How would you like THIS Nets team next year?

[TomShane]

A couple slight moves and BAM, they're right in it:

Sign Ray Allen as a FA: Big bucks, and they'd have to get creative, but he's the elite shooter that could elevate this squad and keep people from packing the lane against Vince. The Nets have the mid-level and the the trade exceptions available, so they could make something happen.

Trade Richard Jefferson for Elton Brand: Look back to this last season--Jefferson gets cheap-shotted from behind by Chauncey Billups, which effectively ends his season. No retaliation by the Nets. Fast forward a few months: Vince Carter gets hacked all game long by the Bulls' Andres Nocioni and, again, no retaliation. A few nights later, Bruce Bowen takes Vince's legs out 30 feet from the basket on a jump-shot and Vince is forced into having to go after Bowen himself. In short, the Nets lack any big men with ball enough to beat the sh*t out of people who **** with the scorers. The need a Charles Oakley type to keep people honest. They need a guy who will not only put Nocioni and Bowen out for the season with spinal fractures, but they need a guy who will also take the extra step of gaining direct revenge by killing the offending party AND who will also exact indirect revenge by killing the opposing team's superstar. When Bowen went after Vince, not only Bowen needs to hit the deck, but Tim Duncan needs to get a shot in the neck. Not only does Nocioni need to die, but Kirk Hinrich needed to fear for his teeth in the lane. This is how championships are won. The Nets do not have that guy. Jason Collins is a woman, and Nenad Krstic is tough, but he's not going to punch anyone in the teeth. Elton Brand is a player who will hurt you for f*cking with his teammates. Dealing RJ for Brand, assuming you sign Ray Allen, gives you a complete squad on the floor.

Draft Sean May: I am not in love with May's physical skills, but adding him to a front line that includes fellow wide-body Elton Brand makes life in the paint an absolute bitch for opponents. While ideally you'd like to get Kidd another guy who can get above the rim for dunks on the break, those guys won't be there at 16(?). The other option here is Chris Taft, the 6'10" forward from Pitt who is that lean Shawn Kemp-type that would work with Kidd, but Taft has "head-case" written all over him.

Trade Jason Collins for depth: Collins is a nice team player, and he's 7 feet tall, but he plays like a guy half that size. He doesn't clog the lane and he doesn't stop any of the better centers in the league from scoring. In short, he's useless. Let's face it, his sole purpose on the Nets is to try and compete against Shaq in the Eastern Conference, but somehow as time has gone on, Collins has become less competitive against O'Neal. Deal Collins out west for a back-up ball handler to come off the bench and give Kidd a breather every so often. Zoran Plananic and Jacques Vaughn are not the answer.

[The Troll]

Trade Richard Jefferson for Elton Brand:

**** no!

The Clippers are stupid, but they aren't THAT stupid. I would rather watch women's golf than root for Richard Jefferson.

BTW, I think that 95% of the teams that would add Ray Allen and Elton Brand would be "right in it".

[T-Mac]

If we could somehow get Sean May at 16 we probably wouldn't need Brand. Same type of player.

[stormshadow19]

One hell of a fantasy, TS... really.

[124]

You're dreaming.

Stick with Kristic-Vince-Kidd-Jefferson and a draft pick for your starting 5.

Bring back the people's choice if you want to keep your franchises dignity as well. :wink: