Why Yi Jianlian's Broken Pinkie Should Force the New Jersey Nets To Make a Trade

Right after writing the recap, I found out about the Nets' newest injury. Just as they are about to get their point guard back and about to have a healthy team coming back to Jersey to face an abysmal Thunder team, word got out that Yi Jianlian has broken his pinkie finger.

The Nets are not very deep at the 4 position to begin with. Now Yi leaves the Nets with: a hurting rookie, Ryan Anderson (back problems), Eduardo Najera (like Jim Carrey, fun for five minutes but then gets ugly), Josh Boone (caused an uninterested crowd of 12,000 Nets fans to boo, also went 1-4 from the line in the loss to the Bucks), and Sean Williams (playing for the 14ers or something currently).

This is the time for the Nets to make a deal. I know they are technically in rebuilding, but it's time to take a gamble. Let's be honest, there is no one in the Atlantic who is competing except for the Celtics. This is a good chance for the Nets to take advantage of a season in which people are waiting for two years for free agents. 

If the Nets can bring someone in via trade or free agency, it could boost attendance in the funeral home known as the Izod Center, and it can show their Jersey fans that they're not just waiting to go to Brooklyn to do something. This would help calm the nerves in the awkward boos and exchanges between the team and fans at home games.

Andrea Bargnani could be a good addition and a great complement to Lopez down low. With Bosh and O'Neal in Toronto, the seven-footer's minutes have been limited. When Yi returns, if the Nets wanted to continue the development of Yi after he returns, Bargnani has played the 3 previously. Maybe some competition for the spot would also wake Yi up to be the top-10 player everyone thought he would be.

If Bargnani is not being moved, Jermaine O'Neal could also be added. But there is not much talent on the Nets side to move, so getting rid of draft picks would be a necessity. 

Gerald Wallace has been talked about as a player about to be traded as recently as this week where ESPN discussed him going to the Mavericks. One problem with him: His contract extends past 2010, a cardinal sin in the NY area for NBA general managers. But he could run the court with Harris and Carter and emerge as a new big three in the East.

In all likelihood, the Nets will probably do nothing and continue on their plan of rebuilding for the move across the Hudson (but hopefully it will be a move down the turnpike to Newark). However, a good addition this season could move the Nets up in a conference in which they are already in seventh place at a game under .500. The players above are only brainstormed ideas who I think could help the Nets right now. 

Nets fans are being told to be patient, and that 2010 is coming. But if the Nets play in front of 16,000 on a good night in the Izod Center, why would anyone in 2010 want to come play for them?

I personally think LeBron will sign an extension at the end of this season for a max deal, Nash will go to the Knicks and D'Antoni, while Bosh will go out west. Maybe Dwyane Wade is a possibility for 2010, but it's tough to tell at this point. 

What do you think the Nets should do? Try and go out and get someone or continue with the rebuilding process? I personally think they should try their best to make a move, shop some players around for unhappy players in other cities, and see what can be done.

Otherwise, continue to see the Nets hemorrhage money in front of uninterested paid crowds around 50 percent at the Izod Center. 

Any thoughts, Nets fans?

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