Now that the NBA lockout is over, and the 2011-12 season will take place, the 30 league's teams will be hustling to get themselves together, signing free agents, putting together training camps, and getting ready to play in an abbreviated period. So they’ll all have to hit the ground running. Free agency begins and training camps open Dec. 9, and the season is expected to start Christmas Day.
What will the Nets’ top priorities be in getting ready for their last season in New Jersey?
1. Try and get Deron Williams to sign a contract extension
Offer him the maximum amount they’ll be allowed to offer under the new collective bargaining agreement and whatever else Billy King, Avery Johnson and Mikhail Prokhorov can think of that may entice the point guard to stay with the Nets instead of leaving as a free agent or forcing a trade.
2. When Williams tells them he isn’t ready to sign any extension yet, King and Johnson will then need to present him with the blueprint of the Nets’ plans for this season and next
It better include offering the moon to the Orlando Magic to try and acquire center Dwight Howard.
3. Sign a power forward
It could be Kris Humphries, if they can get him for a reasonable price, but if they can upgrade, do that. The biggest name available on the free agent market is Nene, who probably would come in to play center, with Brook Lopez moving to power forward. If Nene stays put in Denver, which is likely, then the Nets can consider re-signing Humphries, who exploded last season as a player turning himself into a double-digit rebounder. Humphries would have been more intriguing if he was still married to reality star Kim Kardashian, but with that marriage having ended after just 72 days, Humphries is back to just being a 6-foot-9 basketball player, and the Nets can’t be fooled into overvaluing him because of one good year. If Humphries costs too much, the Nets need to find a more sensible option, like, say, Teaneck native David West, who is coming off a knee injury, but, if healthy, would present a better scoring option.
4. Sign their two first-round picks, MarShon Brooks and Jordan Williams
Brooks, especially, has a chance to crack the rotation this season as a much-needed shooter, and depending on what happens with Humphries or the power forward spot, Jordan Williams — who signed last week to play in Poland during the lockout — could get some playing time, too. Second round pick Bojan Bogdanovic is playing in Europe this season.
5. Get rid of Travis Outlaw
This one’s a no-brainer, and might actually be higher on the list. Details of the agreement between the NBA and its players haven't been announced, but all along it's been assumed the new deal will include some kind of amnesty provision which would allow teams to rid themselves of one particularly bad contract. And the five-year, $35 million contract Outlaw signed with the Nets in 2010 defines that.
6. Sign some bodies to fill out the roster
Before re-signing Humphries (or a replacement power forward), and before jettisoning Outlaw, they have just 11 players under contract. So there’s some work to do there.
7. Finalize the coaching staff
Up until now, Sam Mitchell remains under contract as the lead assistant to Johnson and P.J. Carlesimo is not. But as soon as things settle, Mitchell is expected be out and Carlesimo is expected to join the staff. It's also been reported that Mario Elie will join the staff as well.
Scheduled opener: Dec. 26 at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m. http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2011/11/with_nba_lockout_over_the_nets.html
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