| 30 Teams, 30 Days: New Jersey Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 16, 2009 - 12:28 am
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2009 Draft Picks: 11th
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG Devin Harris
SG Vince Carter
SF Bobby Simmons
PF Ryan Anderson
C Brook Lopez
Key Reserves:
PG Keyon Dooling
PF Sean Williams
PF Yi Jianlian
SF Jarvis Hayes
SG Chris Douglas-Roberts
PF Josh Boone
What the Nets Do Well:
The Nets finished with the same exact record from the 2007-08 season, but look much better prepared for the future after some excellent performances from the rookies they brought in last June.
Brook Lopez proved to be one of the ultimate steals of the draft, dropping all the way to the Nets at the tenth pick, and they couldn’t have been happier. Lopez was the real deal and played in all 82 games, averaging 13.0 points and a team-leading 8.1 rebounds and 1.84 blocks. His polished game at the center position anchored the Nets up front and gives them a big man who will contend for an All Star selection every year for the next decade.
Ryan Anderson was a much less heralded pick that the Nets snatched later in the first round, but he earned his way into a starting role by the end of the year and averaged 11.4 points and 5.6 rebounds over the season’s final month.
Chris Douglas-Roberts worked his way into the rotation and scored in double figures in seven of the team’s final 15 games. His ability to score off the bench was greatly utilized when stars Devin Harris and Vince Carter were off their game.
Harris and Carter continued to be the motor in the Nets’ engine. Harris led the team with 21.3 points and 6.9 assists per game, again proving that the Mavs made a mistake by swapping the speedy young point guard for the timeless Jason Kidd. VC continued to produce across the board in 2008-09, scoring 20.8 points per game, to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
Greatest Areas of Improvement:
Upgrade on the Wing
With Carter turning 33 this January, perhaps it is time to start finding a replacement for their superstar wingman. While Douglas-Roberts is a competent player who can fill the basket from the same position, the Nets should use their lottery selection on a long term fixture that can be a third cornerstone to go with Lopez and Harris.
Pass First Point Guard
Despite the fact that arguably their best player is also their starting point guard, the Nets could experiment by drafting a pass-first point guard and moving Harris off the ball. Harris is a dynamic scorer/slasher that could benefit by playing off the ball and develop into a player similar to Richard Hamilton.
Who’s Gone Number 11 Recently?
Over the past five years, the 11th pick had a lot of hype, but hasn’t generated many results. Sure, Andris Biedrins has developed into a nice player, but that could be a direct result of Don Nelson’s system. J.J. Redick, Acie Law, and Jerryd Bayless were all guys who were thought to be top-5 worthy picks at some point in their final year at school, but all of them slipped and haven’t met expectations since entering the league.
2008
Jerryd Bayless, Indiana Pacers (traded to Portland)
2007
Acie Law, Atlanta Hawks
2006
J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic
2005Fran Vazquez, Orlando Magic
2004
Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors
Who Should the Nets Target?
For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Nets should target in this year’s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina’s Prospect Report piece.
- DeMar DeRozan of USC
Who better to fill VC’s shoes than the most dynamic leaper to enter the NBA since VC himself. DeRozan can jump out of the gym and has a size and skill set similar to Carter. If DeRozan slips down to the Nets at 11, they have to be intrigued at the possibility of having Carter mentor the USC standout and elevate his game at the next level.
- Terrence Williams of Louisville
Williams is another wing player who can do it all. Last year, he averaged 12.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. He is another big time talent from a big time program who played all four years under a talent-sculpting coach in Rick Pitino. While many teams will shy away from Williams because of some off the court issues, he is an extreme athlete that can come to New Jersey and start right away.
- Gerald Henderson of Duke
Henderson is another athletic wing who can pour it on. He also fits the mold of the Nets recent string of taking players from polished big time college programs. Henderson gives them a weapon at the two-guard position who can score in traffic and kill it from mid-range. If he learns how to stroke the three-ball with any type of consistency, he will be a very valuable commodity.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The Nets have made some great picks over the past couple of seasons in Lopez and Boone, but have had misses in Marcus Williams, Antoine Wright and Victor Khryapa, while Sean Williams remains an enigma.
2008
Brook Lopez, 10th
Ryan Anderson, 21st
Chris Douglas-Roberts, 40th
2007
Sean Williams, 17th
2006
Marcus Williams, 22nd
Josh Boone, 23rd
Hassan Adams, 54th
2005
Antoine Wright, 15th
Mile Ilic, 43rd
2004
Victor Khryapa, 22nd
Christian Drejer, 52nd
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna’s New Jersey Nets Lottery Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Nets Draft discussion, the fans of New Jersey have made it known that they would like to draft a forward to play next to Brook Lopez.
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to make the playoffs?
amk482: They could have benched Yi Jianlian about three weeks before they actually did.
jeff1624: If we changed the rotation earlier. Chris Douglas-Roberts should have been getting time ahead of Bobby Simmons, and Yi should not have been playing at all.
NjNets1029: Not much, we just didn't have the team this year to compete. They could have not traded Richard Jefferson for Yi. Also, I don't know how much of a difference it would have made in the win column, but CDR should have played more.
deviljets7: If we were more consistent on the defensive end, and had not relied on Yi and Simmons for so long.
60cent: They could've at least tried to play big instead of playing small all the time. I think the front court of Brook Lopez and Josh Boone/Shawne Williams would've made the team better down the stretch. Also, Coach Frank and his staff could've made a better effort in motivating the players.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
amk482: The backcourt rotation of Vince Carter, Devin Harris, Keyon Dooling, and towards the end of the year, Douglas-Roberts.
jeff1624: We were effective shooting the ball from beyond the arc, to everyone's surprise.
NjNets1029: The backcourt and Lopez.
.
deviljets7: One of the strongest starting backcourts in the league and Lopez.
60cent: There's a lot of offense, but those strengths were not efficiently utilized due to coaching.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
amk482: Lopez is going to be much better than expected, and Jarvis Hayes played much better than expected, especially defensively.
jeff1624: Brook. Half of the board -- including myself -- were against picking him at #10, and we certainly had low expectations.
NjNets1029: Lopez. He exceeded my expectations.
deviljets7: Lopez and Hayes.
60cent: Hayes. I didn't think he was going to be this good. He was like the second unit's Carter.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
amk482: Yi. I’m not sure he is an NBA player. Boone comes in second.
jeff1624: Williams. He went from potentially a leader in blocked shots to just six extra fouls off the bench.
NjNets1029: Yi. He’s terrible.
deviljets7: The trio of Boone, Williams and Yi.
60cent: Yi, Eduardo Najera, and Williams.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
amk482: Not very, but that’s because of Bruce Ratner. He could care less about W’s. Without so many monetary restrictions, I would have lots more confidence in the front office.
jeff1624: Not really sure, I don't know if we intend to sign any free agents or make any trades.
NjNets1029: I still think they're trying to build towards the move to Brooklyn. I don't think the Nets are going to make a big splash this offseason, or turn any heads next season either.
deviljets7: I still think the goal is rebuilding. I trust Thorn and Kiki, but I do fear Ratner interfering with things.
60cent: Not at all. I want Rod Thorn gone. I’ve had enough of him, just like Frank. I think it's time for a new mastermind.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
amk482: A rebounding power forward. Yi just isn’t going to cut it. I like Ryan Anderson a lot, but more as a bench/rotation player.
jeff1624: A shooter or slasher at the 3 spot.
NjNets1029: I’d like a forward to play alongside Lopez.
deviljets7: Both wing positions, especially since it seems unlikely that Carter will be in New Jersey for long.
60cent: The team needs a bruising power forward and a shooting wingman.
7. Who would you like the Nets to take with the 11th pick?
amk482: Blake Griffin, but realistically -- James Johnson, Earl Clark, or DeJuan Blair, in that order.
jeff1624: I'd like DeMar DeRozan to fall to us, if it's possible. I haven't really followed this year’s class too closely.
NjNets1029: Realistically, Johnson or Clark.
deviljets7: My top four (in no particular order) are Clark, Jrue Holliday, Johnson and Terrence Williams.
60cent: Stephen Curry, Johnson or Blair, in that order. Blair would've been my first choice without the two knee surgeries. I’m not worried about his height.
Who do you want the Nets to draft at number 11? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions. |
