 220-lb forward displayed toughness. He attacked the boards aggressively. Similar to other prospects though, Alexander played poor defense. Aside from defense, the elevation on his jumper, and explosive moves to the basket have teams salivating.

Every player has his strengths and weaknesses. Most of them look great in a pair of shorts at a workout, which does not necessarily translate to success on the court. After Rose and Beasley, the draft has no standouts, but lots of good players. The Nets stand to get two potential contributors if they hold their cards. At number 10 they should err on the side of caution, opt for lower risk players that can contribute sooner, not a big project. Love may be in the air.

Check out Chad Ford’s May 16^th conversation with Kevin Love and May 20^th chat with Joe Abunassar on his NBA podcasts at ESPN.com for more news on these prospects:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2669425

Evan Roberts from WFAN (660 AM New York), the only legitimate Nets supporter in the local media, will appear on NJNetscast later this week. If you have a question for Evan, e-mail hosts@njnetscast.com, and we’ll pick a good one to ask. Tune in to hear Evan and I discuss the Nets free-agent list, the on-going arena issues, take inventory of the Kidd trade with it finally in the rear view mirror, and delve into the trade market.

As the Nets embark on an important off-season for the franchise, here’s a list of links to pertinent player information for potential roster moves.

Complete List of Early Entrants for the NBA Draft:
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2008-Official-NBA-Draft-Early-Entry-List-/

2008 NBA Free Agent List:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=2008freeagents

Nets Current Salary Situation:
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-player-salaries/team/Nets/

ESPN NBA Trade Machine (if you’re feeling creative):
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trademachine

As Dallas fans watched Chris Paul torch Jason Kidd for 33.5 points and 13.5 points in the first two games of its first round series with New Orleans,  both losses, they had to wonder if the Kidd trade was worth it. Would things be different if Devin Harris was still around? Lo and behold, the former Mav showed up on Friday night, unfortunately for Mark Cuban he was in civvies in the front row.

Interviewed by ESPN during the game, the Nets point guard stated he came to the game to support good friend Josh Howard, who had a rough week, struggling in both losses to the Hornets before admitting to smoking marijuana during the offseason on Michael Irvin’s Dallas radio show. Harris did not directly comment on Howard’s remarks, instead saying that Howard typically says what is on his mind. ]

Nonetheless, rare to see a current player at a game supporting his former team. Makes you wonder if Harris wishes he still donned the blue and white in Big D?

If the two best measurements of fan support are attendance and local television ratings, the Nets are not well-liked. Final ratings for local cable coverage of NBA games show the Nets have by far the lowest average rating of .45 households on YES Network broadcasts, only the Clippers rank remotely close, a 40.8% drop from last season, the second biggest drop to the Miami Heat’s plunge. Miami finished with the worst record in the NBA in a season of dysfunction that included the Shaquille O’Neal trade and an injury to Dwayne Wade.

New Jersey posted 641,921 in paid attendance, 78% of capacity at Izod Center. The only teams with lower capacity this season: Indiana (off-court problems, management turmoil, missed playoffs), Memphis (gave away their best player), Philadelphia (the only surprise - expect this to change next year), Minnesota (no KG, no fans), Charlotte (yet to field a good game), and Seattle (small problem with ownership). And when you watched the Nets, especially in the second half of the season, it’s evident the paid attendance numbers are a major embellishment over the actual attendance - though they are probably not alone in that.

Newark anyone?