What Do We Do with Our Remaining Capspace?

[ecuhus1981]

Let's say that Amar'e does indeed honor his agreement and sign with the Knicks. Bosh seems ready to either follow Wade (CHI or MIA), or head to Houston. Joe Johnson agreed with Atlanta, as did Rudy Gay with Memphis. Heck, even nuclear options like Paul Pierce and John Salmons are seemingly off the table. So, who's our next target???

PFs like David Lee and Carlos Boozer seem to have genuine interest in us, as our FO does in them. But I do feel that Favors could be ready for 26-30mpg by opening night, and we all know that his ceiling is high, perhaps higher than either of those FAs. Many Nets fans may have a soft spot for Richard Jefferson, but I'm not sure he's tough enough to withstand Avery, and I wouldn't want to give him larger than an MLE-sized deal (I honestly think he'd hurt more than help our chances at LeBron). Felton seems to have caught Thorn's eye, and he and RJ might be affordable side orders if we miss out on a main course. Ray Allen seems to be fading fast, and I doubt he'd fit with a squad as young as ours.

If you know my posts, you know that I'm a big proponent of the TPE. Someone like Richard Hamilton or Elton Brand could be a valuable role player on a contender, and the sweetener teams would use to entice us to take them off of their hands (Jerebko/'11 1st, Turner). We could ship out Humphries in the process, and still have room to sign a max FA. So, what should we do?

[LOUiS-D]

I would prefer to stay in the lottery if we can't get lebron or wade. A johnson/gay + amare/boozer/bosh/lee combo may have been good enough runner up prize to blow the cap space wad. If the only all star pieces remaining are front court players, going all in would take the nets out of lottery and into low seed early round exit territory.

We don't know how our young talent is going to pan out. With boozer/bosh/lee/amare as the major aquistion we may be stuck as middling team until further moves are made. I would only want to acquire talent now, and forego the cap space with a view to making trades to acquire a superstar later. That still might be the better option. Even though we have a few more years before any of the young core are up for new contracts, superstar free agent acquisition is about as unreliable as things come.

If the nets want to stay in the lottery they simply fill out the roster with cheap no name contracts. If they want to make trades down the line I think Lee is the guy most likely to retain or improve in value. Boozer is a win now guy and needs another superstar with him. As for the others they're just absorbing cap space and pushing you slightly further down the lottery ladder.

[enetric]

I have said from day 1...I am all in. Lebron or bust. My worst case sceanrio is not striking out...its wasting cap space on decling players, or injury risks,..or even just overrate players on bad contracts. i want no part of that.

So in any sceanrio...I can scratch out Jefferson, Felton, Brand and Rip. Brand and Rip especially are among the worst contracts for the current direction of our team. Older declining players with bloated contracts...are bad for most teams. They are senseless cap wise for young teams with great contracts like we are. Its like adding brown shoes to a tuxedo....they just dont go together.


Lebron or bust. With the cap space we have...if he is coming...one big man comes with him. Bosh, Lee or Boozer. That's the way to go. Strike out...Favors starts...Twill starts...and just keep building.

[jeff1624]

Isn't there a rule in place where you have to use a certain amount of cap space. I'm pretty sure we are gonna be forced to sign somone, even if it is to a 1 year deal.

[enetric]

Isn't there a rule in place where you have to use a certain amount of cap space. I'm pretty sure we are gonna be forced to sign somone, even if it is to a 1 year deal.

I dont care how we fill out the minimum if its short term deals. Could care less if we strike out. I say again...

LEBRON OR BUST....

[ecuhus1981]

It's not LeBron OR these options. It's "which of these options do you feel would best attract LeBron?" Personally, I think Brand and Turner would do that.

Elton would be a great pure PF to allow Favors to grow into the 38mpg franchise PF role. He'd also endear himself to Avery quickly, IMO, as a tough defender and skilled midrange shooter. We also may be happier with his contract ending in 2013 than, say, Amar'e's that would go on another 2 years.

Turner would be a better fit alongside Devin and LeBron than many believe. He reminds me alot of Joe Johnson, and shot 44% from behind the arc last year.

OBVIOUSLY, if I didn't make it clear, these are side dish choices, NOT main course meals. If LeBron doesn't come, I don't like any of the options listed above.

[ecuhus1981]

Isn't there a rule in place where you have to use a certain amount of cap space. I'm pretty sure we are gonna be forced to sign somone, even if it is to a 1 year deal.

You don't HAVE to, but yes, there is a rule that you if your payroll isn't at least 75% of the salary cap, you get penalized a dollar-for-dollar amount. SOOO, it behooves every team to spend some money. I don't think adding that much would be a problem, though.

[enetric]

It's not LeBron OR these options. It's "which of these options do you feel would best attract LeBron?" Personally, I think Brand and Turner would do that.

Elton would be a great pure PF to allow Favors to grow into the 38mpg franchise PF role. He'd also endear himself to Avery quickly, IMO, as a tough defender and skilled midrange shooter. We also may be happier with his contract ending in 2013 than, say, Amar'e's that would go on another 2 years.

Turner would be a better fit alongside Devin and LeBron than many believe. He reminds me alot of Joe Johnson, and shot 44% from behind the arc last year.

OBVIOUSLY, if I didn't make it clear, these are side dish choices, NOT main course meals. If LeBron doesn't come, I don't like any of the options listed above.

First off...if Turner was a sweetner...you need to move out MORE than Humphries. Brand makes a disgusting 15.9mil and Turner's rook hold is 3.8. So that's about a wash. Now you have to move out Favors+ to get the cap space back for Lebron.

Brand? SUCKS at this point. WASHED UP. No way would I want to take on 51mil for the next 3 years (not that I really wanted Amare either). Love Turner...but honestly? if I have to then move out another 3-4 mil elsewhere...and that looks like Devin or Favors+? Just doesnt have any real merit.

RJ...declining hard.


my feeling is...if we get a true quality big man...we will have trade options later. Put Favors with Devin and go after Paul for example. Or, if Favors explodes...look to move the signed big man down the road if that makes more sense. Not moving Brand without having to also pay for someone to take his decaying NBA carcass later. Seriously, I have a hard time believing he is going to get it back this season. He is a name...just like TMAC was a name...and i said it at the trade deadline...WASHED UP.

We have a nice young team. I prefer a core that is also young. Have a great window for sucess. Not interested in anyone on a CRAP contract per talent value at this stage. That's a LAST step move. We are no where near that....and honestly? I dont think Lebron looks at that type of move more favorable than keeping Favors, and Devin...and him bringing Lee or Boozer, or even better BOSH with him. And at some point...have to wonder if Bosh looks at his scenario and thinks...man...I am not giving up money...and the Bulls minus one of their 3 best players? Its really not as good a situation as what the Nets are facing. Same thing to Wade. is one of them going to look at it and say...you know...team with Lebron...go get the big market...get the best supporting cast per dollar value of any of these teams...and watch then make a big trade later and get us a THIRD star without having to gut the team to do it. Imagine that...get PAID, have a good supprting cast...AND have a big three?

Hoping one of these other two see it and take advantage of the situation.

[SpeedyG]

Perfectly content with letting this thing play out, and if we lose out on Lebron, then I'm prepared to save our cap space and just use enough to get us to the required amount of money spent.

We need a backup big man? I'd like to see what Kwame Brown will fetch in the open market. For all the hate he's gotten due to his failure to live up to expectations, he's still a serviceable rotation big man who can rebound and defend.

All this talk about front-loading Tyrus' contract? Do this instead with Anthony Morrow. Much needed shooter, and the chances GS tries to bring him back if he's given a front-load contract is even less given their depth at that position. Dorrell Wright also would be another one I'd like to see us try and sign, see if he can blossom.

Basically, there's a pattern here. Young(er) guys who have failed to live up to expectations (but don't have baggage). If they come relatively cheap, bring them on board and see what they got.

[enetric]

The Morrow move inst bad eiter...but why Kwame over TT?

[jerseyjac]

It's not LeBron OR these options. It's "which of these options do you feel would best attract LeBron?" Personally, I think Brand and Turner would do that.

Elton would be a great pure PF to allow Favors to grow into the 38mpg franchise PF role. He'd also endear himself to Avery quickly, IMO, as a tough defender and skilled midrange shooter. We also may be happier with his contract ending in 2013 than, say, Amar'e's that would go on another 2 years.

Turner would be a better fit alongside Devin and LeBron than many believe. He reminds me alot of Joe Johnson, and shot 44% from behind the arc last year.

OBVIOUSLY, if I didn't make it clear, these are side dish choices, NOT main course meals. If LeBron doesn't come, I don't like any of the options listed above.

If Brand is you're scheme to get Turner, I dont see it...and its not worth it, specifically because its does nothing for me if I was LBJ...

If your a big fan of Elton Brand you had to watch him play last year...I will even take it so far as to say, the Philly rotation/system and mentally being played with as far as being benched contributed to his numbers...But his game fell off drastically...Last year I kept him on a couple of FBL teams, where I watched his box scores and games live when available and he looked like he not only lost a step but took a step backwards...I waited all year for him to turn it around and actually thought he had the chance to, just was unable to produce what was needed....

My question is, you wouldnt want to see Favors start (even if he struggled) vs Brand and his so called rebirth with the Nets...say you knew both would struggle, wouldnt you rather see a rookie start and try to find his way...

IMO, Turner is not going anywhere...arent the Sixers looking for Turner to play the two and have Iggy play his more natural position at the 3...

I cant emphasize more, and echo what E and speedy and others above have preached...play young fill out a roster, but dont get caugt up in building a medicore team...If we crap out on LBJ, I'm personally demanding Favors and Twill start...

I'm not interested any of those guys, even RJ...>the deal would have to be perfect for him to come back...The concept here is dont strap yourself, fill out our roster with short term deals, play youth and continue to build through the draft...

[demens]

Heh, didn't read the thread yet (will later) but i got a little chuckle and now, finally, you're starting to think what to do with "the remaining" capspace.

Btw options like Jefferson, Felton, Brand and Hamilton get me super excited. not

[SpeedyG]

The Morrow move inst bad eiter...but why Kwame over TT?

Last thing I'd want is for Derrick to develop bad habits from a similarly athletic, yet low BBIQ player in Thomas. At least Brown plays good man-to-man defense and rebounds.

[jerseyjac]

The Morrow move inst bad eiter...but why Kwame over TT?

Last thing I'd want is for Derrick to develop bad habits from a similarly athletic, yet low BBIQ player in Thomas. At least Brown plays good man-to-man defense and rebounds.

point taken...

[Netaman]

If we don't get Lebron here's what I do -

Sign a vet PF - Lee or Boozer would be nice but if they don't take reasonable contracts I'd switch real fast to Haslem. Lee or Boozer would bring more star power but the key here would be to get a positive influence in front of Favors and someone who can come in now and complement Lopez on defense and on the glass.

Sign Childress or Reddick - I like both guys a lot as ascending talents. Don't know what the $ would be like but if either is in the range of Channing Frye either one would be a huge coup. I think both would be competitive with Lee for PT. Childress' versatility is a big advantage over Reddick but I think JJ's offensive game was really starting to come out in a big way in the postseason this past year so his ceiling might be a little higher.

Figure a budget of roughly 18-20 mil to get these 2 positions filled and maintain 10+ mil in cap space to keep flexibility for any trades that come along as well as enough $ to get a max contract next year (Hump and Ross would be off our books free up the additional 5 mil).

[Dexmor]

This to me seems so easy. I don't wanna go into the lotto have a lockout and just wait. I wanna win now.
Lee will be tempted to do a sign and trade and soon we will be paying the luxary tax anyway and it will mean nothing to the billionare.

So what we need

A bigtime pf -David Lee give him the max 16 million or 15 million with signing bonus so he don't care about sign and trade
Vets-Sign RJ to a 3 year 30 million dollar deal or 5 year 40 million dollar deal
Sign a veteran backup pg like a Livingston or Felton. Livingston would cost 2 Felton 7.
Bench help-signing RJ moves Lee to bench and Felts would be on bench.
If they sign Lee-RJ-Felton that is exactly 30 million and with Favors and James thats 5 new players

This is a top 4 team in the East, maybe top 3

Lopez-Favors
Lee-Favors
RJ-James
Williams-Lee
Harris-Felton

That is a solid 9 man rotation with the worst starter being Richard Jefferson and 3 excellent bench players in Favors-Lee-Felton

This team could come out of the East.
Screw the lottery.

You got veterans, you got defenders, you got 2 starting pg's you got D you got 4 guys with allstar potential, youth, athletism a good coach.

The team would have 0 weaknesses.

You would be exactly at the salary cap and still not close to paying the taxes.
You can develop Favors at his own pace as he gets about 15 mins backing up Lee and 15 backing up Brook and when he is ready you have a nice Laker type problem like they do with Bynum-Gasol-Odom.

It's perfect. You also got 3 playmakers on that team and can run the best fastbreak offense and score in the halfcourt and everyone of those players rebound and play D.

[jazzfan1971]

I'd like to float the idea of AK out there. He's a huge expiring, so he will let you meet the min salary requirements, he won't clog up your cap space for next season, and he's a pretty good player who would look terrific next to Favors and Lopez.

I think the Jazz would be willing to let him go for free if they keep Boozer, but, I could be wrong on that one, the Jazz have always liked AK. But, assuming that they would be willing to let him go for nothing, would you consider that option?

[Ced]

Sign Boozer, trade Hump, and then convince LeBron to join.

[demens]

I'd like to float the idea of AK out there. He's a huge expiring, so he will let you meet the min salary requirements, he won't clog up your cap space for next season, and he's a pretty good player who would look terrific next to Favors and Lopez.

I think the Jazz would be willing to let him go for free if they keep Boozer, but, I could be wrong on that one, the Jazz have always liked AK. But, assuming that they would be willing to let him go for nothing, would you consider that option?

Brilliant idea, i wish i would have thought of it about 6 months ago.

On a serious note, what do you think this deal would look like. You say we can have him for free. There are some on this board that seem to think the Jazz should give US a 1st rounder, i think thats pretty delusional. There are some that think WE should give a 1st rounder, i think that might be just as bad. I think a future 2nd round from us to you should be enough to AK.

Enough sitting on your ass Thorn, do something already. Or even better, just get the **** out and let a real GM take over. I'm starting to have 2nd thoughts about trading Yi now.

[deviljets7]

Sign Boozer, trade Hump, and then convince LeBron to join.

With the cap space NJ already has, they can sign LeBron to a max deal and still offer Boozer roughly $75 million over 5 years so trading Hump is probably unnecessary.