What to do without Mirza?

      Even though Mirza was having a bad season his season ending injury is a big one for the Nets. No one on this team does what Mirza can do; he’s a big that spaces the floor and can hit the three. Mirza was the only big that could work with Lopez in 389 minutes. They are a +0.4 which isn’t that good, but Lopez only has three two man combinations that result in a positive. With Mirza out who should get his minutes? The answer should be Kevin Garnett, but the Nets won’t extend his minutes. So who else is there? The answer is not Jerome Jordan; in 52 minutes with Mason Plumlee they’re a -32. This will probably be Lionel Hollins first choice and it will fail. The guy who should get Mirza’s minutes is Cory Jefferson. He was the last pick of the draft and has done okay when called upon this season. He has the potential to become a stretch four. In college he shot 34% from three, granted it was 50 shots but it’s a start. The main reason why Jefferson deserves the minutes is when he and Mason Plumlee share the floor they are a +9.9 in 84 minutes.  Another reason why Jefferson should get Mirza’s minutes is because he’s a rookie on a one year contract this is the time to see if he’s an NBA player. The Nets should also sign another young power forward in case Jefferson doesn’t work out, but they need to sign a young guy from the D-league or Xavier Thames, who the Nets drafted right before Jefferson but Thames was playing overseas and was just bought out. The Nets still hold his rights; they could assign him to the D-league or sign him to the main roster. The Nets shouldn’t look to trade for a PF (No more giving away assets) but if they decide to trade Lopez, KG, Joe Johnson or Deron Williams they should probably look to include one in a trade.

All stats are from Basketball-reference.com

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TRADES!!!

                We are about one month away from the trade deadline and it’s time for the Billy King to pick up his phone and start making deals (Oh man that’s a scary thought). But the Nets are screwed for this season and until 2019. 2019 is the next time the Nets have their own first round pick!!!2019!!! That is crazy! How is this real?!?! The Nets can’t hit the restart button because they don’t have their own pick! So what can the Nets do? We’ll take a look at the plan for the rest of this season. The Nets current plan is to shed salary but contend. The Nets don’t want to add salary beyond next year because they want an empty cap for the free agency of 2016. The Nets should currently look to shed salary and contend because what else do they have going for them? But the problem I have with that plan is the empty cap for 2016. Look, the Nets are screwed so why would a big free agent want to come to Brooklyn? There’s no reason. Also the Nets shouldn’t even sign one because if they sign a big free agent they won’t win anything! The way you become a championship contender is by drafting 2 or 3 good to great players and then signing players. What the Nets should be doing this season is looking to trade everyone but Mason Plumlee for draft picks, young players and other teams’ horrible contracts. The only way the Nets can build towards the future is by taking horrible contracts and getting picks/assets in return. The Nets shouldn’t be looking to contend for the next 1-3 years; just add bad contracts endure the horrible seasons but get picks and assists with those horrible contracts. The Nets also have a couple of role players that they might be able to deal for a second round pick. TRADE MACHINE TIME!

           This is a trade that saves the Nets some money and it works for the Clippers; they NEED bench depth and Anderson provides it. Anderson is shooting 34% from three and is a good defender, and Anderson is cheap for the Clippers. The Nets could ask for a second round pick in return but I doubt they get a pick in return. Trading Anderson could open up a rotation spot for Markel Brown. The Nets need a young wing player to emerge and Karasev isn’t the answer (I still have hope for Bojan). By trading Anderson, Brown gets playing time. If the Nets get Chris Douglas Roberts they should waive him and sign a D-league guy and see what the D-Leaguer has.

               

         Okay I know Ray Felton isn’t someone you want and I don’t want Felton, but Mirza is probably gone after this season and the Nets should let him walk. He’s a fun player to watch, but he isn’t that good. The Mavs need another big right now. Charlie Villanueve is their back up four. They need to upgrade that position and Mirza is a good player for that role. Felton adds salary to Brooklyn and has a player option for next season (he’ll opt in for next year) but this is an example of adding salary but taking a pick back. The only way the Nets do this trade is if the Mavs send a pick the Nets way. I don’t even care if it’s a second round pick just get me some picks!

                I’ve been spending too much time on trade machine during my winter break. But the Clippers bench is bad and adding KG and Alan Anderson to it helps. KG and Doc have their relationship which is why it could happen. Spencer Hawes hasn’t been good this year and Doc Rivers isn’t a fan of him which means he might do something stupid. Hawes has 3 years left but in this deal the Nets add C.J. Wilcox, a young player under control for a while and should ask for a pick of any type; first or second Doc Rivers throws picks around almost worse than Billy King. The rest of the players in this trade are just old vets that take up roster spots. The Nets could waive some and add a D-leaguer or two.

 

                This is a trade I’m not a fan of because of Lance Stephenson, but the Nets need to do something. The Hornets might do it because Michael Jordan isn’t good at his job and the team really wants to make the playoffs; Joe Johnson would get this team in the playoffs. But the Nets get Williams and Henderson who are just taking up roster space. The Nets could take a chance on Lance because of the talent and hope they can figure his head out. The Nets could get a pick in this deal as well.

                This trade saves the Nets cash and that’s about it. The three players in the trade don’t help you win but you only do this trade if you receive a first round pick. The Pelicans need to get Anthony Davis in the playoffs and by adding Joe Johnson it might make the Pelicans the 8^th seed out west.

 

                Chris Mannnix suggested the Celtics take a shot on Brook Lopez which is why I made this deal. I highly doubt this trades happens, but hey why not! The Nets add salary  but they add salary with the Celtics who have so many draft picks and young assets that maybe the Nets can steal a few away in a deal like this. If the Nets did this they could trade Bass for a second round pick; he does have value. I doubt the Celtics do this because they’re in rebuilding mode and Zeller and Oylnk have been playing great of late.

           

 

                I wouldn’t rule out the Lakers pulling this trade off. They love big names and these are big names (kinda). The Nets get a good player in Lin and can buyout Steve Nash. Also, throw in a draft pick and it’s a win for the Nets!

                Those are all the trades for now there will be more in the coming weeks. Make sure to follow @threwthenet on Twitter for everything NBA and Brooklyn Nets. 

Nets Final play

It’s a new year but this new team isn’t going to change. This team is around 500 and will most likely be that way for the rest of the season; the team is stuck here and the Nets should make trades. The Nets have been talking to the Kings about Deron Williams and they talked to the Thunder about Brook Lopez. Every player outside of Mason Plumlee should be on the market. Plumlee has the potential to be a Tyson Chandler like player and he should be a building block player. As for everyone else, let them go!

Who should be starting?

            Deron Williams and Brook Lopez are now bench players for the Nets. Both have been playing better of late but only one should be back in the starting lineup. Deron Williams should be back in the starting lineup, he’s better than Jack and the only way to boost his trade value is by playing him more. He has been playing better since he has returned from injury, but he’s hurt again. DERON WILLIAMS!!! Not to mention when Jarrett Jack is on the floor the Nets are a -8.6, and when he’s off the floor the Nets are 5.8. Brook Lopez should remain on the bench and play about 20 minutes a game. Now last night vs the Mavs he scored 18 points in the first quarter, but a majority of those points were scored from 15-18 feet away from the basket and those are not reliable shots. Hollins should also not play Plumlee and Lopez together; they have played 88 minutes together this year and are a -12.5. They simply can’t play together, Lopez should be playing with Mirza Teletovic; they have played 296 minutes this year and are a +3. Mirza opens the floor for Brook and it’s just a better fit. (Stats are from basketball reference)

Lionel Hollins

            Its 34 games into the season and Lionel Hollins has been disappointing. He uses the wrong lineups and his final play of regulation vs the Mavericks was mind boggling.

The play is a simple ISO for Joe Johnson which is a good play in this situation, anytime you have Joe going one on one with someone I like my chances but there is one huge mistake with the play; Hollins drew up in the timeout. Look where Brook Lopez is standing. He’s in the strong side corner and Tyson Chandler is paying no attention to him and because of this Joe has no chance of attacking the rim. How can you have a 7 foot center with no three point shot standing where he’s standing??  Lopez should have been on the bench here and Karasev should be in his spot. If Karasev is there it forces Chandler away from the lane.

The Nets play the Celtics and 76ers this week at home. They must win both of those games. They will be without Deron Williams for the Celtics. Brandon Davies was also released today, it gives the Nets one free roster start.

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