February 13, 2012
  • 6/23/08

    nets

    By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

    NBA Draft Preview: New Jersey Nets

    Photo credit: Game Face

    Team Outlook: The Nets finished 34-48 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001 -- the year before Jason Kidd arrived and turned the franchise around.

    Point guard Devin Harris, one of the many players traded for Kidd in February, has become abuilding blocks for the Nets next season and beyond. At age 25, Harris averaged 15.4 points, 6.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 25 games for New Jersey last season.

    Harris' right-hand men are Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, who averaged 22.6 and 21.3 points per game respectively last season.

    New general manager Kiki Vandeweghe knows that both Carter and Jefferson still have some value on the trade market, and might use that to his advantage and find other players to surround Harris.

    Team Needs: Low-post scoring, rebounding and outside shooting.

    Draft Picks: No. 10 and No. 21 in the first-round and No. 40 in the second round.

    Who to get at No. 10: Look for the Nets to take small forward Danilo Gallinari of Italy. Only 20-years-old and very unpolished, Gallinari has nevertheless been a proven scorer in Europe.

    He can shoot off the dribble, contested or fading away, and could provide the Nets with a versatile, 6-foot-9 forward who is a long-distance threat.If the Nets are lucky, Indiana's freshman Eric Gordon, a slasher with three-point shooting ability, or sophomore Russell Westbrook of UCLA, a very good defender with a lethal first step, might be available.

    Each would complement Harris in the backcourt at the shooting guard spot nicely.

    Who to get at No. 21: With its second pick, the Nets should go big. Bostjan Nachbar, Josh Boone and Nenad Krstic were the Nets' highest-scoring big men last yearw, with averages 9.8, 8.2 and 6.6 points, respectively. Sophomore JaVale McGee of Nevada would be the optimal pick in this position.

    A 7-footer with a wingspan of about 7-foot-6, McGee has the length to rebound and blockshots. His mid-range jump shot is already effective, and will anchor his development in the low post..

    Robin Lopez of Stanford (7-0, center), North Carolina State's JJ Hickson (6-9, power forward), Florida's Marreese Speights (6-10) and Rider's Jason Thompson (6-10, power forward) would all be positive additions if McGee is already off the board.

    Who to get at No. 40: The Nets might look to fill a backcourt spot if they select Gallinari and a forward/center with their first two picks. Courtney Lee is a 6-foot-5 two-guard out of Western Kentucky who is a fine shooter and might be the Nets' first option.

    Washington State's Kyle Weaver (6--5, shooting guard) is a great defender and distributor of the ball and Mississippi State's Jamont Gordon (6-foot-3, combo guard) is a true shot creator with superb scoring instincts -- each might be an alternative option for the Nets.

    Of the three, Weaver seems like he is the most likely to be available at No. 40.

    --Gregory Hasself

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