New Jersey Nets Clean Up Final Roster; Waive Brian Zoubek

With the start of the season just days away, it is time for every team to cut their roster down to the league maximum of 15.  This year it looks as if the Nets will hold that max number rather than cut down even further to save money, as they have in previous years.

The final cut was rookie Brian Zoubek out of Duke.  Zoubek missed the last few preseason games with back spasms, making him almost a no-brainer. 

However, had Zoubek stayed healthy, it would have been a close call between he and fellow rookie Ben Uzoh out of Tulsa. 

Zoubek would have added depth to a relatively thin frontcourt, but he was the obvious choice at this time. 

While the Nets can still bring him back at some point during the season if spots open up, let us all hope that they find something better.

Honestly? Brian Zoubek? It took the man until the middle of his senior year to realize that he was seven feet tall and could be a potentially dominant center on a great Duke team.  Personally, I shuddered when I heard the Nets signed him to begin with.

There is so much more young talent waiting to be signed, and I am sure the Nets can find something better.  Omar Samhan (St. Marys) had a breakout performance in the NCAA Championships, and Sylvan Landesberg of Virginia is probably the best undrafted talent out there.  Both are currently playing overseas looking to get noticed.

Other than that, there have been no further recent roster moves by the Nets.  Veteran forward Stephen Graham seems to be a lock for one of the last spots on the bench for the same reason Joe Smith does—experience. 

On a very young team, Graham and Smith can act as anchors and help the team mature as the season progresses.

Here is the Nets' depth chart heading into the opening game:

PG: Devin Harris, Jordan Farmar, Ben Uzoh

SG: Anthony Morrow, Terrence Williams

SF: Travis Outlaw, Quinton Ross, Stephen Graham, Damion James

PF: Troy Murphy, Derrick Favors, Kris Humphries

C: Brook Lopez, Joe Smith, Johan Petro

Overall, the roster is a definite improvement from last season's debacle, but do not be surprised to see a few changes at time goes on.