Nenad Krstic wants to help Mile Ilic, be a mentor to him the way Zoran Planinic was to Krstic when he first arrived with the Nets. Planinic helped Krstic get accustomed to America and the NBA, helped him understand what Lawrence Frank was saying in practice. Krstic was a quick learner. Maybe Ilic, 22, will be too, with Krstic's help.

"I'm here," Krstic said. "I can translate for him during a practice. I know how I felt. When I came here, I didn't understand anything. I had Z here. When I look at him, I look at me three years ago."

GM Ed Stefanski called Ilic a "stone-cold" center. The No. 43 pick in 2005 draft is a better shot blocker than Krstic. Ilic is good inside, has a jump hook that the Nets like and can pass. But physically, the Nets don't believe Ilic is ready to pound with the NBA centers.

"When we drafted Mile, we saw a kid who obviously has the size, his body wasn't there and it still isn't there, but we're very encouraged," Stefanski said. "Since we drafted him he put 20 pounds on. So he's weighing in at 252 from 232."

But that's not enough.

"He will only make it in the league," Stefanski said, "if he works real hard getting his body in better shape."

Via Yes Network

New Jersey Nets

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