No Big Deal

The Nets have talked to every team over the last few weeks, including the Heat. No doubt Shaquille O’Neal’s name came up.

But the Nets were never in the mix for Shaq. They also never were in the mix for Shawn Marion. The two men were the centerpieces in the blockbuster that was completed yesterday.

Before the Nets 100-84 defeat to the Magic on Wednesday, the beat reporters had anotherstate of the team address with president Rod Thorn.

He was asked about not being able to get one of the many big men who have changed teams in the last several months – Shaq, Marion, Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett, etc….

"What was Shaq going to do for us, for instance?” Thorn said. “You tell me, what’s he going to do for us? Absolutely nothing. He wouldn’t want to play for us, to begin with.

“Pau Gasol, they were looking for expiring contracts, period. They had seven better offers than they took. They were looking for expiring contracts. We don’t have one of those. We didn’t have Al Jefferson or [Andrew] Bynum, one of the key players Minnesota was looking for.

“You got to have what a team’s looking for, in particular with contracts in today’s world."

The Nets have expiring contracts - Jamaal Magloire, Antoine Wright, Bostjan Nachbar, Darrell Armstrong, Malik Allen - but the Grizzlies weren't interested in anything the Nets had. They wanted Javaris Crittenton, as well as Kwame Brown's expiring deal, Gasol's brother Marc, Aaron McKie and picks. The Nets were never in play.

For Shaq, although you’re talking about making a major investment – he makes $20 million next season and the season after that – it would have been interesting to see him back in New Jersey, where he was born.

From a business standpoint the Nets probably would have increased their ticket sales if they got Shaq, though.

From a basketball standpoint, it would have been several years too late to trade for the broken-down version of the guy who knocked the Nets out of three playoffs in the last six years.

But let’s play the game for a second.

Imagine Jason Kidd throwing it into Shaq and then when the double comes he passes it to Vince Carter for an open jumper.

All right, let’s back up. It’s doubtful Miami makes the trade unless one of those Nets are involved. Maybe the Heat would have taken Richard Jefferson in a package, but my guess is Kidd or Carter would have had to go.

And then comes the dilemma of what makes the most sense for the Nets?

You want to surround a player like Shaq with shooters, which the Nets necessarily have. Carter is their best shooter. You want a good point guard to feed him.

Who knows if it got that far when the Nets talked to the Heat? Speaking to a team official before the Suns’ deal was finalized, there was a plan to make another phone call. But it became irrelevant.

Now the Nets have to see if there is anything else out there for them.

My personal opinion is the Mavericks, Nuggets, Bulls, Hawks, Grizzlies, Pacers, Sixers, Warriors and Blazers are teams that could still look to do something before the Feb. 21 deadline.

When asked if it’s possible the Nets do nothing and that this is the team he has for the rest of the season, he said, “It could very well be.”

Keep this in mind though, something could creep up. We all write about trade rumors, but often it’s after the deal has been discussed and somewhere between being considered and being turned down.

No one knew about the Gasol deal until it happened or the Shaq deal before Tuesday. Something like that could always happen with the Nets.

***

This one got ugly quickly and afterward, coach Lawrence Frank sounded as if he was trying to inspire his team after criticizing them for essentially letting go of the rope.

“I think when things were going well for us we were good, and then we hit some rough patches and adversity and we wilted," Frank said.

"We just have to deal with adversity better, in terms of adversity during the course of the game. There’s got to be a little bit more to us, a little bit more substance, a little bit more fight, a little bit more investment to not put ourselves where all of a sudden some defensive mistakes, lapses and now it’s 19 or 20.

"It’s discouraging because we had very good intent early. That ball was moving, did a good job in tranistion, guarded well in the half court. But we coulodn’t sustain it."

This isn’t the first time that’s happened. That’s why the Nets are a season-low nine games under .500 right now.

***
Frank said if Nenad Krstic, who played just his third game since returning from a second rehab stint from left knee surgery, regains his form he could become a starter again.

“That’s our plan,” Frank said. “We’ll see how he plays.”

Krstic scored his first points in his second go round, finishing with three in 15 at Orlando. If he does return to the starting lineup, Sean Williams likely would become a reserve again.

Comments

[Skeeter57]

We do not play a moving offense. Its stand still and then dribble to pass out to the perimeter again. Move the ball...cross that center line and pass or shoot. First opition is to shoot. or should be. The ball goes to Kidd, Carter, Jefferson and maybe if Boci is in he gets the touch. Not enough touches for the big boys, pass that ball and take a shot if you are free and you will be if you move yourself and the ball and do not telegraph every play. The first five minutes of the game is good and after that, ugh

[Manu Mendez]

Hi, I'm a Spanish Nets fan... I'm very sad with the play of our team.
What are they doing every night?
Is our coach ready for driving this team correctly?
I think no. The very first option would be fire him.
After this, I think we would try to play with another sense... another way, and if it doesn't go, try to trade VC or JK (that's the last I'd did, obviously).
PD Excuse me for my poor English... XD

[Mr. Dollar Bills]

Manu,

"What are they doing every night?"

Aside from getting paid to go on NBA courts and humiliate themselves on a nightly basis and groping women against their will in nightclubs, I'd like to know myself

[Greg]

Disagree. Coaches and organizations say you can’t lose your spot due to injury. So we’re supposed to hold down the fort, while you’re out for more than a year, and you get it back when you’re healthy. What ever happened to Frank’s philosophy that you earn your minutes? Until he outplays either Williams or Boone, he should continue to come off the bench. Krstic is not that 17 and 7 guy anymore, at least not now. He may get back to that level, but he needs to EARN his minutes, just like Frank preaches to everyone else.

[Isaac]

"Coach" Frank is SO BAD the should be chanting "FIRE LAWRENCE" every night at the Garden instead of wasting their time on Teflon Isiah! This guy is awful!!!! The team competes for an average of 8-12 minutes a night with no apparent game plan whatsoever!!!! How does he have an NBA coaching job????? Where have you gone Lord Byron??????

[Hector]

This is getting bad

[Mr. Dollar Bills]

"Bad" was 4 WEEKS ago. Now, it's come to the point where you just gotta laugh at the absurdity of this whole thing....

....that is, if you're not a season ticket holder. If you are....hahahahaahhaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

[Joe]

Somehow through all of this, we are still in a playoff spot, and 4.5 games out of 6th.

The hope is that Krstic can quickly get back to starter form and that Swift can contribute. My concern is that Frank won't know how to integrate Swift into our lineup.

[mjs]

How bad is the Eastern Conference? The Nets play like a lottery team, yet still hold the eighth spot. Pathetic.

THorn has to hope a Western team reacts to the Shaq and Gasol trades to suddenly bump up Kidd's value.

With Kristic and Swift alongside Boone and S. Will, how will Frank handle the rotation? Will any of them play defense?

ww.njnetscast.com

[Mr. Dollar Bills]

Man..you'd think with those 4 names along with Magloire we'd be excited about the Nets big man rotation...but when Richie Cunningham can't coach his way out of a wet paper bag, things tend to look bleak!