Free agency started on the 1st and I was ready to write a free agency preview for the Nets, but then Jason Kidd went all Jason Kidd. So I couldn’t do a free agency preview without knowing who the coach who would be but now it is Lionel Hollins, and I am okay with it. He is the one re-trend coach I am okay with. He is a defense first guy and became a good coach in Memphis in the years 2010-2013. Hollins was 143-87 (one of those seasons was a shortened season). He took the team to the conference finals in 2013 and then was fired for not getting along with the front office. He was a hot free agent last year, but did not sign anywhere. Now he is more than that; he is the coach of Nets and that means a change in the playing style for the Nets.
Under Jason Kidd the Nets played small with shooters on the court. Now with Lopez healthy and with Hollins as the coach, expect the Nets to go to a more traditional lineup with two bigs and only one point guard. This changes everything that the Nets should do in free agency. For example, right after the season I thought the Nets should let Blatche walk away, but now I believe the Nets should resign Blatche. With Hollins, expect the bigs to post up more; and can Mason Plumlee operate in the post? Blatche is great in the post. Also with KG being very limited, and Brook Lopez coming off his second foot surgery,the Nets need a big man who can score and more importantly just a big man. With the Nets cap limitations they can go over that cap to sign Blatche; they should resign him. In a radio interview, Billy King basically said the Nets weren’t going to resign Blatche. So WELP.
The Nets lost Shaun Livingston to Golden State and now they need a backup point guard. The Nets have had talks with the Cavs about a Jarret Jack for Marcus Thornton swap. If that trade were to happen it would give the Nets a good backup point guard and the Cavs more cap room which something they’re looking for. Another name out there for the Nets is JameerNelson. He was just cut by the Magic so they could save six million and he is now a free agent. I think Nelson would be great off the bench of any playoff team. He is the type of guy who could start a 6-0 run by himself and could strive on a team where he isn’t the 1st or 2nd option to score.
Now with Hollins as the coach the Nets are most likelygoing to need a more traditional power forward to play alongside KG and Mirza. I’m going to rattle off some names that might be able to fit in the Nets salary. Elton Brand is a veteran who might take less to play on a good team; Kris Humphries… okay everyone hates him but he’s a good player. However, he might be too much for the Nets but I wouldn’t hate bringing Hump back; Glen Davis was someone the Nets targeted last year before the Nets signed Jason Collins; Davis wasn’t great with the Clippers last year but could be someone the Nets target in free agency; and then last name on this list is Kenyon Martin because WHY NOT?!?! Let’s get K-Mart in a Nets uniform one more time!
Paul Pierce is a free agent and the Nets must resign him.Plus, they have the biggest advantage of all, money! The Nets can offer Paul Pierce more money than everyone. I don’t care how much the Nets give Pierce. It doesn’t affect any other moves they can make and I root for the Nets, not Mikhail Prokhorov’s bank account. So get me Paul Pierce back in Brooklyn! Without him the Nets are nothing next year.
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