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I know most of my NBA writing on this website is very Timberwolves-centric. For once, though, I'm going to write about the worst team in the NBA... the New Jersey Nets. The Nets are currently battling to NOT become the worst team in NBA history. Here's what is crazy, though: I honestly think the Nets could be the best team in the NBA next year.
How so?
Adding two players. LeBron James. Chris Bosh.
Seems crazy, doesn't it? Maybe not... hear me out.
We know that LeBron and Bosh both want to get paid and they want to go to a competitive team. The New Jersey Nets likely have somewhere around $25-30 million to offer free agents next year. With a couple minor moves, that could equal two max deals. New Jersey isn't thought of as a "big market", but the Prudential Center, where the Nets are playing next year is a mere 14 miles away from Manhattan. As a comparison, Giants Stadium is 11 miles away from Manhattan and the Giants/Jets haven't seemed to have a lack of a fan following.
That brings us to the second requirement... a competitive team. How in the world could the Nets be considered a competitive team while they won exactly four games before the All-Star game? Take a look at this possible 9-man lineup
Starters
PG - Devin Harris (former All-Star)
SG - Courtney Lee
SF - LeBron James (best basketball player on the planet Earth)
PF - Chris Bosh (perennial All-Star)
C - Brook Lopez (best young center in the league)
Bench
PF - Yi Jianlian
PF - Kris Humphries
SF - CDR
SF - Terrence Williams
That's not counting the three draft picks within the top 31 that the Nets are likely too have. The first pick will be in the top 4. Which means you can add John Wall, Evan Turner, Wesley Johnson, Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins or Ed Davis into the picture. Their second pick is that of the Dallas Mavericks which should be around the #20. As of the writing of this, here's a list of players they suggest might be available at #20. Elias Harris, Xavier Henry, Gani Lawal, Devin Ebanks, Kalin Lucas, Sherron Collins, Soloman Alabi, Larry Sanders, Greg Monroe, or James Anderson. So let's look at the best case scenario. The Nets grab John Wall at #1. Somewhere around 20-25, they grab a servicable big-man that can provide minutes off the bench like Gani Lawai, Damion Jones, Jarvis Varnado, or Solomon Alabi. At number 31, they shock everyone by drafting the somewhat troubled, but super talented Lance Stephenson. If we've got a question about his ability, why not try to pair him with LeBron which just seems like he's the best teammate of all-time. There's your positive influence. Now you've got a rotation that looks something like this:
Starters
G - Devin Harris
G - John Wall
F - LeBron
F - Chris Bosh
C - Brook Lopez
Bench small - Courtney Lee
small - Terrence Williams
small - Lance Stephenson
small - CDR
big - Yi Jianlian
big - Lawai/Jones/Varnado/Alabi
big - Humpries
Someone please convince me that isn't a future NBA dynasty? Even if they don't get wall, I'd love to see a guy like Turner play with LeBron. It's somewhat of a wild idea, but you've got to be interested. The beauty is that this team would be able to grow as well. I could see Devin Harris being able to develop into a decent three point shooter a la Jason Kidd if his role is changed from "top dog" on a horrible team to get into an offense and spot up. I see both Yi and Lopez as great fits with LeBron. Lopez is athletic enough that he doesn't need to clog the lane to be effective and Yi is a big guy who can spot up and hit threes. Courtney Lee and Stephenson off the bench brings in some athleticism. As always, if LeBron is your centerpiece, you've got the ability to go big or small making this team a matchup nightmare. Imagine if they go stretches with Wall, LeBron, Yi, Bosh, and Lopez. How does a team matchup with that? I'm hoping that LeBron stays in Cleveland and I'm hoping John Wall is a Timberwolf. But if that doesn't happen, this is a pretty decent Plan B.
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