Nets 2016-2017 Free Agency Thread

[Paradise]

Since the other threads seem to be derailed due to this topic, I figured it deserves it's own thread as this free agent class unfolds this season.


Nets Cap Room: 42,316,807
Biggest Need: Point Guard

A List Free Agents

Kevin Durant
D. Wade
LeBron James
Dwight Howard


B List Free Agents

Mike Conley
DeMar DeRozan
Nicolas Batum
Al Horford
Joakim Noah
Andre Drummond (RFA)

C List Free Agents

Rajon Rondo
Brandon Jennings
Eric Gordon
Courtney Lee
Bradley Beal (RFA)
Loul Deng
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (RFA)
Harrison Barnes (RFA)
David Lee
Ryan Anderson
Tristan Thompson*
Hassan Whiteside

D List Free Agents

Mario Chalmers
G. Vasquez
Jordan Clarkson (RFA)
Randy Foye
OJ Mayo
Gerald Henderson
Jamal Crawford
Jeff Green
Terrance Ross (RFA)
Dion Waiters (RFA)
Evan Forunier
Evan Turner
Gerald Green
Ersan Ilyasova
John Henson (RFA)
Jared Sullinger (RFA)
Nene
Jordan Hill
Ian Mahinmi


The biggest questions: Do we go all out for the A and B list free agents? Or spend wisely on the C and D list free agents while keeping flexibility for the 2017 class?

Do we trade Thad for a second max contract slot?

[shakendfries]

Hard to tell what our ultimate need will be until the season shakes out. Brook Lopez had an all star season playing next to Reggie Evans- we don't know how Thad and TRob will fare paired next to Brook. Our frontcourt could be top 4 in the East- after Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami. We'll see how they stack up against the Bucks, but after that you have to ask how will Thad + TRob fare against the likes of.... Ersan Illyarsova? Aaron Gordon?

PG - I personally think Billy King's goal for the season should be to convince Dennis Lindsey to take the bait of Jarett Jack for Dante Exum. Dante could relax and benefit from treatment by best medical staff in the NBA. The Jazz are solid from 3-5 and a team that'll be looking to make the playoffs. With limited PG options behind Burke, Burks, & Neto (who's probably the best of the group), Jack could be the one who carry them over the hump. The Grizzlies are still a playoff team in the West and I find it hard to believe that they won't find a way to retain Mike Conley. Post injury Brandon Jennings is a backup PG on a contending team, but I doubt they'd go after him if they got Exum (same injury = bad backcourt mojo).

KD is the only worthwhile A-lister due to talent (besides Lebron, of course, but there's no way he's leaving Cleveland)
Mike Conley is the only worthwhile B-lister due to fit. I can't see Al Hortford leaving ATL, and it wouldn't be wise for Billy King to make him an offer an offer he can't refuse and sign some injured senior citizen to a fat contract.
MKG is the most talented C-lister...I would be super intrigued if we tried to go after him. But, we dont know yet if Nic Batum will take over MKG's role. They're not gonna break up Wall and Beal, and Barnes is the most iight player in the league.

[Universe]

Billy King has already said the plan is to pair up some secondary free agents but who knows. Our best bet is to hope someone wants to dump a point guard for nothing to make a run at someone. Kind of like how the Hawks got Splitter.

[MrDollarBills]

That list is trash, and we might as well scrub most of the A tier and B tier dudes from the list. I make a legit offer to Conley, and one to Horford but not a max deal. Doubt we get either.

Any of the C and D tier PGs worth making an offer to? i'd prefer to make some sensible need based signings and conserving cap for the offseason after that.

I am definitely interested in bringing Ryan Anderson back.

[Dirk]

Courtney Lee and Batum are intriguing, but then again, a lot of teams will have money so it will be a race to "overpay" them(which won't be really overpaying them considering how much scrubs will be making as well). Ryan Anderson's health and effort on defense needs to be monitored this season. I kind of like John Henson but am not really sure what sort of offer would take him away from Milw.

I can see the Nets throw a lot of money at Harrison Barnes. Should stay away from DeRozan.

The list is not good, so ideally you'd like your team to not commit all their money to these guys. You either get one or two that your really want or then you're looking to get good value deals, sign guys who are left out of the spending spree even if it's just on 1-year deals, it's better to keep flexibility than to sign most of those players to long therm deals.

Prok better be working on an amazing presentation to attract KD/Horford + Conley to Brooklyn.

[CalamityX12]

Beal would be my first look at despite being a RFA.

Horford would be great, TT if he's evolving game continues, DeRozan is still a fan fav for me...

I don't think Wade should be considered an A lister considering his age and health history. But that's me, I don't even look at him as anyone of interest.

Now I also agree we shouldn't blow it all next summer. save plenty for 2017 for the likes of Westbrook...

[Net Sentence]

Some changes on your grading.

D Wade is a C Tier FA. He will be 34.

Horford is an A Tier FA.

Dwight is a B Tier FA.

Drummond is an A Tier FA. Will be 23.

Noah is C Tier, possibly D Tier by next season. He declined a lot.

Batum is C Tier, he is one of the most over rated players in the NBA.

Beal is a B Tier FA and might be an A Tier by years end. He will only be 23.

Eric Gordon is a B Tier player if he repeats last year. He will only be 27.

Harrison Barnes is a B Tier player. He will only be 24.

You left off Evan Fournier. C Tier player who could be B Tier by the end of the year.

Horford is my preferred target. LeBron isnt leaving Cleveland and I dont see Durant choosing outside OKC and Was.

Conley doesnt move the needle enough for what he will get paid IMO. I would actually target Eric Gordon. Gordon played more minutes at PG then SG last season and wont come at max contract pricing. He will only be 27 going into next season and is lights out from 3. I would pick up Jack's option next season if he plays well this year and get Horford and Gordon. Gordon can fill the 6th man role and split minutes with Jack at PG. Then in 2017 I would target one of the top FA PGs in that class. Bogs will be a RFA that year and we might need to cut him loose to free up cap for a big FA. In that case you can slide Gordon into the SG role and bring in a Westbrook/Rose/Teague.

[Net Sentence]

Beal would be my first look at despite being a RFA.

Horford would be great, TT if he's evolving game continues, DeRozan is still a fan fav for me...

I don't think Wade should be considered an A lister considering his age and health history. But that's me, I don't even look at him as anyone of interest.

Now I also agree we shouldn't blow it all next summer. save plenty for 2017 for the likes of Westbrook...

Durant leaving OKC is a good thing for us. Beal might become expendable if the Wiz get Durant. I doubt they want their 3 highest paid players to be perimeter guys. Durant leaving OKC would also make it more likely that Westbrook would also leave. OKC seems to think this also and it says alot that they drafted Payne to hedge against this.

[Net Sentence]

That list is trash, and we might as well scrub most of the A tier and B tier dudes from the list. I make a legit offer to Conley, and one to Horford but not a max deal. Doubt we get either.

Any of the C and D tier PGs worth making an offer to? i'd prefer to make some sensible need based signings and conserving cap for the offseason after that.

I am definitely interested in bringing Ryan Anderson back.

Horford is definitely worth a max contract. He does just about everything well and was the best player on the #1 team in the East. He seems like a Billy King type of player also. Reserved, smart and well spoken. He is the best fit IMO. Lopez - Horford works because he can hit shots and pass out of the high post. Horford - Thad works because that is pretty similar to Horford - Milsap.

I dont think we need to throw a big contract at a PG. I would rather stock up on bigs. We have 92 minutes to split between C and PF so Lopez/Horford/Thad could all get around 30 each. If we can find a PG/SG combo guy then we can split the SF minutes between Bogs and RHJ and the SG minutes between Bogs and the combo guy. The combo guy would split minutes with Jack at PG and we would have a solid 7 man rotation of guys getting around 28-34 mintes a piece.

[Universe]

Batum would be kind of redundant with the Nets drafting RHJ and he's never really progressed into the player many thought he would. I'd rather overpay DeMar DeRozan and fill a position of need than spend on a position we hopefully just filled.

Anderson would be a nice signing too if he was happy being our 6th man. Always loved watching him play beside Lopez.

[NyCeEvO]

I think people need to get rid of the notion that Billy King has some sort of plan.

Every single year that this franchise has been in Brooklyn, he's changed the vision of this team into something different from the year before. He always references an element that the championship winning team from that year had and says "In order to win in today's league, you have to have X. Look at (fill in the NBA champion team). They won because of (fill in an overused cliche). We believe that in today's league you need to have (repeat cliche) in order to win. This is our approach for this offseason."

Go back and watch the tape. He's done it with Miami, GS, and the Spurs. You can fool me once, but this is like the 5th go around. A copy is never as good as the original and if the Nets keep going around trying to copy others, they'll never create their own identity that they stick to and believe in. None of these contenders are copying each other. Why should the Nets believe that being a copycat is the key to winning?

It's easy to build a roster of cheap, journeymen and young players and talk about "youth and athleticism" being the key to winning. It's just more conjecture until the season doesn't go as well as people hoped and then he can make a trade or signing that is line with our new vision for the next season.

Now with that out of the way....


There are really only two large options the Nets have. If they are serious about being a playoff team and consistently getting better over the next few years (without draft picks), it is an imperative that the Nets make a trade for a disgruntled star this season. If they don't do it this season, buckle up for a few years of bad basketball.

This is our last year with a major expiring contract (JJ) on the books. We either don't have draft picks or don't rights to them until 2019.

I don't want the quality of the Nets assets over the next 3 years to be dependent on internal growth of the team. Guys like Jimmy Butler are nice stories because so few guys 1) have the potential and 2) put in the work to get better every year. If you listen to the blog, you'd think that every player on the roster is capable of becoming an above-average or borderline allstar player, and it's so far from the truth.

If management has any desire to build a playoff team that can grow by adding new pieces every offseason via free agency, we need to make a deal for a quality, young core this season. I've already written a lengthy post on why we should attempt to go after a guy like Eric Bledose. Even though the chances of getting him are low, these are the exactly the types of deals the Nets must go after, especially before every team has cap space.

Outside of Durant, there's no player I really want to lockup to an expensive long term contract because they're either too close to or already 30 or aren't good enough to warrant a huge contract.

The first step should be getting a real talent with potential to get better and who is not over 26. Getting someone like a Bledsoe gives the Nets a nice young pair between Bledsoe and Lopez that can attract other players to the Nets in the 2016 offseason. If no one comes, that's fine. It gives Bledsoe, Lopez, RHJ and McCullough another year to get better and you hope that in 2017 the team looks even more attractive with an improved roster (through internal growth) and plenty of cap space.

Conley and Horford are nice players but they don't really fit what we're supposed to be doing. If the Nets go out and sign either of these guys (although I doubt they come here), you better believe the motto will change next year and King will come up with some new BS motto that the Nets are supposedly following.

[Paradise]

Batum would be kind of redundant with the Nets drafting RHJ and he's never really progressed into the player many thought he would. I'd rather overpay DeMar DeRozan and fill a position of need than spend on a position we hopefully just filled.

Batum could slide to the SG position. He may not have lived up to the all star potential but he's still a good two way player. DeRozan is a one dimensional scorer.

[shakendfries]

There are really only two large options the Nets have. If they are serious about being a playoff team and consistently getting better over the next few years (without draft picks), it is an imperative that the Nets make a trade for a disgruntled star this season. If they don't do it this season, buckle up for a few years of bad basketball.

This is our last year with a major expiring contract (JJ) on the books. We either don't have draft picks or don't rights to them until 2019.

I don't want the quality of the Nets assets over the next 3 years to be dependent on internal growth of the team. Guys like Jimmy Butler are nice stories because so few guys 1) have the potential and 2) put in the work to get better every year. If you listen to the blog, you'd think that every player on the roster is capable of becoming an above-average or borderline allstar player, and it's so far from the truth.

If management has any desire to build a playoff team that can grow by adding new pieces every offseason via free agency, we need to make a deal for a quality, young core this season. I've already written a lengthy post on why we should attempt to go after a guy like Eric Bledose. Even though the chances of getting him are low, these are the exactly the types of deals the Nets must go after, especially before every team has cap space.

Outside of Durant, there's no player I really want to lockup to an expensive long term contract because they're either too close to or already 30 or aren't good enough to warrant a huge contract.

The first step should be getting a real talent with potential to get better and who is not over 26. Getting someone like a Bledsoe gives the Nets a nice young pair between Bledsoe and Lopez that can attract other players to the Nets in the 2016 offseason. If no one comes, that's fine. It gives Bledsoe, Lopez, RHJ and McCullough another year to get better and you hope that in 2017 the team looks even more attractive with an improved roster (through internal growth) and plenty of cap space.

Conley and Horford are nice players but they don't really fit what we're supposed to be doing. If the Nets go out and sign either of these guys (although I doubt they come here), you better believe the motto will change next year and King will come up with some new BS motto that the Nets are supposedly following.

I can dig it. I'm not jazzed about any of these free agents either. Like I said earlier, I don't see Conley leaving Memphis and we run the risk of overpaying for some old injured dude again if we go after Hortford. I can't see Joe Johnson sticking around after this season. He's gonna get interest from a real contender. If we could make a move to flip Johnson for Bledsoe and Jack for Exum...well, I think we'd be on to something. With that foundation we could make a real power move next season and offer a contract to an RFA like Nerlens Noel

[Universe]

Batum would be kind of redundant with the Nets drafting RHJ and he's never really progressed into the player many thought he would. I'd rather overpay DeMar DeRozan and fill a position of need than spend on a position we hopefully just filled.

Batum could slide to the SG position. He may not have lived up to the all star potential but he's still a good two way player. DeRozan is a one dimensional scorer.

Extremely risky to put that much money for someone to play out of position. Heck, he might even turn down the idea like LA and the Knicks.

[Paradise]

Batum would be kind of redundant with the Nets drafting RHJ and he's never really progressed into the player many thought he would. I'd rather overpay DeMar DeRozan and fill a position of need than spend on a position we hopefully just filled.

Batum could slide to the SG position. He may not have lived up to the all star potential but he's still a good two way player. DeRozan is a one dimensional scorer.

Extremely risky to put that much money for someone to play out of position. Heck, he might even turn down the idea like LA and the Knicks.

Playing out of position in the front court is different. It's physically taxing to play center. I doubt Batum will have a problem at SG but we'll see how he handles it in Charlotte.

DeRozan wants 25 million annually. I'd take my chances on a Batum/RHJ tandem than paying DeRozan that much.

[Net Sentence]

There are really only two large options the Nets have. If they are serious about being a playoff team and consistently getting better over the next few years (without draft picks), it is an imperative that the Nets make a trade for a disgruntled star this season. If they don't do it this season, buckle up for a few years of bad basketball.

This is our last year with a major expiring contract (JJ) on the books. We either don't have draft picks or don't rights to them until 2019.

I don't want the quality of the Nets assets over the next 3 years to be dependent on internal growth of the team. Guys like Jimmy Butler are nice stories because so few guys 1) have the potential and 2) put in the work to get better every year. If you listen to the blog, you'd think that every player on the roster is capable of becoming an above-average or borderline allstar player, and it's so far from the truth.

If management has any desire to build a playoff team that can grow by adding new pieces every offseason via free agency, we need to make a deal for a quality, young core this season. I've already written a lengthy post on why we should attempt to go after a guy like Eric Bledose. Even though the chances of getting him are low, these are the exactly the types of deals the Nets must go after, especially before every team has cap space.

Outside of Durant, there's no player I really want to lockup to an expensive long term contract because they're either too close to or already 30 or aren't good enough to warrant a huge contract.

The first step should be getting a real talent with potential to get better and who is not over 26. Getting someone like a Bledsoe gives the Nets a nice young pair between Bledsoe and Lopez that can attract other players to the Nets in the 2016 offseason. If no one comes, that's fine. It gives Bledsoe, Lopez, RHJ and McCullough another year to get better and you hope that in 2017 the team looks even more attractive with an improved roster (through internal growth) and plenty of cap space.

Conley and Horford are nice players but they don't really fit what we're supposed to be doing. If the Nets go out and sign either of these guys (although I doubt they come here), you better believe the motto will change next year and King will come up with some new BS motto that the Nets are supposedly following.

I can dig it. I'm not jazzed about any of these free agents either. Like I said earlier, I don't see Conley leaving Memphis and we run the risk of overpaying for some old injured dude again if we go after Hortford. I can't see Joe Johnson sticking around after this season. He's gonna get interest from a real contender. If we could make a move to flip Johnson for Bledsoe and Jack for Exum...well, I think we'd be on to something. With that foundation we could make a real power move next season and offer a contract to an RFA like Nerlens Noel

You arent getting Exum for Jack.

I would love to get Bledsoe but I dont see a deal to be made unless a 3rd team gets involved.

[Net Sentence]

Batum could slide to the SG position. He may not have lived up to the all star potential but he's still a good two way player. DeRozan is a one dimensional scorer.

Extremely risky to put that much money for someone to play out of position. Heck, he might even turn down the idea like LA and the Knicks.

Playing out of position in the front court is different. It's physically taxing to play center. I doubt Batum will have a problem at SG but we'll see how he handles it in Charlotte.

DeRozan wants 25 million annually. I'd take my chances on a Batum/RHJ tandem than paying DeRozan that much.

I would like DeRozan but at 25 mil, No Fing way. I would look at Evan Fournier instead. I dont see Orlando matching an offer for Fournier since they have a log jam with Olidipo, Payton and Hezonja. He has a nice skill set and will only be 24 in 2016.

[Paradise]

Stephen A Smith claims Love could be dealt next summer

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAGNOfXGg6Y[/youtube]

[MrDollarBills]

Some changes on your grading.

D Wade is a C Tier FA. He will be 34.

Horford is an A Tier FA.

Dwight is a B Tier FA.

Drummond is an A Tier FA. Will be 23.

Noah is C Tier, possibly D Tier by next season. He declined a lot.

Batum is C Tier, he is one of the most over rated players in the NBA.

Beal is a B Tier FA and might be an A Tier by years end. He will only be 23.

Eric Gordon is a B Tier player if he repeats last year. He will only be 27.

Harrison Barnes is a B Tier player. He will only be 24.

You left off Evan Fournier. C Tier player who could be B Tier by the end of the year.

Horford is my preferred target. LeBron isnt leaving Cleveland and I dont see Durant choosing outside OKC and Was.

Conley doesnt move the needle enough for what he will get paid IMO. I would actually target Eric Gordon. Gordon played more minutes at PG then SG last season and wont come at max contract pricing. He will only be 27 going into next season and is lights out from 3. I would pick up Jack's option next season if he plays well this year and get Horford and Gordon. Gordon can fill the 6th man role and split minutes with Jack at PG. Then in 2017 I would target one of the top FA PGs in that class. Bogs will be a RFA that year and we might need to cut him loose to free up cap for a big FA. In that case you can slide Gordon into the SG role and bring in a Westbrook/Rose/Teague.

D Wade: B Tier FA. Despite age and injury he should put up 19-20ppg 4rpg 5apg.

Horford: B Tier imo. Should be a target of ours def but I think Atlanta resigns him.

Dwight: B Tier, agreed.

Drummond: A Tier FA(I list him as a B Tier player)

Noah: C Tier FA, would not commit a ton of cash to him. He's a C Tier player imo, injuries galore, 30 years old and his production took a horrific drop last season.

Batum: C Tier FA/C Tier player, his production was honestly atrocious last season compared to years past.

Beal: Easily a A Tier FA/Legit B Tier player, deadly from three. He needs to take that next step and become a 20+ ppg scorer before I put him A Tier.

Eric Gordon is a C Tier FA/C tier player imo. Production decline, and can't play more than 60 games a year but he's deadly from three.

Harrison Barnes: B Tier FA/And I'll put him him at lower B Tier player because of his potential. He needs to get to the line more and score more but playing on that stacked roster limits chances. He should have been a Net, but billy king is a jackass.

Evan Fournier: I grade him out as C tier, the issue is he has starter talent but plays behind Victor O. Orlando is quietly building one of the next best teams in the east once the eggs hatch.

This list in terms of what it can do for us is nil. Nets should make an offer to Horford or Conley, but I don't like maxing out either player when you have stud ballers who will be unrestricted in the next offseason.

[Universe]

Batum could slide to the SG position. He may not have lived up to the all star potential but he's still a good two way player. DeRozan is a one dimensional scorer.

Extremely risky to put that much money for someone to play out of position. Heck, he might even turn down the idea like LA and the Knicks.

Playing out of position in the front court is different. It's physically taxing to play center. I doubt Batum will have a problem at SG but we'll see how he handles it in Charlotte.

DeRozan wants 25 million annually. I'd take my chances on a Batum/RHJ tandem than paying DeRozan that much.

Might as well stick Batum at PG then if it isn't too difficult. JR Smith wanted big dollars too, but he didn't get it.