Nets News & Analysis

Nets News

Woj: League suspicious of AK signing

Posted on: July 12th, 2013 by Chris Hooker 7 Comments

 

In a new column from Woj, he admits NBA GM's are feeling a little funny about the deal the Nets got for Andrei Kirilenko.

Woj states that teams have been suspicious of Prokhorov since he entered the league and that the Kirilenko deal is almost too good to be true.

Prokhorov is being accused of paying Kirilenko under the table, so to speak, so he can fit into the Nets salary cap.

I don't really have any comment on this, because it's pure speculation from GM's, but an interesting read nonetheless.

It looks like the Nets are not really held to in a high standard around the league, because of Prokhorov.

Nets News

NETS SIGN ANDREI KIRILENKO

Posted on: July 11th, 2013 by Max Weisberg 15 Comments

 

Billy King's Plan B's are the best... Peter Vescey is reporting that the Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a deal with Russian small-forward Andrei Kirilenko.

After failing to come to an agreement with Bojan Bogdanovic's Turkish Club just days ago, the Nets were set to move onto "plan B." Of the names that were mentioned, none of them sounded too alluring to Nets fans.

Now, says Vescey, the Nets have acquired owner Mikhail Prokhorov's fellow countryman and 11 year NBA veteran for the mini-mid level exception.

Kirilenko recently opted out of his $10 million player option for next season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Many thought that he would be seeking a larger, longer-term deal this off-season. When the market for AK47's services began to dry up, the Nets stepped in and signed the 6'9", 32-year old Russian.

As David Aldridge notes:

Kirilenko played in 64 games for Minnesota last season and averaged 12.4 PPG, 5.4 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.4 STLs, 1.9 BLKs on 50.7% shooting from the field.

Though he has been a starter in almost every season he has been in the league, he will assuredly be coming off of the bench next season for the Nets.

As Ken Berger of CBSSports notes, this signing will cost Mikhail Prokhorov roughly $15 million when luxury taxes are taken into account. #HELLOPLANB

Nets News

Nets make Shaun Livingston signing official

Posted on: July 11th, 2013 by Chris Hooker No Comments

 

In a second emailed press release at around 12:30, the Nets officially announced the signing of back up point guard Shaun Livingston.

The terms of the contract were not officially released, but sources say the deal is one-year, worth the vet minimum.

Livingston said in a 2:15 conference call that the decision was not a difficult one, and the main reasons for picking Brooklyn was to be able to play under Jason Kidd, with Deron Williams and be apart of a contending team.

He also repeatedly stressed that the Nets are a contender "on paper," but need to follow through on their expectations.

Livingston averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 assists in 22 minutes, playing 66 games last season.

For more quotes from Livingston, check out the official @TheBKGame Twitter account.

Nets News

Nets make Blatche re-signing official

Posted on: July 11th, 2013 by Chris Hooker No Comments

 

In an emailed press release at 12:30, the Nets officially announced the re-signing of Andray Blatche.

Per team policy, the terms were not disclosed. Per Twitter, the terms are a two-year $2.8M contract (with a player option in year two).

“Andray was a vital member of our team last season,“ said King. “He provides valuable front court depth, and we look forward to his continued contribution.”

Blatche discussed loyalty quite a bit in his conference call at 1:15. He stated that his decision to re-sign here was about loyalty and sticking with the organization "who gave me a chance when no one else did."

Blatche also remarked that he and KG buried the hatchet on their supposed rivalry. He said that during a game, KG "surprised" him and told him to keep fighting and keep his head up. "I guess we're cool now," said Blatche. He and Garnett haven't spoken since the trade.

Blatche was a key contributor off the Nets bench this season, averaging 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 51.2% from the field in 19.0 minutes per game. He was also the only Net to appear in all 82 games.

For more quotes from the conference call, check out the official @TheBKGame Twitter account.

Nets News

Free Agency Buzz: “Plan B” moving forward?

Posted on: July 11th, 2013 by Chris Hooker 1 Comment

 

With the Nets out on Bojan Bogdanovic, Billy King stated that they were looking to move onto Plan B.

The big question: what and who exactly is Plan B?

Well, hopefully Plan B isn't Bojan Bogdanovic next season, as it's appeared he has signed (or at least been offered) a three-year extension to continue playing in Fenerbahce, as reported by Ken Berger. It is unknown whether or not that contains an NBA-out.

Okay, so what's next? Yesterday, Woj reported that the Nets are interested in Alan Anderson, who last played for the Toronto Raptors.

Anderson averaged 10.7 points, 2.3 rebounds in 23 minutes, playing in 65 games last season. He was also known for being a solid wing defender.

Plan B could also mean Timofey Mozgov, a former center for the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. Mozgov averaged 2.6 points, 2.6 rebounds in 8.9 minutes, playing in 41 game last season. Not sure why the Nets would want Mozgov, as they already have a plethora of bigs.

We'll keep you posted on more news on this Plan B.

Nets News , Nets Rumors

Metta Ron World Artest Peace interested in Nets, Nets likely to say: “HA!”

Posted on: July 9th, 2013 by Chris Hooker 1 Comment

 

In today's pointless news story of the day, USA Today writer and Dwight Howard-story breaker Sam Amick has reported that Metta World Peace (formally known as Ron Artest), is interested in joining the Brooklyn Nets.

Amick reports that the soon-to-be amnestied World Peace has a list, and quite a long and specific one at that.

"According to a person with knowledge of World Peace's situation, the list of teams that he would most like to play for starts with the New York Knicks and is followed in order by the Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers."

Good on World Peace for wanting to play in Brooklyn (if of course New York and Los Angeles don't work for him), but there is no way the Nets are going to get World Peace, nor should they want him.

First off, the only way World Peace could get to the Nets is if nobody bids on him following his release. Seeing as former amnesty candidate Travis Outlaw got bidded on, I find it highly unlikely that World Peace won't.

And even if World Peace gets through the bidding, the Nets can only offer him the veterans minimum. And maybe he'll take that, but you can bet the Knicks will almost certainly offer that contract as well, a team higher on his list.

This, of course, is dependent on whether or not the Nets even offer World Peace a contract. A vet minimum deal will cost approximately $5M when taking luxury tax into account because of how far the Nets are over the cap.

Plus, I, along with most Nets fans, probably don't want this lunatic anywhere near our team.

So, if I were you, I'd put my custom order World Peace Nets jersey on hold. It ain't happening.

Nets News

Kidd: No more iso-ball

Posted on: July 9th, 2013 by Chris Hooker 3 Comments

 

In what will probably be universally seen as fantastic news for Nets fans, head coach Jason Kidd said after today's practice that the Nets will no longer rely on iso-ball.

"You look at the league as a whole -- we’ll use the two teams [in the Finals] Miami and San Antonio -- they are teams that kind of stayed away from iso and moved the ball around and there was multiple touches. That's what we are trying to get to, being able to move the ball. Sacrifice is something I might say a lot. Something you’ll [also] hear me say a lot, is making a play for a teammate.

Don’t be afraid to let go of the ball because a lot of times, when you do let go of the ball, the ball will find you. And so, that’s something that we are going to get away from because against the great defenses in this league, you won’t be able to win a seven-game series."

Kidd continued, saying the Nets isolation-heavy offense last season, consisting of many, many plays where Deron Williams or Joe Johnson would just go against his defender one-on-one, trying to create space for an open shot, just didn't work.

Kidd also stressed team defense is an important tool to help win championships.

"We are going to try to not iso. We are going to get more team-oriented on the offensive and defensive end. I think that was one of the things that stood out. It was more individual defense, and when you look at the teams that have won championships, they’ve all talked about team defense, helping one another.

I think our team is built in that way, where we can play well together on the offensive end and on the defensive end."

Nets News

Woj: Nets ink Shaun Livingston to vet minimum

Posted on: July 6th, 2013 by Chris Hooker 1 Comment

 

Current Net Shaun Livingston with former Net Byron Scott. (AP)

Per Woj, the Nets have signed Shaun Livingston to a one-year deal worth the veterans minimum.

Livingston averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 assists, 22 minutes in 66 games last season. The 27-year-old is perhaps most famous for his devastatingly gruesome knee injury in 2007 that I won't link here because I've never seen it (I like keeping my lunch in my stomach).

He was selected by the Clippers number four overall in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Nets News , Nets Rumors

Hold the phone on Bogdanovic

Posted on: July 6th, 2013 by Chris Hooker 1 Comment

 

Despite earlier reports that the Nets had brought in Croatian G/F Bojan Bogdanovic, it now appears to be untrue.

Bogdanvic himself was a guest on a Croatian radio station and he explained his side of the contract negotiations with the Nets.

"It is not true that I signed a three-year deal with the Nets. Chances that I will play for Brooklyn next year are about 50 percent, maybe little more, but the only truth is that negotiations are ongoing and that before Monday or Tuesday I will not know anything more. I hope the agreement will be made before the Croatian National Team training camp begins."

He was also said he was in contact with Fenerbahce's new head coach, Zeljko Obradovic, also known as the Phil Jackson of Europe, about possibly staying overseas.

"I spoke to Zeljko Obradovic and he told me he would like me to stay in Fenerbahce, and I would like to work with the winningest European coach. However, until negotiations with the Nets end, I will not know much more."

Finally, Bogdanovic was also asked if he has spoken with Mirza Teletovic, who was also born in Mostar.

"I did not speak with Teletovic cause my negotiations with the Nets are in early stages. If it all becomes more serious I will definitely speak with him. But that there (the NBA) is all the pinnacle of world basketball, I don't need to ask him much. I hope it will all end soon."

Obviously, we're hoping a deal gets done, and we're confident that it will. Be sure to check out our reaction to the supposed deal, which is now a complete hypothetical until a contract is sorted out.

Nets News

Woj: Bojan Bogdanovic, Nets reach agreement

Posted on: July 5th, 2013 by Chris Hooker No Comments

 

Bojan Bogdanovic is coming to Brooklyn. (AP)

The man, the myth, the legend. We've been hearing for the last two seasons about the Croatian Eurostash G/F Bojan Bogdanovic, and this season, we will finally see him in action. According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Bogdanovic will play for the Brooklyn Nets this season.

It's unknown if this will end the Nets' pursuit of a backup scorer, as they previously targeted Kyle Korver (who re-upped in Atlanta) and Marco Belinelli (who signed in San Antonio).

In 21 games, Bogdanovic averaged 15.9 points on 48.9% shooting in 28.3 minutes per game for Fenerbahçe last season.

The terms of the contract are currently unknown.

#TokoBoboLOCO

Update (9:25 pm):

Woj states he'll be the immediate back-up to Paul Pierce, though that is likely just speculation.

... MORE →

Nets Analysis

What to expect from Mason Plumlee

Posted on: July 5th, 2013 by James Kerti 2 Comments

 

Nets hope to see a lot of these this season. (AP)

In between all the talk of trades and free agency, Nets fans have sort of forgotten about the #22 overall pick in the NBA Draft: former Duke senior Mason Plumlee.

The 7'0”, 238-lb big man is more mobile and athletic than your typical seven-footer, and he can play either post position.

His offensive skill set has a similar amount of versatility.

According to Synergy, 39% of his possessions this past season at Duke were out of the post-up and he's quite comfortable operating down there.

Though he lacks a mature back to the basket game, he does have a reliable hook shot from the left block. He converted a strong 52% of his field goals from there last year at Duke. ... MORE →

Nets News , Nets Rumors

Free Agency Buzz: Bogs, Livingston, Lucas in? Belinelli, Barnes out?

Posted on: July 4th, 2013 by Chris Hooker No Comments

 

After losing out on Kyle Korver, who re-upped for four more years in Atlanta, Peter Vecsey reported that the Nets are now focusing their attention on bringing over Eurostash forward Bojan Bogdanovic.

Shortly after that, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Nets are also interested in Shaun Livingston and John Lucas III.

In the meantime, it appears that the Spurs have signed Nets target (or at least appeared Nets target) Marco Belinelli to a two-year deal. Woj would know...

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