Trader_Joe wrote:Miami and Los Angeles are probably not the best examples, but they are absolutely related to the discussion at hand.
How?
Eddie Jones
Brian Grant
Karl Malone
Gary Payton
Where they were in their careers was comparbale to LBJ, Wade, Bosh, Amare etc?
Eddie Jones = All-Star at the time. Considered by the Heat to be a real difference maker.
Brian Grant = Considered All-Star caliber at the time. Considered by the Heat to be a real difference maker.
Malone and Payton = While certainly past their prime, both had enough basketball left in them to be major pieces to the championship puzzle for the Lakers, had they ever fit in.
So while those four certainly weren't on the level of either LeBron or Dwyane, it could be argued that they weren't too far off of where Amare and Chris Bosh are now. Sure, those two are All-Stars, but they aren't franchise changers. I think that's pretty obvious.
I didn't realize we had the ability to look into the future when signing FAs or making trades to see who works well together. It's the risk every team takes every year with every move.
True, but we do have history to refer to, and history teaches us that championships aren't bought in the NBA. Also, there's a massive difference between taking smart risks, and taking foolish risks.
No, LF is a lame duck coach and everyone in the Nets fam knows it's a given one of Proky's first moves will be to put his mark on the club with a new coach. Not worried about that one... any coach is better than LF.
Some options though...
JVG
M.Jackson
P.Ewing
Mike Fratello
Doug Collins
Eddie Jordan
Avery Johnson
NCAA coaches
European coaches
etc...
Jeff is said to be happy broadcasting. My guess is he'd only come back if the situation were absolutely perfect, meaning your prize free agents would already have to be signed, sealed, and delivered before he commits. Even if the Nets did snag him, while he's definitely an upgrade over Frank, Jeff hasn't really won anything as a coach, and he also doesn't have the best reputation as far as relationships with his players go.
Marc Jackson and Patrick Ewing haven't been head coaches for a single game, so nobody knows how good or bad they may be. That includes you.
Doug Collins is done. He's said so on more than one occasion.
The Czar and Avery Johnson are pretty much in the same boat as Van Gundy.
Eddie Jordan already has a job.
NCAA coaches have a pretty awful track record when transitioning to the NBA.
Same thing with Euro coaches for the most part.
It worked for Boston
Boston didn't sign two max free agents. They traded for a franchise changer in Garnett, then signed Allen. Completely different than the strategy you're proposing the Nets implore.
LOL.. give them a year to gel, use the MLE, makes some moves and yes they would be.
I also don't see Cleveland being too scary with or without LBJ.. esp. considering he was on the Nets line-up you are referring to.
Clearly I'm referring to the Cavs of today.
The bottom line is this. The Nets are in a pretty enviable position in that while they're terrible, everyone can see a massive amount of potential in them
today. They have a new owner, they have Brooklyn to possibly look forward to, they have two or three young guys who could turn into stars one day, and an already proven star on an insanely cheap contract. On top of all of that, they have two picks in what looks like it'll be a loaded draft,
and they still have plenty of cap space to land at least one huge free agent, even with Devin Harris on their roster. It's like they get to play with house money right now.
What you're proposing is like betting $500 on the Jets when you only have $50 bucks to your name. Sure, if they win, you're going to come up pretty damn big. But, there's a very real possibility that you lose, and then you're in a much, much worse position than you were in before.