Confirmed: Nets Hire Billy King As Team President

[Dexmor]

Like what players were turn around over and over. WHat pick did they have for Yi? He was a 5th pick overall and his drafting record is good big pic wise. THe Bucks were worse for turning them down though.

[enetric]

Sixer fan (forum Mod) here. Although I'm not a fan of BK- the Hughes pick (right before Pierce and Dirk) was supposedly all Larry Browns doing.

Tony Dileo (draft guru/VP) wanted Dirk. BK wanted Pierce. Larry Brown over-ruled them because he though AI/Hughes would be the perfect combo. So blame that one on Larry Brown.

The CWebb trade was not as bad as it looked either. He traded away 3 bad long term contracts to take one last shot with CWebb and his shorter but gigantic contract. The real error was when BK gave the guys he traded away (Skinner, Kenny Thomas) those horrible forever deals in the first place.

One will never know if BK was at fault or if AI was impossible to build a long term winner around. But no doubt BK has a penchant for giving current players ridiculous extensions that last forever. He's the type of GM who would have locked up Yi to 6yrs, 50M on the assumption that he would grow into his contract... but at least you have a billionaire GM to bail him out (BK's teams were way over the cap, but did not win much.)

On the positive, he is able to pull off complicated deals. He's articulate and a good face of the franchise. He knows hoops, but just gets himself in trouble with long term bets on mediocre home grown talent. But maybe he'll be more successful with a fresh slate and no AI. I wish him luck.

Guys....Larry Brown AND AI drama. Relax. See just how much of what he did was the direction of the team he was given. And I think Brown brought him in.

We are a different team and have a different owner. The game plan will shape a great deal here.

[mack69]

I was hoping for King instead of Ferry. Ferry was terrible in Cleveland IMO. The key for King will be his patience for this season we will not be good this year.

However I would like to see at least one credible piece pick up at the trade deadline to help for the future do a good job with the draft for next summer.

Mission Statement:

Do whatever you need to do to get Melo!

We'll be fine!

[Dexmor]

King overpaid when overpaying was still on the commen side.
Maybe he's learned. I still think it was a bad hire though but im not as down as some.

[enetric]

Said all the right things that speak to all cocerns. Those yaping about a big man...and those worried what he would different here.....

On a day the Nets signed their PF of the future, Derrick Favors--and Johan Petro said he's ready to back up whoever starts at the 4, the Nets' new GM said getting a starting power forward is a top, if not the top, priority.

But Billy King, full of promises that he'll be more prudent, more patient this time around, said before he did anything with that $14.9 million in cap space he'll talk to his predecessor, Rod Thorn, and his coach, Avery Johnson. Then, if he has a deal, he'll call Moscow and talk to Mikhail Prokhorov or his CEO, Dmitry Razumov, increasingly important in the Nets scheme of things.

Don't expect anything right away. There are 14 weeks til Opening Night.

"In Philly we tried to do a lot of things quickly. In this league if you do some things and it doesn’t work you’re punished for a while," said King. Meanwhile Thorn, gracious as ever, gave King his endorsement: "I think with Billy and Avery’s leadership I see nothing but rosy skies ahead for the Nets. I think it’s going to be a great ride."

[enetric]

More King...

“Just because we need it, we can’t be desperate to do it,” the Nets’ new boss said. “Because I don’t think there’s a player out there in the free agent market that you can say we’ll sign and ‘That’s gonna guarantee us 10 more wins.’ You may do it and three years from now ... and you say, ‘Why did we sign that deal, because Derrick Favors is the starting power forward.’”

This is all elementary stuff, but we’re talking about a guy who would like to have an imprint on a team he has been called upon to lead for the next three years, so you have to gauge his level of patience.

And we have yet to learn whether King considers cap room as sacred as Thorn obviously did.

For now, the answer is absolutely.

He’s learned his lessons, which don’t need repeating today. Sixers fans will do that for you – just ask.

“It has got to be sacred,” King said. “I just know in this league players become available. Pau Gasol became available and the Lakers had the pieces to get it done. The Celtics had the assets when Kevin Garnett became available. So you want to make sure you have the flexibility. Because a lot of teams will finish this offseason and look at their roster, and (some) will say, ‘We’re not going to be good, we need to get rid of payroll, I don’t like where we are.’

“You want the flexibility to (steal their star). I was never in that position in Philly. ... The Nets have the picks, the cap flexibility. So deals will come along and you have to be ready and prepared to do that.”

[mack69]

Learned lessons and patience will dictate his success!!!!!!!!!

To me if he can get an attractive piece between now and next summer. We will be on our way!

If Favors and lopez can develop some chemistry that would be excellent. Don't sign PF right now let Humphries start it wont hurt because we are not goin anywhere. Hope a team think that williams or lee are the second coming of something and try and steal a star.

[vincecarter4pres]

Well he's saying all the right things so that's a start and a plus.

And no to Humps starting, go with Favors or Petro...

[Dexmor]

Favors should start. Hes the third overall pick and probably right now our best 4. He should start espially if your trying to develop talent and win. If Favors is a all rookie team type rookie then they just might be good. Gotta take a chance.

[SpeedyG]

OMG, have you guys read the transcript of the Rod Thorn exit? I LMAO reading his comments about Vince and how he always seems like he's about to die when he gets hit. Feels saddened about the way things ended with Kidd (though as most of us have said at one point or another, too many good memories to have one bad one ruin it all). Kidd, in his prime, was just special. IQ, heart, will, feel of the game...ranks up there with MJ and Bird. Just didn't have those two's scoring prowess.

Really shows how much basketball savvy Rod is. Just wished he decided to stay...but as they say, all good things must come to an end. And sometimes, a new voice is indeed needed. Just hope we have the right voices to replace him.

[vincecarter4pres]

OMG, have you guys read the transcript of the Rod Thorn exit?

I'm really going to miss Rod.
He turned the Nets from a joke of a franchise into a truly relevant contender and then an exciting playoff team even when his hands were cuffed by one of the worst owners in the history of sports.
For that I will be forever thankful.
Peace Rod, you were the man, good luck in any future endeavors.