GM Billy King Believes the Nets Are a Title Contender

The Brooklyn Nets appear to be a team on the rise, but general manager Billy King seems to think that they are much, much more.

King told Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork that he believes the team can win it all now. "Can we win a championship? Yeah. But it takes luck in an NBA season to do that. You've gotta be healthy, get some breaks and the ball has to bounce your way sometimes."

King opened the presser by answering questions regarding the importance of the Nets' rivalry with the New York Knicks this upcoming season.

He downplayed the importance of those games, as the ultimate goal is to bring a championship to Brooklyn within the next three seasons. Such is the request of owner Mikhail Prokhorov, and his team looks geared up and ready to make that a reality.

The Nets were a team filled with uncertainty entering this offseason, but King responded by giving the fans a quality product to open the franchise's tenure in Brooklyn.

He started the offseason on a good note by resigning guard Deron Williams, and then continued the good vibes by retaining forward Gerald Wallace, forward Kris Humphries and center Brook Lopez.

His biggest acquisition came when he acquired Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson will provide a quality No. 2 option on offense.

With the core in place, King moved on to the bench.

He brought aboard C.J. Watson, Mirza Teletovic and Andray Blatche to add nice depth to the roster.

This roster is constructed to be a playoff contender, but winning an NBA championship right off the bat could be a stretch.

If everyone plays up to their potential, then the Nets will go far. But, if guys like Blatche continue to regress, then it could be another long season.

While I admire King's optimism heading into this season, it may not be wise to give Nets fans false hope. It'll be an interesting transition season in Brooklyn, one that will hopefully indicate that the future is bright for the Nets.