NBA Saturday: Billy King Optimistic About Future
By: Alex Kennedy
Entering this season, Billy King had a lot to be excited about as general manager of the New Jersey Nets. He has a deep-pocketed owner that's focused on winning, a head coach he believes in and a brand new Brooklyn arena set to open after next season. But once the Nets were able to acquire Deron Williams at the trade deadline, King had even more reason for optimism.
"I was optimistic at first because I just felt that what we were doing and where we were headed in the future was great," King told HOOPSWORLD. "But now having Deron, it helps because other people will see what we're doing. Having a great point guard means that a lot of people want to play with him. It's like having a great quarterback. If you have that great quarterback, it attracts the receivers and other players."
Eight months ago, the Nets couldn't have had a tougher time pitching New Jersey to players. The team was struggling and the franchise was in the midst of a transition period. Because of this, the Nets weren't able to sign any of the available stars. Now, with all of the pieces in place, King is confident that those days are over.
"The closer we get with the new building, the easier it is. Then having Deron, it becomes even easier. The pieces are falling into place. Last summer, when we went out to the free agent market, it was hard for those guys to really envision it. Mikhail [Prokhorov] was new as a owner, Rod [Thorn] was on his way out and Avery [Johnson] was new as our coach so I think there was a lot of uncertainty for a lot of those guys. Now, I think a lot of that uncertainty is gone. I'd say it is gone," King said.
It also helps when a player of Williams' caliber is leading the recruiting process.
"He's been in the league long enough so he knows a lot of people," King said. "He knows what we're trying to do and we've had some great meetings. I think people are asking him, 'What's it like?' I think players, for all thirty teams, are the best sellers."
The Nets have made huge strides, but King feels there is more work to be done. He feels that developing the team's young talent and adding the right players around Williams can take the team to the next level.
"A lot of it is just we're really young," King said. "A lot of these guys just need to continue to play and develop. Then we just need to continue to add the right pieces going forward that are going to fit with Avery's defensive philosophy as well as fit in with Deron, who can really push the ball up the court. I think we have to add the right pieces, and not always big name pieces, but just the right pieces."
But how does a general manager approach an offseason with so much uncertainty?
"I think you go through it in compartments," King said. "You do the draft and you deal with that. Then you wait and see what happens after that. You have to plan for July 1 because things can happen, but if there's a work stoppage, then you adjust and you wait for the new rules to come about."
Work stoppage or not, the toughest summer for the Nets is in the past. Now, King has all of the pieces to wheel and deal and transform the Nets into a contender.
It'll be interesting to see what we can do between the draft and this summer.
