This team is jelling way faster than I thought. The Jason Kidd trade was a steal, Harris is on fire. The rookies are playing well and so is Carter. Dare I say playoffs? I know we have a ways to go, but they are exciting to watch.
Harris was a great trade. Nets got a young PG, Dallas got older with a PG who isn't really known for a good jumpshot. Granted, Kidd, the veteran he is, worked on it but I think the trade helped send the Mavs into a downward spiral. It's a shame Sean Williams hasn't gotten more minutes. I like his intensity. But I guess Yi Jianlian does bring in the Chinese fans.
Great start so far, well beyond my expectations. Rod Thorn once again does it for us with that Harris trade, who is a star in the making. One thing I will say is that Yi is the next Keith Van Horn, plays as soft as him. Lopez looks pretty good too....
Ive said it before and ill say it again, I dont see how anyone can deny Rod Thorn is the absolute best personnel guy out there. There are others that are good like Kupchak and Walsh and Pritchard etc but Thorn is always like 3 steps ahead. Im amazed he hasnt won a title yet.... Harris was definitely an absolute steal. I wasnt a big fan of the Jefferson deal as I dont think Yi Van Horn was anything more then a marketing ploy but it did clear cap space. Plus finding Sean Williams and Josh Boone in the middle area of the draft gives the Nets quality depth with young bigs that many teams (cough* the knicks *cough*) would love to have. Lopez was absolutely the right pick and a safe one at that and Williams is an energetic shot blocking machine who I feel has the potential to be a better version of Ben Wallace; a hustle player who does little things that helps your team win.
You also defended Dallas's decision to trade for Kidd to the death in the face of my repeated comments that Mark Cuban had gone completely off the reservation. Just saying. Carter is playing absolutely out of his head. However, I still believe, fervently, that the Nets will trade him. And perhaps soon. With him playing this well, his contract no longer looks so ridiculous, and I think they will capitalize on that and sell while Carter's value is high.
I would tend to agree with what you say about trading Carter. The only thing that may stop it is they think they can make the playoffs, and they are starting to get some decent crowds again. If you trade him and don't bring something back, people may stop coming again. Delvin Harris has been unreal, that dude is so quick to the basket.
Someone suggested that Wally Szczerbiak for Vince Carter would be a possible swap. Now, I think the Nets might be able to get Wally's expiring deal and something of value. Maybe Wally and a couple first round picks or something. Granted, a Cleveland first round pick is going to be late in the draft, but it's better than nothing. Stockpiling draft picks and cap space is not a bad thing at all.
I wonder about that, too. I was throwing it out as a possibility, since their contracts match well. And with the Cavs playing really well, I wouldn't blame them at all if they didn't want to rock the boat. However, Carter is a guy who I do think is willing to subjugate himself to a #2 role. He's a good passer, and he's a first-rate outside shooter, both skills that complement James nicely. And if Carter's soft (and he most definitely is), it's a character flaw that would be concealed a bit by James, who's got balls enough for the two of them.
Ya I definitely defended the Kidd deal. I felt Dallas was a better team then they showed and that Harris had not showed what he is showing now. I also said Carter would probably be dealt in the season preview (possibly for Wally Sczerbiak's expiring deal)...that may or may not come to fruition with the nets playing very well (7-2 with Brook Lopez starting)
Ah, it was you. I've been trying to remember who floated the VC-Wally swap, and couldn't do so. Thanks.
I tell you, they keep on playing very well. I don't see a Carter trade, he even has been fine with letting Harris take the glory. 11-8 at this stage was unthinkable.
