New Jersey Nets and NBA Trade Season: Will They Fall Victim to 'Melo Madness?
The New Jersey Nets' season has not started as well as their fans were hoping after signing some free agents this past offseason. As important as the offseason was for the future of the team, to include it's overhaul in the front office, how they approach the trade deadline will prove to be even more important.
New Jersey has learned a few things about itself 28 games into the season. First and foremost, this is not a playoff-caliber team as currently constructed. They might steal a few victories here and then against average teams, but they're headed to the lottery yet again.
Devin Harris still has the offensive firepower and his defensive effort has improved under Avery Johnson. Brook Lopez, however, has not quite made the jump many expected of him. Yet, Nets fans continue to hear he is untouchable on the NBA trade market.
Derrick Favors has had a great start to his NBA career as one can quickly see this man has a lot of potential if he continues to develop. The biggest surprise might be the play of Kris Humphries, who has proved he is capable of playing in the NBA.
The direction of the next step the franchise takes isn't up to players, though. That decision will be made by the men upstairs. And it'll be whether the team wants to take a few chances in order to win an NBA Championship or play it safe by becoming a competitive playoff caliber team—and there is a major difference between the two.
Look at the Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets. These two teams are locks for the playoffs each year, yet they have no chance of winning an NBA Championship. The reason being is that neither of these teams have a Gold-Medal Superstar (if you don't know what I'm referring to here's some reading material—http://www.nbadraft.net/mcchesney001.html).
I'd put Chris Paul, Derron Williams, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwight Howard on that list. The only exceptions to the rule are the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs, just because they have such great balance and depth on their rosters.
Carmelo Anthony is not a Gold-Medal Superstar. If he was, the Denver Nuggets would have seen a lot more success in the playoffs than they have with him as the leader of that team. If the Nets were to acquire Carmelo, they'd be put in the same breath as the Knicks—good enough to make the playoffs, but no chance at winning the Championship. You'd be putting all your hopes into signing another max free agent in the future, and Nets fans know how well that worked out last summer.
What if the Nets went a totally different direction? Instead of trading Derrick Favors, what if he was the only untouchable player? The Nets would attempt to acquire as many draft picks as possible and seek out the next Gold-Medal Superstar through the draft.
Brook Lopez should net them three good picks, like a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers with Troy Murphy for Chris Kaman, Willie Warren, the Clippers' 2011 first-round pick (unprotected), the Minnesota Timberwolves' 2011 first-round pick (Top 10 protected, unprotected next year) and the Clippers' 2013 first-round pick (unprotected). The Clippers are set at every other position even though the team isn't having too much success yet. Plus it would save them over $10 million next season.
Devin Harris should also net them three picks, like a trade to the Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Conley, Tony Allen, the Grizzlies' 2011 first-round pick, the Nuggets' 2011 first-round pick and the Grizzlies' 2013 first-round pick. Memphis is another team set at the other four positions and would be able to sneak in to the playoffs with Devin on board. I know the contracts of Conley and Allen aren't great, but the value of three first-round picks would be too much to pass up.
Finally, Kris Humphries should net us a late-round pick, like a trade to the New Orleans Hornets for their first-round pick (the Hornets have multiple trade exceptions). The Hornets fit the description of a playoff team in need of front court depth. Instead of letting Humphries leave via free agency, trading him now would be wise for New Jersey.
Completing these trades would leave the team without much talent this year but plenty of draft picks over the next three years, to include as many as seven first-round picks this upcoming draft—including two very good chances for the top pick. Imagine a lineup as such this next year (and it doesn't even account for the two late first-round picks or the second-round pick):
PG: Kyrie Irving, Jordan Farmar, Mike Conley
SG: Anthony Morrow, Travis Leslie, Willie Warren
SF: Perry Jones, Kyle Singler, Damion James
PF: Derrick Favors, John Henson, Travis Outlaw
C: Chris Kaman, Johan Petro
Such a lineup would be possible if New Jersey was to focus on the future and find the next Gold-Medal Superstar (possibly Perry Jones, Kyrie Irving or Derrick Favors). Acquiring a recycled player in Carmelo for multiple assets (to include Derrick Favors) would only set this franchise back further from an NBA Championship.
