New Jersey Nets: 7 Former Nets That Would Make Them Playoff Contenders Now

The New Jersey Nets are having another losing season this year. However, they have a star player in Deron Williams and are currently three games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. 

The Nets are looking to start turning things around and find a way back into the playoffs as they make the move to their new home in Brooklyn.

Here is a look at former Nets players that would instantly make the Nets a playoff team.

Drazen Petrovic, 1992-93 Season

Drazen Petrovic was an international star, but a tragedy cut his life and his NBA career short.

In his short time on the Nets he was one of the best shooters in the league. His scoring, competitiveness and leadership would be very beneficial to the New Jersey Nets right now.

1992-93 Season Stats (per game):

22.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 51.8 field goal percentage

Derrick Coleman, 1993-94 Season

The former number one draft pick had a solid career that started with the New Jersey Nets in 1990. 

With Brook Lopez currently out, Kris Humphries has had to pick up the workload as the Nets main big man. Humphries has been very good this year, but is most likely best suited as a sixth man coming off the bench. He would provide energy and do the dirty work for Brook Lopez and Derrick Coleman.

With the trio of Coleman, Lopez and Humphries in the Nets frontcourt, along with Deron Williams, Anthony Morrow and MarShon Brooks, the Nets would instantly be a playoff team and would be able to compete with basically any team in the Eastern Conference.

1993-94 Season Stats (per game):

20.2 points , 11.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.8 blocks 

Vince Carter, 2006-07 Season

Vince Carter was one of the biggest stars in the past 20 years and helped the Nets compete every season he was with them. He may not have lived up to the expectations with the Nets, but he still was a top player in the league basically every year with the Nets.

The Nets could use his scoring and highlight-reel dunks to help electrify their franchise. He would instantly make the Nets a playoff team right now.

2006-07 Season Stats (per game): 

25.2 points, six rebounds, 4.8 assists

Kenyon Martin, 2003-04 Season

The former number one overall draft choice, similar to Derrick Coleman, started off his solid career with the New Jersey Nets in 2000.

Kenyon Martin was an exciting player that would help give the Nets some swagger and energy, along with inside scoring, rebounding and defense.

Again, similar to Coleman, Martin would give the Nets one of the best frontcourts with Lopez and Humphries.

2003-04 Season Stats (per game):

16.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks

Richard Jefferson, 2004-05 Season

Richard Jefferson helped the Nets get to back-to-back finals in the early 2000's. 

He could find a connection with Deron Williams like he did with Jason Kidd. Jefferson would give the Nets a scoring small forward which they desperately need right now and would help round out the team.

With a starting lineup of Deron Williams, MarShon Brooks, (2004-05) Richard Jefferson, Kris Humphries and Brook Lopez, the Nets would be a playoff team.

2004-05 Season Stats (per game):

22.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, four assists

Julius Erving, 1975-76 Season

"Doctor J" is arguably the greatest Net of all time and one of the greatest to ever play the game. He also was one of the best dunkers of all time. 

Like Richard Jefferson, Erving would give the Nets the scoring small forward they need. He would take over games with his ability to score, rebound and play defense.

1975-76 Season Stats (per game):

29.3 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, 2.5 steals, 1.9 blocks

Jason Kidd, 2002-03 Season

Jason Kidd helped revive the New Jersey Nets and was the most valuable player for them as they went to back-to-back NBA Finals. 

The Nets currently have a star point guard in Deron Williams. Williams is arguably the best all-around point guard in the NBA.

The Nets do not necessarily need another point guard, however it would be interesting to see what they would do with a two-headed point guard monster in Williams and Kidd. Williams is more of a scorer than Kidd, so he could see an increase in scoring with the help of Kidd.

The Nets would always have an elite point guard on the court.

2002-03 Season Stats (per game):

18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.2 steals