Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 135 – NBA Blog

Nets move to Brooklyn may not be until 2011

What will happen first: The Nets move to Brooklyn, or TJ Kidd’s grandchildren get college basketball scholarships? Tough call. The NJ Nets, who will eventually leave Eastern New Jersey and land right in the heart of Brooklyn, NJ, have been optimistic for years now that the move is only a few years away from happening, but delays keep popping up, and now it sounds like the most realistic optimistic estimate is 2011. But to me – and I care a lot about this story because I’m a NYer but don’t actually follow it closely other than the bottom-line details – even that sounds tough to pull off. I’m guessing it doesn’t happen until 2012 or even 2013, and I’m not basing that on any real info, so feel free to toss that prediction aside.

As for the news, the New York Daily News (Julian Garcia) reports:

If the Nets do manage to sign potential free agent LeBron James before the start of the 2010-11 season, it’s possible their fans in New Jersey could get the first look at him, as opposed to those in Brooklyn. The company that plans to build the team’s new home in Brooklyn acknowledged Monday that the arena may not be open until the 2010-11 season is well underway. While saying the plan remains to move the team to Brooklyn in “calendar year 2010,” a representative of Forest City Ratner – Nets owner Bruce Ratner’s company – admitted that schedule “is in fact very aggressive.

I look forward to the eventual move, because taking the subway to and from games is much easier than always having to go specifically to the Port Authority to take the bus, which is the only public transportation option to get to current Nets games.

Nets name Roy Rogers assistant coach

The New Jersey Nets have named Roy Rogers as an assistant coach, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Rogers joins Brian Hill, Tom Barrise and Doug Overton as a member of Head Coach Lawrence Frank’s staff.

“We are pleased to add Roy to Coach Frank’s staff,” said Thorn. “He has gained valuable knowledge and experience coaching in the D-League over the past several seasons, and we feel he will be an excellent mentor to our players.”

Rogers most recently served as an assistant coach for the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League during the 2007-08 season. Prior to his stint in Austin, Rogers spent two seasons (2005-06 and 2006-07) with the Tulsa 66ers. He started his coaching career in 2004 as an assistant with the Huntsville Flight, now the Albuquerque Thunderbirds.

Selected 22nd overall in the 1996 NBA Draft out of the University of Alabama, Rogers played three years in the NBA. In 137 career games with four teams (Vancouver, Boston, Toronto and Denver), Rogers averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds. Rogers also played four seasons (2000-04) of professional basketball internationally, in Russia, Italy, Greece and Poland.

Nets will keep rights to Krstic

The New York Post reports: While Nenad Krstic plays for Triumph of Moscow in Russia after accepting a 2-year deal worth $5.7 million (closer to $10 mil because of the lack of taxes), the Nets will give him a qualifying offer each year in order to retain his NBA right, team president Rod Thorn said. “We’ll see what happens but eventually I think he’ll go wherever he can get the best deal,” Thorn said. “For now, this was the best deal for him.” The Nets tried to beat the Tuesday midnight deadline and work a deal. They had concrete offers but losing Krstic left them at 15 contracts and they did not want to take anything back in terms of players. Chicago and Memphis were definitely in the mix.

How to determine schedule for any team

The Oklahoman (Mike Baldwin) reports on a team’s 82-game regular season schedule: “Four games against division opponents. Four games against six out-of-division conference opponents. Three games against the remaining four conference teams. Two games against teams in the opposing conference. A five-year rotation determines which out-of-division conference teams are played only three times.”

Nets trade Marcus Williams to Warriors

The New Jersey Nets have traded third-year guard Marcus Williams to the Golden State Warriors for future draft considerations, Nets President Rod Thorn announced Tuesday.

“Marcus is a good, young ballplayer with outstanding skills,” said Thorn. “This transaction allows us to acquire another future asset, and we wish Marcus the best in his basketball future.”

Williams, 22, was a member of the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team with New Jersey following the 2006-07 campaign, when he averaged 6.8 points and 3.3 assists in 79 games (16.6 mpg). He was selected to play with the rookie squad in the 2007 Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas and his season assist total (260) represented the third-most all-time for a Nets’ first-year player. His rookie season was highlighted by a career-high 27 point performance against the Suns in Phoenix (11/24/06).

“We are happy to add a player like Marcus to our roster,” said Mullin. “We felt that we needed to acquire another point guard and a player who is capable of running our offense and expanding our depth. We feel that Marcus can contribute to our cause next season.”

Last season (2007-08), Williams averaged 5.9 points and 2.6 assists in 53 games with the Nets (16.1 mpg), highlighted by a season-high 25 point performance 2/20 vs. Chicago and career-best 13 assist outing 2/23 vs. Indiana. Additionally, the 6’3” guard averaged 11.7 points and 4.6 assists in 17 outings last season when logging at least 20 minutes. He missed the first 23 games of the campaign due to a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

The first round selection the Nets obtained from Golden State will either be lottery protected 1-14 in 2011, lottery protected 1-11 in 2012 or lottery protected 1-10 in 2013. If the Nets do not use any of these picks, the Nets will receive Golden State’s second round picks in 2013 and 2015.

Timberwolves re-sign Sebastian Telfair

Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale today announced the team has re-signed free-agent guard Sebastian Telfair. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Sebastian showed a lot of growth as a point guard and decision-maker last season and bringing him back was a priority for us this offseason,” McHale said. “He gives us another experienced playmaker in the backcourt and I look forward to his continued development.”

The Timberwolves acquired Telfair on July 31, 2007 in a trade with Boston. In his lone season with Minnesota, the 6-0 guard averaged 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and a career-high 5.9 assists per game, finishing the season ranked 10th in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.20-to-1). Telfair appeared in 60 games for the Wolves, starting 51, before missing the final 21 contests with a sprained left ankle.

Originally selected by Portland with the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, Telfair played two seasons with the Blazers before being dealt to Boston in a draft-night trade on June 28, 2006. In his four seasons with the Blazers, Celtics and Wolves, Telfair has appeared in 274 games, posting career averages of 7.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

Magic sign-and-trade Keyon Dooling to Nets

The New Jersey Nets have acquired guard Keyon Dooling from the Orlando Magic in exchange for cash considerations, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

“Keyon is a versatile NBA veteran, and we are pleased to add him to our roster,” said Thorn. “His ability to play both the point and shooting guard positions will add flexibility and depth to our backcourt rotation.”

Dooling, a 6-3, 195 pound guard, averaged 8.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 72 games, including one start, for Orlando during the 2007-08 season. The eight-year NBA veteran has appeared in 465 games with the Clippers, Heat and Magic, holding career averages of 6.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Originally drafted with the 10th overall pick out of Missouri in the 2000 NBA Draft, Dooling has averaged 7.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29 career postseason contests for the Heat and Magic.

InsideHoops.com says: The Nets now have about 64 players on their roster. This could mean the team may try to trade Marcus Williams, maybe for a protected first rounder, or a pair of second rounders plus cash or something. They also may try to package a pair of big guys, like Sean Williams or Josh Boone and get one big guy back in return.

As of now the Nets look like a lottery team. Unless this new cast develops really magical team chemistry, making the playoffs could be tough.

Good deal for the Nets though. Dooling makes any team better.

Darius Miles comeback attempt

SI (Ian Thompson) reports: Darius Miles is trying to become the first player to return from an injury that was deemed to be “career-ending” by the NBA. If he were to sign a new contract and play in 10 or more games this season, his $9 million salary would go back on Portland’s books — though his return would not affect the Trail Blazers as badly as has been advertised. Miles underwent microfracture surgery to repair his right knee in November 2006. He hasn’t played since, and he was released by the Blazers in April after the “career-ending” judgment was made by an independent medical examiner appointed by the NBA and the players’ union. In recent weeks, Miles has had workouts — ranging from two hours to less than 30 minutes — with the Nets, Celtics, Suns and Mavericks, all of whom controlled the terms while asking Miles to compete against other players.

Nuggets will miss Najera

The Rocky Mountain News (Aaron J. Lopez) reports: Not only was Eduardo Najera an ambassador in the community, but he was the true definition of a team player, something the Nuggets lack far too often. He was one of the team’s best pick-and-roll defenders and never worried about how many points he scored. Not that Najera was invisible on offense. He ran the court as well as any big man on the roster and became a dangerous three-point shooter — much to the delight of coach George Karl, who would love to have three Najeras on his bench every season.

Nets add Hayes and Najera

The New York Daily News (Julian Garcia) reports: In reaching agreements with forwards Jarvis Hayes and Eduardo Najera Friday, the Nets added players who fit that description perfectly. It doesn’t hurt that both can do other things that should help keep the Nets competitive until they are able to go on a major shopping spree two summers from now. Hayes, a five-year veteran, played for the Pistons last season, averaging 6.7 points and 2.2 rebounds for the Eastern Conference finalists. He can help the Nets in two areas where they need it most – on defense and perimeter shooting. Najera, an eight-year veteran who turned 32 Friday, averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds with the Nuggets last season. He’s regarded as a tough player who is also great in the locker room.