It’s been tough for Nets fans the last few years. In addition to playing in New Jersey, the team just wasn’t anything to get excited about. But this offseason, things have changed, and now it’s at the point where I’m seeing Nets gear as far away from Brooklyn as Halifax, Nova Scotia. It’s funny how that happens.
More on that below, with all the latest NBA news:
- Perhaps the biggest storyline in the East this season is the Nets’ complete overhaul of their roster and image, with the clear intent to compete with the Knicks for fans, as well as on the court. Tim Bontemps writes for the New York Post about how that is a distinct possibility now: “I think when we were in New Jersey, we didn’t really have the platform to do that,” Nets CEO Brett Yormark said. “We were the after thought. We were certainly the second team in the market. That’s not debatable.” What’s also not debatable is the loud and clear signal being sent the Knicks way that, now that the
Nets have officially moved to Brooklyn and into the brand-new Barclays Center, the days of being able to ignore the Nets are over. … “I think every NBA team needs to establish a strong sense of identity based on where it is located, who the players are and what the fans relate to,’ Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said. ‘In terms of the Knicks, honestly I just think it’s great for everyone that a real rivalry is being born, most of all for the fans. We’re ready to fight for the heart of every one of them.’ They’ve gotten off to a good start, thanks to the wildly successful launch of the team’s redesigned logo and color scheme on April 30. Even though the new Nets jersey still hasn’t been released, Nets merchandise has been among the best-selling among all NBA teams since the redesigned logos and color scheme were made public. The demand for the merchandise has far exceeded what both the Nets and the NBA had anticipated. ‘I think, in many things, we may have underestimated how broad the appeal would be for the team,’ NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said.”
- As for New York’s elder statesmen, it appears that they might be taking the “elder” part of that label a little too literally:
NBA news: Rasheed Wallace working out at NYK practice facility w/Camby and Kurt Thomas. Knicks' considering.
@RicBucher
Ric Bucher
- It was a tough offseason for the Bulls after getting bounced from the playoffs by the eighth-seeded Sixers, losing Derrick Rose to a torn ACL along the way, but for Bulls fans worried that the team is going to lose its marquee player down the road, RealGM’s Shams Charania offers a glimmer of hope: “The notion of leaving Chicago and the Bulls’ organization hasn’t even crossed the minds of Derrick Rose and his family. As superstars have bolted from one team to the next in recent years, Rose’s family has a message for the people who believe the 2011 NBA MVP could be the next star to move on: We love Chicago too much to leave. ‘I don’t see us leaving Chicago,’ Rose’s older brother, Reggie Rose, told RealGM on Saturday afternoon during the “Peace Basketball Tournament” at St. Sabina church in Chicago. ‘We love this city and I just don’t see us [leaving] ever. It’s our hometown.’ “
- Yi Jianlian will spend next season playing with the Guangdong Tigers in his native China, but as Weibo reports, he still wants to play in the NBA: Yi “signed a one-year contract, if the opportunity is good next year, he will continue to fight to go to the NBA“ (translated with Google Chrome)
- John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirerhas an excellent piece on how the Sixers’ frontcourt will shape up with the addition of Andrew Bynum: “Despite all the brand-new pieces that everyone
Andrew Bynum of the Philadelphia 76ers
is so excited about, the new faces in new roles – and some old ones in some new roles as well – will have to work hard to make necessary adjustments. This is especially true of the frontcourt, particularly at power forward, where playing time will be contested fiercely. Collins has already said – loosely – that the preliminary plan is to move center Spencer Hawes over to power forward, teaming him early on the floor with Andrew Bynum, who will get the majority of the minutes at center and will be spelled by Kwame Brown. Collins likes the idea of having Hawes at power forward alongside Bynum, because Hawes is skilled at manning the high post offensively and should let the Sixers take advantage of his ability to hit the elbow jumper (which will give Bynum infinitely more room to operate in the post) and use his ball skills to create more opportunities for players cutting off of him.”
- It’s fairly uncommon for NBA players to publicly campaign for teams to sign them, but when you’re this close to training camp without a team, it stands to reason that you do what you have to, and it’s also a bit refreshing to see players ditch the standard clichés and be as candid as Jamario Moon in this Lang Greene piece at HoopsWorld: “President of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ferry has been on the hunt for a defensive minded wing player and there is a veteran forward who would like an opportunity to earn a spot on the team’s opening night roster. Free agent forward Jamario Moon believes he’s the logical choice to help fill the small forward void and clearly makes it known the Hawks are an organization he’d like to play for in 2012-13. ‘Atlanta makes sense to me,’ Moon told HoopsWorld on where he would fit best. ‘Danny was the general manager when I was playing for Cleveland and [Hawks assistant general manager] Wes Wilcox was there too. They already know me and what I bring. It just makes sense.’
- Here’s an intriguing training camp deal, reported by Chris Haynes of CSN Northwest: “Free agent point guard Jonny Flynn and the Detroit Pistons have agreed upon a one-year non-guaranteed training camp deal, CSNNW.com has learned. The No. 6 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Syracuse, (Flynn) played for the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers during the 2011-12 season.”
- After suffering a serious knee injury in the playoffs, Baron Davis hopes to make a return to the
game, but while he’s recovering from the injury, he’ll still have a role with the Knicks, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com: “Baron Davis will have a multi-faceted role with the Knicks this season: He will spend some time around the team in an advisory role; he will work with Madison Square Garden’s “Garden of Dreams” Foundation; he’s expected to provide content for MSG’s in-game entertainment and he may do some scouting for the team, according to two sources with knowledge of Davis’ agreement with the Knicks. Davis, 33, suffered a serious right knee injury in last season’s playoffs, and is expected to miss the entire 2012-13 season. He’s currently an unrestricted free agent, but the veteran point guard has maintained close ties with the team. He’s spent a significant time rehabbing his injury at the team facility and he maintains a close relationship with several players.”
- Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has this on the Cavs’ need for leadership: “They thought about adding another veteran for leadership purposes, but decided against it. They had Anthony Parker and Antawn Jamison in those roles last season. The Cavs believe veteran coach Byron Scott is strong enough to fill part of that role, and they also want Daniel Gibson and Anderson Varejao to add leadership. … The Cavs know Varejao is not a vocal leader, but his play is so inspired that teammates are forced to defend and rebound with more passion.”
Prokhorov guarantees playoffs this season, title by 2015
Howard hopes to have long career in Los Angeles