Cutting Down The Nets:
N.J. Freeing Cap Space to Make Run at King James
By Zack Meisel
Jason Kidd and his $20 million salary? Gone. Richard Jefferson and his $12.2 million salary? Adios. The only salary over $6 million remaining on the retooled roster? That would belong to All-Star guard Vince Carter.
Is anyone else picking up on the not-so-subtle moves the Nets have been making? The theme here is crystal clear: out with the old and overpaid, in with the new and inexpensive. This strategy surely won’t land them the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the next year or two.
And that’s because the Nets, especially part-owner Jay-Z, have their eyes set on the 2010 offseason. Yes, the same offseason that every Cleveland faithful dreads. It’s no secret that the Nets are aiming to land King James to seat their future Brooklyn throne.
So, goodbye to veteran mainstays Kidd and Jefferson, and hello to young talents Devin Harris, Yi Jianlan, and Brook Lopez. The Nets won’t have much to offer in terms of winning for the next two campaigns, so a couple of top draft picks will be added to the mix. This will create quite an enticing dilemma for LeBron.
Obviously, much depends on the Cavaliers’ quest for a title over the next two seasons. Dan Gilbert and Danny Ferry are plenty aware of the uneasy circumstances, and will do everything in their power to ground the superstar near Lake Erie. But only so much can be done with a team that failed miserably in their first, futile Finals effort.
The Nets are shaping their roster two years in advance for just the chance at inking the John Hancock of NBA signatures. The Cavs have a head start in proven individual and team talent, but lack the promise of potential. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak aren’t getting any younger, and by 2010, Harris, Yi, and Lopez will have developed into solid contributors.
LeBron has made public his aspirations of being one of the wealthiest, most recognized figures in the world. New Jersey’s probable move to Brooklyn in several years will source James with a larger market than Cleveland will ever have to offer. And when current head coach Lawrence Frank is canned in the next year or two, the Nets will hire a big name, offensive guru who can further lure LeBron to take New Jersey’s reigns.
On a nightly basis, the nightmare of LeBron leaving his hometown area for another team haunts Clevelanders. Not even LeBron truly knows what he will do when he can opt out of his contract in two years. And the fact that it’s such an unknown entity further demonstrates the need for Danny Ferry to aggressively attempt to upgrade the current roster of the wine and gold.
Following a non-championship season, staying put with the roster isn’t exactly the blueprint for success. Just ask the Cleveland Indians. The Cavs even waited to pull the trigger until February, and couldn’t make up lost time or chemistry. An upgrade, whether landing Michael Redd, Baron Davis, or several players of lesser impact, must be crafted. In other words, J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson won’t be the keys to getting past the Celtics.
The Nets are jeopardizing their present for a golden opportunity in the future. It’s time the Cavs dismiss the future and focus on the present. Winning now is the only way to keep LeBron in Cleveland past 2010. New Jersey is doing everything in their power to make sure of that.
Originally Published: Issue 657 - July 2, 2008
 |
Share on Facebook |
