Gift wrapped for Brooklyn: The 2008-2009 New Jersey Nets

I have always been resistant to change.

Even if I knew it was coming a mile away.

Last February, I got the opportunity to see the Nets at their best for what turned out to be their last time together against a major opponent.

And with the trade deadline looming, there were already some notable changes on their roster as the Nets shipped forward/center Jason Collins to Memphis for underachieving forward Stromile Swift. A few days later, team captain Jason Kidd followed suit when New Jersey sent him back to the very team that drafted him (Dallas Mavericks) for Devin Harris and other players.

Change was coming.

I just didn’t know how fast.

Nets Team President Rod Thorn and the rest of the Nets brain trust have been very busy this off-season. Having traded away their franchise’s second all-time leading scorer—Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks for China’s Yi Jianlian and underachieving forward Bobby Simmons.

The Nets also did very well for themselves in the 2008 NBA Draft after they bagged Stanford’s 7’0’’ center Brook Lopez at #10, 6’10’’ forward Ryan Anderson at #21, and arguably the steal of the draft at #40—Memphis scoring guard-forward Chris “CDR” Douglas-Roberts.

Rod Thorn didn’t stop there as he also allowed forward Bostjan “Boki” Nachbar to sign with a Russian team and sent guard Marcus Williams to the Golden State Warriors for a future lottery-protected 1st round pick.

With that said, the only Nets left from last season’s roster are Darrell Armstrong, Josh Boone, Nenad Krstic, Sean Williams, Vincent Lamar Carter and his $61.8 million dollar extension. Of those five players, only Boone, Williams, and Carter are certain to make the final roster.

The New Jersey Nets have certainly positioned themselves well for the unrestricted free agent boon of 2010 that will feature the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr., Steve Nash, Joe Johnson, Walter Ray Allen, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Manu Ginobili, Tracy McGrady, and for what it’s worth, Shaquille O’Neal. This list can further increase if players who hold Early Termination Options (ETO) in their existing contracts decide to exercise them. They are Amare Stoudemire, Michael Redd, Tyson Chandler, Richard Jefferson, Yao Ming, and Dirk Nowitzki.

If the Nets don’t land LeBron James in 2010.

They are not short on alternatives from the wealth of talent on that list.

Kudos to the Nets brain trust on their foresight.

Brooklyn may not only be getting a team two years from now.

But a solid contender.

Addendum:

- DeSagana Diop and the Dallas Mavericks agreed on a five-year, $31 million deal (the team’s full midlevel exception) last July 9, 2008. It will be Diop’s second stint with the Mavericks after being a part of the Jason Kidd-Devin Harris deal six months earlier

- What exactly did the Nets get in the Marcus Williams deal? Fred Kerber of nypost.com shares that “if the Warriors are in the playoffs in 2011, the Nets get their first round pick. So it’s lottery-protected in 2011.

He adds “if the Nets are still waiting for the pick in 2012, they get G. State’s first rounder, as long as it’s not 1-through 11. If they’re still waiting in 2013, they get the first rounder as long as it’s not 1-through-10. But 2013 is the cutoff. If they haven’t gotten the pick by then they get two second rounders, in 2013 and 2015.”

Sounds as shady as Marcus Camby being dealt for a 2nd round pick, if you know what I mean.

- Lastly, at the age of 40, guard Darrell Armstrong won’t be back with the Nets for the upcoming 2008-2009 NBA season.

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Miami Heat Defense made D Stevenson feel like Hibachi

December 14, 2007 - Washington 104 @ Miami 91

Much like the struggling Nets, the Miami Heat have yet to hit mid-season form and win games with some semblance of consistency. It could be worse though, they could be the New York Knicks who can't win anything.

Looking forward, I really don't expect anything to change in the near future as the Heat lost (by a lot as they were down between 8-11 points at HOME to the Gilbert Arenasless Washington Wizards) despite having almost their whole lineup ready for action (this is basically Jason Williams as everyone else (outside the regulars) doesn't get off the bench and Smush Parker doesn't seem to exist anymore in the eyes of the Heat brain trust after his $12 dollar valet parking fiasco a couple of weeks ago).

How bad are things down at South Beach? Well, longtime Heat bear writer Ira Winderman put it best.

Winderman wrote for sun-sentinel.com:

Stevenson said on TNT's halftime interview, "I felt like Hibachi," a reference to the sizzling streak shooting of sidelined Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas.

Stevenson entered having scored 28 total points on 32-percent shooting in his four previous outings.

With the victory, the Wizards improved to 9-5 in Arenas' absence.

The Heat's defense (D.Wade has to take some blame here with his freelancing defense on Stevenson) actually made another player feel like Hibachi?

That's rich!

It's certainly something that you don't hear everyday (and at halftime to boot!).

But I digress, DeShawn Stevenson has and will be given credit. He can shoot the basketball, especially if there is no one in front of him (See Hibachi vs. DeShawn shoot it out in a February 07' YouTube Clip).

Last night, the defense was at best....token.

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Yi Jianlian--NBA All-Star?

The proud city of New Orleans. 58 Days to go. NBA All-Star 2008.

The annual (a.k.a. "most likely") West starters most likely Yao Ming at Center (no contest here with an entire country voting for him); Tim Duncan (which was sketchy at first since he was initially listed as a Center. But now since he was able to sequester a reprieve on his All-Star ballot position listing (which would have most likely taken him out of the West starters if he didn't get it since Yao Ming has owned the Center slot since he entered the league in 03') and last year's league MVP Dirk Nowitzki at Forward; and Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady at Guard.

While the annual (a.k.a. "most likely") East starters would be Shaquille O'Neal at Center (no doubt moving to East to South Beach really helped in this department); newcomer Kevin "KG" Garnett and LeBron "LBJ" James as the Forwards; and Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. and Gilbert "Agent Zero" Arenas at the Guard positions.

That is "most likely" and probably how the vote will turn out. New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd (who currently has three triple-doubles this early into the 07'-08' season) should be the most viable replacement for the injured Arenas.

As for the West, I am not a big fan of Tracy McGrady and in all honesty, a natural point guard should start for the West and my vote goes to 2-time MVP Steve Nash (which won't happen because of McGrady's popularity).

Now to the main topic.

Question: Will Milwaukee Bucks forward and China's own Yi Jianlian make the NBA All-Star team?

I say YES!

Not because I'm a fan of Yi (which I am not), nor because the NBA seemingly decided to leave the 20 year-old Jianlian off the All-Star ballot.

Yi Jianlian will make it with his countrymen backing him up via the NBA's online All-Star voting system. They may have taken Yi off the ballot but NBA fans are more educated these days as there is always the "write in player" option.

Yi won't surpass "The Chosen One" LeBron James but he has a shot at Kevin Garnett's starting slot.

Yahoo Sports wrote:

China's basketball press lamented Friday (November 16, 2007) the absence of rookie Yi Jianlian from the 2008 NBA All Star ballot, reporting that the world's top basketball league may fear the voting power of Chinese fans.

Yi's name was absent from the ballot released Thursday (November 15, 2007) in the United States, making it much more difficult for Chinese supporters of the Milwaukee Bucks power forward to vote for him to start in the annual All Star Game.

The 20-year-old rookie has impressed in his first month in the NBA, averaging 11 points and 6.9 rebounds a game and replacing Charlie Villanueva, who is on the ballot, as the Bucks starter.

Yi's absence dominated the sports pages of many Chinese newspapers on Friday.

"The NBA does not dare to put Yi Jianlian on the ballot because the voting power of Chinese fans is too big," Titan Sports Weekly said in an editorial.

"If the NBA put Yi Jianlian on the ballot without careful consideration ... he would surely start for the East.

"The NBA fears that if a guy like Yi becomes an All Star and only scores two points in the game, they would lose the meaning of the All Star (game)."


Wouldn't it be fun to see the system work against the NBA?

So what are you waiting for?

Click here and vote today!

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Penny Hardaway: A perfect game

November 15, 2007

That's exactly what Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, the Miami Heat's free agent acquisition, did the other day against the New Jersey Nets wherein he and former Orlando Magic teammate Shaquille O'Neal sealed the Heat's victory (91-87) with "strong fourth quarter play" in East Rutherford, N.J.

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney wrote:

"The Heat were up five with less than 9 minutes left when Hardaway made a 3-pointer. He knocked down another one about 1 1/2 minutes later, giving Miami a 75-66 cushion with 7:22 remaining.

Sean Williams' bucket cut it to four with 4 1/2 minutes left, but Hardaway answered with another 3 with 4:09 to go. Hardaway hadn't scored more than eight points in a game this season, when he returned to the league after not playing since the 2005-06 season because of leg injuries."

Sun-Sentinel and Miami Heat beat writer added:

"And Hardaway finally made shots, going 6 for 6 (4 for 4 from downtown and 3 of the 4 in the 4th quarter), the first time he played without a miss in his career."

Even with D.Wade back, Penny Hardaway's stellar play (as of late as there have been a number of occasions this year wherein the Heat have had to beg him just to shoot the basketball) might actually score some more points with stern taskmaster and Heat coach Pat Riley.

Ricky Davis, watch your back!

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He is now back! He is now back! D.Wade returns tonight against Seattle

And he's back!

On the six-month anniversary (May 15, 2007) of his shoulder and knee surgeries, Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. has finally given his consent to return to the game of basketball.

His presence will certainly boast the Miami Heat's point production (currently standing at an NBA low 83.3 ppg) as well as lower the chances of the NBA's current cellar dweller--the Northwest Division's Seattle Supersonics (0-8 Win-Loss record; 8-game losing streak) from notching their first win of the season.

Wade was not listed in the Heat's match up against the Sonics which begins tonight at 7:30 pm ET.

AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds wrote:

"It isn't going to be one man that's going to turn this around," Heat Coach Pat Riley said, echoing a line Wade has used in recent days. "He will change the game for us, as he progresses in live action."

While Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said Miami "instantly" gets better with Wade, but he also cautioned that he didn't expect to see the 2006 NBA finals MVP back in top form right away.

"When you miss as much time as he missed, even as great as he his, I don't see him coming back and not missing a beat," Carlesimo said before Wednesday's game. "But when he comes back, I expect them to be what they have been, which is one of the best teams in the East."

The knee was Wade's primary source of worry over the past couple weeks. He had surgery to relieve the condition commonly called "jumper's knee" and said he didn't want to return to the Heat lineup until he was convinced that the joint could hold up to the rigors of NBA life.

Team doctors cleared him for full-contact practice earlier this month and Wade began those workouts Nov. 5, although he was able to participate in certain on-court drills since training camp began about a month earlier."

Welcome back Flash!

Good times are back again!

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The Greatest Dwyane Wade Rookie Card Ever?

Not since the draft of Michael Jordan--which produced future hall of famers: Charles Wade Barkley, Chris Mullin, and Hakem Olajuwon--has there been an NBA draft class with so much talent. The 2003 draft class has already paid dividends with such notable stars and names as LeBron James, Darko Milicic, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, David West, 05'-06' Most Improved Player Boris Diaw, Leandro "The Brazilian Blur" Barbosa, Josh Howard, Kyle Korver, and Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr.

With these developing talents and the full support of media and mass marketing, these players have become household names with the likes of LeBron, Melo, and Dwyane leading the way.

Getting Down to Business

According to Beckett Basketball Magazine, the card on the top of every Wade collector's wish list is the 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection #74 Dwyane Wade (JSY AU RC) (Pictured above). I have seen this card's value range from 3000 USD to 6000 USD on eBay, and that is already supposed to be a good deal as if you were to open these very, very pricey Exquisite Collection packs, you will be very, very, poor before you would be able to pull anything substantial--and realistically speaking, it may not be the Dwyane Wade card which you were hopping for.

That's what everyone wants.

But what about this?

2003-2004 Dwyane Wade Fleer Authentix Jersey Authentix Autograph (AJADW) numbered to 100. Unlike the Exquisite Collection which patch features your typical red, black, white, or combination of the three swatches; this particular card distinguishing quality is a Nike Swoosh Logo from the manufacturer's patch on each NBA jersey during that time. This would make it a relative 1 of 1 since Nike gave way to Reebok as the official outfitter of the NBA a year later.

Now which one would be more valuable?

A card that is atrociously expensive to begin with or one that: a) has a patch of a manufacturer that was the official apparel endorser of the NBA in 2003-2004, b) the patch has most of the Nike Logo on it (I've only seen two so far and the other card only features the tip of the tail of the Nike Swoosh), c)this is one of the last basketball card sets that Fleer produced prior to filing for bankruptcy in 2005, and d) its autographed.

Can you say, the greatest ever?

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Dwyane Wade back sooner than expected?

AP Sports Writer Cliff Brunt broke the news today that the Miami Heat's All-Star guard, Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. has been cleared to play after the left knee and left shoulder surgeries he had six months ago.

Brunt wrote:

"conditioning is not to the level that he needs it to be for the kind of game we need from him, but this is a big step for us," Riley said. "We're not going to have any kind of watch. I think when he decides to play is the day you'll know about it."

This is certainly good news.

Not only for the Miami Heat faithful, but for Fantasy NBA owners such as myself.

The clock is ticking and D.Wade is coming!

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Some things are more important than the game of basketball...

Even though I may live halfway around the world, my heart does goes out to the San Diego evacuees. The scale of the devastation caused by the raging fires in Southern California is unprecedented and something that I would never want anyone to ever experience.

I was in San Diego just last year to pay my graduate school a visit. It was March and the landscape and bay area was vast, beautiful, and surreal as it seemed as if nobody was in any rush. Shops opened at 11 AM like clockwork and everyone went about their daily business.

Now all of that has changed for tens of thousands. Its not right! But in this time of great need, I am happy to see that everyone in the area is doing their own small part to help. I recently got an email from my school informing the student body that classrooms would be converted into makeshift shelters to assist in the relief efforts. My prayers go out to all of them...

Aspiring professional player Rob Benson, a victim of this tragedy, put it best in his blog:


"Well, currently my family is on the brink of evacuation down in San Diego. I'm in LA safe and sound, but a number of homes of people I know have already started to burn. We live right on the water, so hopefully I'll get a call tomorrow telling me that everything is fine. If not, I know there are things more important than the material things that could go down in flames (well, my xbox and my wii are with me, so they are safe). My Vince Carter autographed shoe has less meaning now that I've shared a locker space with the guy. My Tiger Woods autograph became less important the day I dropped 24 on Stanford and he was there to see it. My family, my health, and my future are in the works now. I think it will all be ok, but who knows."

We all live in a very cynical world governed by material needs. Does it have to take a life changing event for us to realize that what is most important is our family, love ones, and our health?

I am the same as you guys: I aspire for a better life, hope to meet my idols, have that Dwyane Wade Autographed Rookie Card...

What I am trying to say is that I too forget what's really important sometimes...

I think we all do...

Dwyane Wade: “He was like the Magic Johnson of our era”

And of mine…

Unlike NBA Superstars Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan who generated a buzz in their respective NBA comebacks, former Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks guard-forward Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway situation is quite different. Returning after almost a two-year absence, Hardaway seems willing to forgo the luxuries once afforded to him by his ability to play basketball (without a guaranteed contract, Hardaway only received $109 daily for food and expenses)—for one final shot—an opportunity to play the game that has given so much to him and a chance at the elusive Larry O'Brien trophy.

Palm Beach Post staff writer Carlos Frias shares that Penny is quite serious with his return having enlisted the services of a number of individuals:

(Hardaway) moved to Miami last year and began working with Downs, who had helped players like Alonzo Mourning, Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn extend their careers. The pain in his knee disappeared, but he remained invisible to the NBA.

Nine months ago, he moved back to Memphis to play in a semipro league. He maintained a personal team dedicated to getting Hardaway back to the NBA: Downs, who flew up on the weekends; a therapist from Houston; a strength coach in Memphis; and a shooting coach from Orlando.

On the court, he no longer lived above the rim, but he was throwing down windmill dunks, shooting from long-range and making dazzling passes against lesser but highly motivated competitors.

"Because of his star appeal, everybody wanted to show him up," said his shooting coach, Buzz Braman. "So he had to bring it every night."

Can anyone say, “Team Hardaway?”

But seriously, Frias adds that Hardaway is working on just having fun, regaining lost confidence, and taking on the role of a mentor by working with the Heat’s younger players.

Sun-Sentinel Miami Heat beat writer Ira Winderman had this to share after the Heat’s pre-season loss to the New Orleans Hornets (92-85) in Mississippi:

Penny Hardaway made his Heat debut (after missing the team’s first four games due to an injured quadriceps muscle) and played particularly well in the halfcourt game. At the end of the day, figure on Riley doing what he always does: getting rid of the kids (Jeremy Richardson, Devin Green) and keeping the veteran (Hardaway).

For Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway fans out there, let’s hope Pat Riley remains true to form.

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Barkley on Heat "A bunch of Tito Jackson's without Shaq, while Wade is considered "a Janet"

December 14, 2006 - TNT's Charles Wade Barkley has been known to say what's on his mind from time-to-time. Wait! make that all the time, as The Montana Standard.com had quoted him saying that the Miami Heat's lineup without the injured center Shaquille O'Neal was just "a bunch of Tito Jackson's without Shaq. Except for Wade — he's Janet, he can survive on his own."

You just got to love the repertoire of Sir Charles.

Wade out until third week of November?

Long time beat reporter Ira Winderman of Sun-Sentinel wrote:

“Dwyane Wade pushed back his earliest possible return date to the third week of November, saying he would need at least one week on the court after being cleared for contact. That would mean he would miss at least 10 games in his recovery from May knee and shoulder surgeries.”

Personally, I hope that D.Wade comes back stronger than ever. But from a Fantasy Basketball perspective, I wouldn’t draft him over Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant (Knicks anyone?), Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James, Steve Nash, Gilbert Arenas, and Jason Kidd (in that order) just yet, especially in Roto leagues.

NBA Live 2008’s Dynasty Mode (Part III) - Trade and Triple-Double

This is the third of a series of articles on my first ever Dynasty Mode Season.

Finally had a chance to sit down and check out the latest NBA Live 2008 Dynasty GM features. Here are some highlights:

• Free agency – Josh Smith, Anderson Varejao, and Jose Manuel Calderon all have one-year pacts. Looking ahead, I’m sure they are expecting big paydays and I just know I can’t keep all of them, especially since I am over the salary cap. This early, I foresee Anderson Varejao holding out (the real one has, why not his NBA Live counterpart).
• Team Chemistry – A majority of my players don’t think too highly of Anderson Varejao. Is he my team’s albatross?
• Free Agents – Charlie Bell and Matt Carroll are available.

Game 7: Suns @ Magic (139-118)

Looking at my schedule so far (6 wins – 1 loss), I’ve only had two home games to this point but all things being equal, I would most probably have a slew of consecutive home games :) Now down to business.

Best player: Dwight Howard (30 points and 3 steals); Chris Bosh (my team’s Shawn Marion) comes up with 23 points and 9 caroms. While Luke Ridnour is a steady force with 11 assists and David Lee has his second straight productive game finishing with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals off the pine.

The Magic were led by point guard Kirk Hinrich (41 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists), Manu Ginobili (29 points), and Haiti-born center Samuel Dalambert (16 points and 15 rebounds).

Game 8: Knicks @ Suns (133-170)

Before I get to the game, I came to the conclusion that I don’t want to deal with free agency. I know that it sounds premature but it is still something that needs to be considered. With this in mind, I proposed a trade (Josh Smith, Mike Miller, and Jose Manuel Calderon) to the Sacramento Kings for Dwyane Wade.

It looks promising, but I worry about my team’s chemistry as in NBA Live 2008, it seems to have repercussions – I haven’t seen it yet but I hope I don’t rue the day I pulled the trigger on this one.

Now to the game. Despite Kobe Bryant’s Herculean scoring effort (Judged the best player in this contest after finishing with 89 points and little from everyone else) and all-around game of rookie PG Morris Almond (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists), the Knicks fell to the Suns 170-133.

For the Suns, Chris Bosh topped all Suns scorers with 28 points and 4 blocks. Dwight Howard contributed 18 points (9-9 FG) and 10 caroms in this effort. While guard J.J. Redick broke out of a slump a finished with 20 points (2-11 3-point FG).

Mike Miller (25 points and 5 steals) and Josh Smith (20 points; 10-10 FG) also gave a good account for themselves despite rumors of a blockbuster trade swirling around the two players.

November 14, 2007

• Sacramento Kings approve the deal of Josh Smith, Mike Miller, and Jose Manuel Calderon for Dwyane Wade. The Kings added that they believe that this trade “would benefit both teams.”

I hope so…

• Charlie Bell signs with Suns

November 15, 2007

• Matt Carroll joins the Suns.


Game 9: Bulls @ Suns (134-184)

After the Chicago Bulls took one point lead at the end of the first quarter (44-43), the Phoenix Suns never looked back as they scored a blistering 65 points in the next period on their way to their best performance in a half (108 points). Inspired by Luke Ridnour’s 1st triple-double of the season (20 points, 18 assists, 12 steals, and 14 TO; Best Player), the Suns survived the dominating post presence of the Bulls Twin Towers: Paul Gasol (70 points and 6 rebounds) and Yao Ming (32 points and 9 rebounds).

When the smoke cleared, all but three of the eleven Suns that suited up for this contest scored in double figures with Wade (37 points), Varejao (25 points, 6 steals), and Bosh (20 points) leading the way.

Team Chemistry: I really don’t know…the feel of the team was different. Right now, I have a ton of two-guard shooters who are playing out of position at shooting forward (either Jason Kapono or Kyle Korver). I need a slasher…this is where I really miss Josh Smith.

Oh well…adjust…adjust…adjust…

Back to the Mint

When I first heard that Miami Heat coach Pat Riley was considering giving 36-year old Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway another chance at the big leagues after almost two years of shelf time – I was ecstatic! Ecstatic because I grew up watching the duo of Shaq and Penny strut their stuff for the Orlando Magic in the early 90’s. Now, more than a decade later, I’d get to see them again…

But based on the observations of Miami Heat insider Ira Winderman (http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_basketball_heat/), it looks like it may not happen.

Winderman wrote:

"Hardaway, though, is different. He is not assured a spot and still must play his way onto the 15-man regular-season roster. His quadriceps soreness not only opens more playing time for the likes of Jeremy Richardson, Devin Green and even Marcus Slaughter, but makes one wonder how much longer Riley can justify the comeback bid by the 36-year-old who has been out of the league for nearly two years."

And to think I was looking forward to a picture with Shaq, Penny, and D.Wade.