Nets a Contender in 2010?
December 17, 2009
Sean Fearon posted a nice article on how the Nets will look in 2010 if they can land John Wall in the draft. New Jersey is off to a terrible 2-22 start, but if you look at the Oklahoma City Thunder and the turn around they are seeing from last year to this year then you can find hope in the franchise. The Nets do have a solid, young core and they do have a lot of money.
The Nets will probably have the highest odds for the No. 1 draft pick and there is a superstar in the waiting with John Wall out of Kentucky. If the Nets can luck out, a la Cleveland with LeBron James, they will feature a backcourt with Wall and Devin Harris. Wall could take over at the point and allow Harris to move to the off-guard, which should be an easy transition given his scoring ability.
And with one of the best centers in the league in Brook Lopez, a youngster who is already a dominant defensive presence, New Jersey seems to have more and more to offer the big name free agents next summer, like LeBron James. New Jersey’s cap space may be the making of a contender in years to come, if the franchise’s front office can pull off such a monumental acquisition. A smart player like James will recognize that the only way for this franchise to go is up, not in the least because of its pending relocation to basketball hot spot Brooklyn, and its new, aspiring billionaire owner, with seemingly bottomless pockets.
Sure, it may take a season or two, but there is no doubting that a Wall, Harris, James, Yi Jianlian, and Lopez lineup can contest for a title in a few years.
While that would make for an interesting lineup, a lot has to go right for New Jersey to see that roster shape up. James would have to agree that the Nets are a possible contender with that young talent, and of course they would have to land Wall in the draft.
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