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July 2, 2012
As Deron Williams meeting looms, Nets look to strike on multiple fronts
CBSSports.com
by Ken Berger
Sunday was Canada Day, and Steve Nash recognized the occasion by meeting with the Raptors and Knicks in New York to discuss possible free-agent deals.
Monday could be Brooklyn Day, with the Nets celebrating by courting their own free-agent point guard, Deron Williams, as well as Nash -- not to mention going deep into discussions with the Atlanta Hawks about a trade that would pair Joe Johnson with Williams in an All-Star Brooklyn backcourt.
Actually, Brooklyn Day was three weeks ago, and the Nets didn't accomplish anything then either, save blowing hot air.
Williams will meet with the Nets and Dallas Mavericks Monday, and D-Will's resulting decision will be the domino that sends NBA free agency tumbling. The Brooklyn franchise has numerous other balls in the air, none bigger than a possible deal that would bring Johnson and the $90 million left on his contract over the next four years to help christen the Barclays Center next season.
...As far as the Nets are concerned, the question isn't so much where are they getting all this money; it's where are they getting all this cap space to court two Hall of Fame point guards (three, if you buy into Williams' future Hall of Fame credentials), pay the soon-to-be 30-year-old Wallace $40 million, retain Lopez and fill out the roster with other free agents -- not to mention absorb the 31-year-old Johnson's contract, the richest in the sport.
Related coverage...
New York Magazine, The Nets Now Have Seven Players on Their Team (Sorta)
One of the more amusing aspects of the Brooklyn Nets' public relations push leading up to the opening of the Barclays Center in late September is the fact that they are essentially selling nothing right now. Before last night's NBA Draft, the Nets had exactly four players under contract for the 2012-13 season. When you see that black-and-white shield with the "B" on it, when you see the television advertisements, when you walk past the Atlantic Yards and see how close they are to getting that thing finished, know that it all is essentially, at this point, for Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro, Marshon Brooks and Jordan Williams. Get excited!
SBNation, Dwight Howard, Mikhail Prokhorov's Nets And The End Of All Logic
Howard could be receiving the adulation that comes with being New York's newest star right now. Instead, the Nets are apparently moving on to ensure they can keep Williams and field a team in October; suffice it to say that if Brooklyn retains Williams and picks up Joe Johnson in a trade, there's no fitting Howard in there. At this rate, by the time Howard does actually become a free agent, the Nets won't have any cap space or tradeable assets with which to acquire him. The window was 2012 free agency. Howard blew it.
This is all surely very infuriating to the Magic, but imagine how the Nets must feel. They're hearing again that Howard wants to join -- but knowing full well that they have nothing to offer in a trade and knowing they can't reserve cap space by tanking out their debut season in Brooklyn.
BrooklynFans.com, BROOKLYN NETS’ BIGGEST WEEK EVER … WHAT TO EXPECT, AND WHEN
Weeks ago it felt like doomsday in Brooklyn when the Nets lost out in the lottery. The feeling was D-Will might leave, and the rest of the roster would then jump ship … leaving the Nets to scramble and overpay for a ragtag group of castoffs for their inaugural season. Blech. Now things are looking up for the new Brooklyn Nets fan base.
Could everything fall apart? Absolutely.
Meadowlands Matters [NorthJersey.com], Devils avert the unthinkable; Nets’ fate still a high-wire act
While the Nets say sales of tickets and suites for the teams’ inaugural season at Barclays Center starting this fall have been brisk, there’s little doubt that a pent-up demand remains on the sidelines awaiting word on the potential return of All-Star Deron Williams and possible arrival of All-Star Dwight Howard.
The Devils, coming off such a stirring playoff result, can market their franchise just fine now that [Martin] Brodeur is back. But the Nets have no such goodwill as they move out of Jersey.
Also, basketball is far more defined by just a couple of players. A Nets team with Williams and Howard can be a title contender. A Nets team without either seems doomed – maybe for several years.
Posted by eric at July 2, 2012 11:20 AM