NOW, I'M NOT A VC HATER.... BUT

[SpeedyG]

Whoa now, I think we need to really settle down here guys. This is, by and large, a rebuilding year. And yes, Harris' sudden emergence into an elite scorer has turned this into a "retooling" year, but let's not get carried away.

This team, even at full strength, isn't up to par with the Celtics and the Lakers this year. Furthermore, we have no idea how our offense will hold up in the playoffs, when the defense tightens up and the intensity goes up a notch. Historically, offenses that relies too much on isolation and dribble penetration tend to get stopped, contained, or slowed down once the playoff rolls around.

This team, still has many holes, especially with the backup guard spots, and consistency from the frontcourt. All I'm saying is, let's not get too high on this team, but let's not get too low either.

Let's not go off-course with our intended plan, for which things are going so well right now, that we change course and fall off the road because we overreacted one way or the other.

[Preludepunk27]

As long as we stay on pace for at least 30 wins, I'm gonna be uber high on this team. I never thought I'd be so proud for such mediocrity lol

[Samuel]

People need to understand that Carter is making Harris look much better than he is at this point of his career.He is a good player but once VC is gone Harris will have to face double teams and that will bring different results.Harris may be able to do well after the trade but you can't ignore the leadership Vc brings to the team.Besides,if you trade VC,what message are you sending to your young players about winning?

[deviljets7]

For real who cares about the rebuild? The Nets are playing great basketball right now and if they continue to do so there is no need to trade any of our main pieces before the trade deadline. You are going to sit here and tell me that if the Nets are playing quality basketball and can go deep into the playoffs you would sacrifice that because we need to rebuild for 2010? Are you stupid? The point of playing the game is to WIN. If the Nets are winning then you dont fix what isnt broken. And since everyone is so high on the 2010 free agent class and creating cap space dont you think that if VC is playing great on a quality team then we can get a GREAT deal for him? If trading him is unavoidable you wait until after the season to do it because he will be vital if we make the playoffs. I am against this whole rebuild nonsense its like teams that tank the season to get a high draft pick. If you have the ability to win now then do it! And people wonder why the Nets never sell out any games.

I agree with this. I find it funny, WE ARE REBUILDING, yet because we're winning, people don't consider it a rebuild. Half our team is under 25 years old. If you look at our roster and don't see the word "rebuild" stamped on it, you need your head examined.

What I think people are concerned about is that we all wanted a lottery pick this year. Newsflash, if GSW makes the playoffs in the 10-11 season, we'll have 5 draft picks over the next 3 years. If there was a stud in next year's draft that Thorn and Kiki wanted more than life itself (see: my boy from Arizona State), trust me, we'd get him with a package of either Sean or Josh along with 2-3 of those picks (at this point most will be mid-late firsts which is why we'd have to give a few). But regardless, we have the assets. We honestly cannot believe we'll use all those picks so this is what I'm predicting the Nets will do in either this draft or the 2010 draft. That would give us a potential stud in every position not occupied by a player named Devin Harris.

And guess what, in that scenario, we'd be one small move again (i.e. buying out Najera) from having the cap room for a max free agent. Trading Vince right now for an expiring really would only be an option if we thought we could land 2 max players in the next season or two. Hate to say it, even with us being close to NYC and the move to brooklyn now pushed back to the start of the 11-12 season, we are not gonna get 2 max players in the next 2 years. Vince can still ball. Having Devin, Brook and Yi anchoring the offense could actually extend his productivity to possibly last his entire contract.

I know I'm rambling, but we DID go through a full rebuild this offseason. We are playing better than anyone expected. Vince is not a problem right now. Unless someone bowls us over with an offer for him, there is absolutely no reason to make a major move on this team. We can trim the roster and make minor tweaks, but right now, Thorn and Kiki look like geniuses to most of the league.

I personally think you might be underestimating the ability to move up in the draft. Boone/Sean and non-lottery picks are not going to get you in position the type of guy you're looking for. Look at the prices that Memphis paid this year to move from #5 to #3 (Mike Miller, adding a year in the Jaric/Cardinal swap) and Utah from #6 to #3 in 2005 (2 first rounders).

As to the Vince Carter aspect of this post, I agree that landing 2 max players is next to impossible. Though I think having LeBron (or another top FA) be able to pick his sidekick is likely more appealing than a 33-year-old Carter.

I'm not looking to dump Carter at all costs, but I think there's something important to keep in mind. If you trade Carter in a deal where you get a huge expiring you can potentially enter this upcoming summer, with $15-18 million in cap room. I know the summer in 2009 isn't anywhere near as appealing as the summer of 2010, but there will be a heck of a lot less competition for free agents. With the exception of Boozer, there aren't any superstars, but they are some very good players out there. They might not be better than Vince, but will be younger and cheaper. Said free agent would be a superstar player like Vince, but you said it yourself that Vince wouldn't be that focal point on offense any more with Harris/Lopez/Yi.

Let's say for example you trade Vince and Hassell to Portland for Raef and Webster. You will have created about $16 million in cap room. You can spend around 12-13 mil (potentially more if you move Boone, Dooling or Najera), while still maintaining max cap space in the summer of 2010.

A similar type thing can be done if you you trade Carter for a younger player locked into a reasonable long term contract (say Carter for a Gerald Wallace or Luol Deng). You have a very good piece to go along with that core of Max Free Agent/Harris/Lopez/Yi/Picks plus the money to add an MLE level FA to the equation.

[EFF]

I don't think rebuilding necessarily means getting rid of anyone over the age of 25. I think having 1 star vet is necessary for our team. One guy who knows what he's doing because most of the young guys still need to take cues. They dont know what to do without a guy like vince. Devin is awesome so far but vince is the glue. Without him, and with another project youngster, that puts too much pressure on Devin. you also have to credit devin's progress to vince because his presence alone affords devin more space that he would not get otherwise. I suppose there are deals out there that might be worth it, but i dont see any reason why we should be looking especially hard to move him.

[aussienet]

^^^^^^^ And we are not in a rush to move him. The whole point of my thread was that people on this board are starting to talk 'going deep in the playoffs" with a blockbuster trade. I'm saying it aint gonna happen. Re-reading my original post i think I may have been a littl too harsh on VC but my thoughts are based on a man who really hasn't lived up to his potential. Don't get me wrong he has been good/great but i believe he should be better.

Just look at the wiz game and it tells you where we are at as a team. Not a haha told you so comment just to reinforce we gotta long ways to go.

Like I said before just sit back relax and enjoy the ride.

Cheers

[NetsForce]

The Nets are actually probably somewhere between the west coast trip team and the team that play the Wizards.

Defensively they're more like the team that played the Wizards but offensively "THEY'RE BETTER THAN THAT!" (RIP Mark jackson).

[shamelessblazer]

If at the deadline things are going a little south I think something like this makes a lot of sense:

POR out: Raef/Bayless/Blake/Outlaw
POR in: Swift/Nash

Gets us a floor general who can get our guys more easy buckets and consolidates minutes for other guys. We have a lot of transition opportunities with our rebounding and defense, but Blake just isn't good in the open court.

PHX out: Nash/Bell
PHX in: Carter/Blake

They get another half-court scorer which they need badly and if they're gonna play iso/slashing basketball VC makes a lot more sense than Nash. Blake is there to hit open threes and stay out of the way. I think they're more of a threat for a championship with this team (and I could see Kerr's ego wanting to make his mark). And Shaq has said multiple times VC is who he'd want to try to win another ring with.

NJ in: Raef/Bayless/Outlaw/Bell
NJ out: Swift/VC

you guys cut a lot of salary (Raef is paid by insurance and expiring) and get two solid young prospects with high potential and a stop-gap in Bell.

[deviljets7]

If at the deadline things are going a little south I think something like this makes a lot of sense:

POR out: Raef/Bayless/Blake/Outlaw
POR in: Swift/Nash

Gets us a floor general who can get our guys more easy buckets and consolidates minutes for other guys. We have a lot of transition opportunities with our rebounding and defense, but Blake just isn't good in the open court.

PHX out: Nash/Bell
PHX in: Carter/Blake

They get another half-court scorer which they need badly and if they're gonna play iso/slashing basketball VC makes a lot more sense than Nash. Blake is there to hit open threes and stay out of the way. I think they're more of a threat for a championship with this team (and I could see Kerr's ego wanting to make his mark). And Shaq has said multiple times VC is who he'd want to try to win another ring with.

NJ in: Raef/Bayless/Outlaw/Bell
NJ out: Swift/VC

you guys cut a lot of salary (Raef is paid by insurance and expiring) and get two solid young prospects with high potential and a stop-gap in Bell.

The value is good, but I question the fits of Bayless (stuck behind Harris) and Outlaw (more of an SF and the lack of inside play can be a factor with Yi).

Personally I can't see PHX touching this deal.