Devin Harris Is Ready to Lead the New-Look New Jersey Nets

Thorn continued cleaning house during the draft, dealing Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks for exciting Chinese prospect Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. Jefferson was probably more a victim of the Nets looking for a change in furniture, so to speak, than anything else, but still, he’s gone and that’s all that counts

Yi’s first season was typical of most rookies—inconsistent, yet promising. He had a sweet, smooth stroke which should improve with confidence and experience.

Bobby Simmons seems to have never quite fully recovered from a knee injury suffered a few years ago, but perhaps he could be a player like Antonio McDyess has been for Detroit.

The only remaining old school Net is Vince Carter, but it’s reasonable to think that his days in East Rutherford are numbered.

Carter doesn’t throw down ferocious dunks he once did.  His most important contribution to New Jersey might be that he still draws fans through the turnstiles in the spectator-challenged confines of the lovely, yet swampy IZOD arena. So, from a business point-of-view, Carter might be milked for a little longer yet.

Added to all this is that last season, the Nets saw tremendous improvement from big man Josh Boone and also got a glimpse of what Sean Williams offers. Williams in particular was a beast at times, but also a clumsy, foul-prone rookie at others.

The Nets then went and grabbed impressive Stanford product Brook Lopez in the draft. It’s hard to gauge exactly what role or impact he’ll have this season, other than it’s likely he’ll get his chance, but don’t expect consistency.

Throughout their roster, the Nets have depth, speed, and size. And what they lack in experience is made up for in energy and youth.

Thorn obviously likes Head Coach Lawrence Frank, too and believes he is the right man for the Nets. How else could Frank have survived last season?

New Jersey won’t win the title this year, but watch them win 42-45 games and cause a shock in the Eastern Conference.

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