Category Archives: new jersey nets

2009-10 NBA Preview: New Jersey Nets

The Nets have a lot of young talent and the trade that sent Vince Carter to the Magic loaded them up with even more youth. Can the Nets finish the season over .500? Can Courtney Lee develop into an All-Star? Will the Nets miss Vince Carter? Will Brook Lopez finally get his cookie? Here is the 2009-10 NBA Preview of the New Jersey Nets.

Additions/Subtractions – The Nets made a big trade in the off-season that sent Vince Carter to Orlando for Courtney Lee, Tony Battie, and Rafer Alston. Lee will be in the starting line-up, while Alston will add depth at point-guard by backing up Devin Harris. I like Battie off the bench, he was an asset for the Magic and Celtics. I love the drafting of Terrence Williams, he was a very good player at Louisville and can help this team as a rookie. He’s a big of a goof ball, but this team needs some characters.

2009-10 Expectations – The Nets have went 34-48 the last two seasons and have finished above .500 since 2005-06. Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Yi Jianlian, and Terrence Williams could be one of the best sets of young talent in the league. A few years from now, they could be competing in the East, but they are still all pretty green and they need some more experience under their belt. The expectations of this team is to possibly finish around .500 and make the playoffs as one of the last seeds. Lawrence Frank is one of the longest-tenured coach in the NBA and I don’t expect that a rough season would end in getting fired, but if the ownership change happens, anything can happen.

2009-10 Prediction – The young talent on the Nets will start to mature this year and lead this team to a better record and a spot in the playoffs. I do worry about Rafer Alston coming off the bench, if he embraces the back-up role, he can help, but if he doesn’t, he’ll end up in the doghouse or on another team.

2009-10 Win Total – 42-40

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Vince Carter to Orlando

ESPN reported that the New Jersey Nets will trade Vince Carter along with Ryan Anderson to Orlando for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, and Courtney Lee. Orlando was looking to move Alston, since he was more of a short-term fix when Jameer Nelson went down mid-season. New Jersey have been trying to trade Vince Carter for over a year and they look to have finally succeeded. Carter will helped Orlando put points on the board, but he doesn’t have to carry the team.

The Nets didn’t need Rafer Alston since they have Devin Harris running the team. Alston doesn’t do well coming off the bench, but to make the contracts match up, Alston had to go. Courtney Lee is interested on the Nets, he proved that he belongs in the league last season. He could end up becoming a star with Harris and Brook Lopez, but they are still a couple pieces away from really doing damage in the East.

Orlando had to make a big move to keep up with Cleveland and San Antonio. The Magic are looking to keep competitive and be perennial title contenders for years to come. I don’t like trading Lee, but they needed a veteran on the team.

We’ll see how this trade helps the team in 2009-10, but I think it will help both teams. It’s unusual to see a trade these days that isn’t just a salary dump.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.