When NBA experts throw out the word "potential", you hear about the usual names. Roy's Trailblazers, Durant's Thunder, and Rose's Bulls. Heck people think of Kevin Martin's Kings (wait scratch that) and even the Grizzles even though they just added Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson. The team that always seems to get lost in the shuffle is the New Jersey Nets. But what's not to love about them??
First off, when discussing the Nets, understand that they are a team of the future. Hence the reason why most analysts have them finishing last in their division this year. All their actions are for the future and it is a plus if there future plans help them in the present. And it's great that they are a team of tomorrow because all their pieces are starting to come together.
One reason the Nets outlook seems so positive is because of their plentiful cap space. They have done a terrific job of trading large contracts for expiring ones as well as young talent. (VC for Lee) And as we all know it would be very difficult to have a positive future if your money is always tied up to an under achieving squad (see: New York Knicks). Just look at next season, they only have three players on the books (that aren't under rookie contracts) and those players are: Star player Devin Harris, the nitty -gritty and mentoring Najera, and finally the calm and reliable Dooling. Not a bad group to show the young guns the ropes huh? And the best part is the team will only have 30 million committed to the summer of LeBron. By that time, Russian billionaire (that's a one with NINE zeros after it) Mikhail Prokhorov will be the New Jersey Nets majority owner. Devin Harris explained it best when he said, "(Prokhorov) has deep pockets." The Nets can use the cash to lure a superstar next summer whether it is LeBron or a superstar power forward like Amare or Boozer.
If New Jersey doesn't want to get a power forward in free agency, then that's not a problem because of the draft. The Nets will most likely finish the season with a mediocre record, and in draft language that translates into a high draft pick. Next years draft features as many as fifteen potential first round power forwards, including North Carolina's Ed Davis, international phenom Donatas Motiejunas, and Georgetown's Greg Monroe. They can also add more depth and talent in next years draft because they have two first round draft picks (thank you Jason Kidd).
The possible draft picks and free agents that the Nets can get are always fun to dream about, but they also have a solid core of six right now.
Devin Harris has matured as the leader of the squad after Vince was traded and has proven that he is ready for the roll after averaging career highs in points (21.3), assists (6.9) and steals (1.6) last year.
Brook Lopez finished 3rd place in rookie voting last year and is already considered as one of the best centers in the league. Lopez grabbed 10.6% of the offensive rebounds he was on the floor for last year, and that's good enough for ninth in the league. Those offensive rebounds lead to more offensive possessions which are great for Lopez. Why? Because head coach Frank Lawrence has stated that that he will get more touches, "Brook is going to be a very good 'hub' for us."
Courtney Lee is a rising star for the Nets after being traded for VC. He is a terrific three point shooter (40.4% last year) and an even better defensive player. He played the Magic's stopper last year guarding the leagues best players as a rookie. What was his final trick that rookie season? Taking on the Black Mamba in the NBA finals. And Lee is not bitter after going from such a talented team to the Nets. He doesn't even want to magically fill the void left by VC, he just wants to do what he can for the team, asserting, "I'm looking forward to getting up to New Jersey and trying to help that team as much as possible."
And has everyone forgotten about the second round steal from Memphis last year? Chris Douglas Roberts has a year of pro ball under his belt now and is capable of becoming that deadly second unit scorer ala JR Smith or Flip Murray.
Even the Nets 2009 draft pick Terrence Williams is already considered a cornerstone for the team. He has the ball-handling ability to play some point-forward when Harris is on the bench. Williams is not only a touted defensive player, but a proud defensive player, exclaiming, "I get a joy out of stopping somebody."
Lastly comes the huge question mark of Yi Jianlian. He has been a disappointment through this point of his career, but has shown brief flashes of light giving glimpses of what may be. He has bulked up considerably (and I mean considerably) this summer in order to bang down low with the big boys of the East. And let's not forget he is only 22 years old and has plenty of time to grow.
One of the few remaining questions left for the Nets is what to do with so much duplication at the small forward position. Is there a trade coming up this season, because Terrance Williams is going to need his playing me, but it is a little difficult with Hassell, Najera, and Hayes right there. Even star Devin Harris poses some difficulty. He only appeared in 69 games last year, but luckily there's Rafer Alston that can easily step in and run the team till Harris returns.
The next problem returns again to the power forward positions, a spot that the Nets are amazingly weak at. Unless Yi produces in a big way this upcoming season then they better start shopping for a new four. As stated earlier, Boozer would look very good in a Nets jersey, and Amare would tear it up in Jersey with the line-up around him. Again there's always the option of the draft, and the free agent class of 2010 will only come once so they better capitalize at the opportunity of having at most 30 million dollars of cap space next year. All in all, the New Jersey Nets have a very promising future, they have valuable pieces in place now as well as many avenues to improve themselves with, thus providing strong evidence to support the claim that whenever you hear the word potential, the Nets better be near the top of the list of the names you think of.