New Jersey Nets Trade Rumors: 10 Players Not Named Carmelo Anthony The Nets Need
Enough has been said about all the recent "Melodrama" and whether or not Carmelo Anthony will sign an extension with the Nets, and in my opinion, it has been over-hyped.
Carmelo Anthony is not the only possible answer to the Nets' recent woes. They have many holes to fill, and there are plenty of players that could legitimately do the job.
Sure, when it comes to needs, the Nets "need" Wades, Lebrons, and Kobes, but that just isn't realistic.
Here are ten players that I believe the Nets could feasibly land through a trade or free agency that would greatly improve their roster.
Stephen Jackson
1 of 10
Currently, the Nets are the second lowest scoring team in the NBA, which is not too hard to imagine.
Besides Devin Harris and occasionally Brook Lopez, nobody on the team can create his own shot or score in bunches.
Stephen Jackson would be a great solution to this problem. A consistent scorer from the outside with a solid mid-range game, Jackson is everything the Nets hoped Anthony Morrow, another former Warriors winger, would be for them. Unfortunately, Morrow's game only works well in quick run-and-gun offenses where he can stand in the corner and launch three balls, which he makes at a very high rate.
Sure, Jackson may have had a few behavior related issues back in Golden State, but he is exactly the type of player that Avery Johnson likes and I can see him flourishing in a Nets uniform.
However, Jackson's contract is a bit ugly at the moment, so I am not sure if the Nets would be willing to work out a deal. Perhaps waiting another year until his contract expires may be the smarter option.
Tayshaun PrInce
2 of 10
A free agent at the end of the season, Prince will most likely explore options other than the collapsing Detroit Pistons. He is past his prime and probably will not demand a huge contract of any sort.
This is good news for the Nets, who recently signed SF Travis Outlaw for a completely undeserved seven million dollars per season. Considering Outlaw is essentially a poor man's Tayshaun, it would be a steal to acquire the versatile Prince at a price anywhere close to that.
Small forward is the glaring hole in the Nets rotations right now, and it is one they definitely need to fill soon. If the Nets cannot land a marquee name or franchise player at that position, which they failed to do last offseason, Prince would not be a bad fit at all.
Boris Diaw
3 of 10
Diaw is another player set to become a free agent in July, and he is one that may go overlooked by many teams around the league. With the Bobcats faltering, it is not hard to imagine Diaw looking elsewhere.
Early in December, Diaw torched the Nets for 16 rebounds and 11 points, most of them coming in clutch moments. Hopefully the front office took note.
With the ability to knock down threes at the small forward position and the size to be a presence at the power forward spot, Diaw is a very attractive option, one that would allow Kris Humphries to provide energy off the bench in the second unit.
If all else fails, this is not a bad acquisition at all.
Michael Redd
4 of 10
Redd probably won't make too much noise in free agency this summer coming off of major knee surgery, but he is definitely the type of player the Nets should consider.
Sure, he isn't Carmelo Anthony or Dwyane Wade, but he does know how to score, as evidenced by his 20 PPG career average.
Redd is currently making 18 million this season, but his next contract probably won't come close to that considering he is an aged veteran with a recent injury. Redd's asking price should be pretty reduced, making him a solid investment with a lot of upside.
It would be a high risk move, but definitely one with the potential for high reward.
Jason Richardson
5 of 10
At first thought, Richardson seems to be an odd choice for a young franchise in rebuilding mode, especially considering he is past his glory days of Slam Dunk Contest Titles and the like.
However, Richardson has shown this year that he can still perform at a high level, even as he approaches thirty. I believe that he can still perform at the same level (18 PPG, 41% 3PT) for a few more years.
While that may not solve any issues for the Nets in the long run, it is important to remember that the Nets are only two solid players from becoming a legitimate playoff contender. That sounds far-fetched now, but Richardson coupled with another acquisition should immediately put them in the playoff picture.
If the Nets cannot find any more viable options to spend their twenty-something millions dollars of cap space on, Jason Richardson is definitely worth the splurge (he currently makes 14 million a year).
Paul Millsap
6 of 10
Here is a player who has really shined when given the opportunity. With Mehmet Okhur out for the first half of the season with a torn achilles, Millsap began to start alongside Al Jefferson, Utah's prized free agency acquisition.
Millsap exploded onto the scene, averaging 17 points and close to 8 rebounds, almost mirroring Jefferson's numbers.
However, when Okhur fully recovers from his injury, it is going to be slightly crowded in the Utah frontcourt, and the Nets may be able to sneak in a deal and steal Millsap away.
Though, with the Jazz looking to trade Kirilenko before he becomes a free agent this summer, it seems as if they plan on keeping Millsap a focal point of their rotation. Perhaps the right deal could convince the Jazz otherwise.
Andrei Kirilenko
7 of 10
It is only fitting to now discuss the likes of the big Russian himself, Andrei Kirilenko.
From the looks of it, Kirilenko will be on the move after this season, or even before that if the Jazz can trade him. He is another versatile player who can man either the three or the four, hit threes, and also block shots. I think he is definitely worth a look, and I am sure Prokhorov, a fellow Russian, will advise GM Billy King to give him one.
However, he has proven to be very injury prone over the last few years, so many teams may take caution before signing him to any large contract.
Yet, there is no doubting Kirilenko's talent and the assets that he can bring to the team.
Anytime you can avoid starting Stephen Graham or Travis Outlaw, you should probably try to do so.
Shannon Brown
8 of 10
Shannon Brown definitely has a bright future ahead of him in the NBA. However, while similar players such as Eric Gordon of the Clippers have been able to shine in the starting lineup, Brown has been forced to play a backup role for a pretty good player, Kobe Bryant.
While he has averaged only 18 minutes and 10 points a game this season, Brown has proven his value in games where has been given 20 minutes or more, averaging close to 14 PPG in those contests.
Brown has a player option at the end of this season, and a team like the Nets may be able to entice him out of picking it up. Young players want playing time and money, both of which the Nets can give him. Kobe looks like he will be around for a few more years, so it does look as if Brown will be walking into a starting role at the Staples Center anytime soon.
This would also continue the Nets' current trend of slowly acquiring all of the Laker's backcourt, a trend that started with Jordan Farmar and continued with Sasha Vujacic.
Zach Randolph
9 of 10
Zach Randolph is in the midst of a career year in Memphis right now, averaging a whopping 12.5 rebounds and 18 points per game. The best part? He too will be a free agent this summer.
If the Nets really want to find another strong big man to take the double teams off of Lopez, they better starting throwing money Randolph's way as soon as possible.
Lopez has been having quite a down year on defense, averaging a mere 6.1 RPG compared to 8.7 last year. If this soft game of his is going to continue (hopefully it does not), Randolph would be the perfect, gritty complement to Lopez on the block.
Not many teams will have an answer for the Nets frontline if they can add another dominant post player like Randolph to their rotation.
David West
10 of 10
David West is about at solid as they come, averaging over 18 points and 7 rebounds per game while also making solid contributions in other fields.
Yet what West can do on the floor goes beyond the numbers. Just ask Chris Paul, who has implored the Hornets front office to make sure they resign West in this coming offseason. He understands that West is a great team player and a big reason for any of the Hornets' recent success.
However, it is always possible, to the chagrin of CP3, that West will go elsewhere if the price is right. The Nets will have plenty of money to spend this year, and West should certainly be one of the power forwards they meet with to try to fill the gap in the frontcourt.
As with Randolph and Millsap as well, signing a power forward to a long-term contract would give them flexibility in trading prized lottery pick Derrick Favors for perhaps a solid winger.
Agree or disagree, feel free to leave comments below.
