NBA TV studio analyst and former Nets guard Kendall Gill, who will be calling games from the NBA Summer League in Orlando from July 7-12, talks NBA trades, Jason Kidd and the evolution of the Nets with The Post’s Howie Kussoy.
Q: How much can coaching in the Summer League help Jason Kidd prepare for his first season?
A: I think he’s going to gain a lot from it because he’s never done it before. He can jump in there and get his feet wet. This is good practice for him. He’s jumping into the fire, coming off a 19-year career and then jumping right into coaching. He has to get that experience.
Q: How challenging will it be for the Nets players to play under Kidd?
A: I think the young guys he’ll be fine with. The veterans is where it’ll be difficult for him because he just got done playing with these guys. But I think that the guys know Jason is in a tough position, so I think that they’ll work with him a lot more than any other head coach. I think they did an excellent job of bringing along [assistant coach] Lawrence Frank. He knows the ropes and you need that wingman when you’re going through it for the first time.
Q: Are the Nets now title contenders after trading for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett?
A: I think they are. To me, they’re the threat now to supersede the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference. I go back to a comment Joakim Noah said a few years ago. He called the Heat “Hollywood as hell.” Well, guess who that title belongs to now? I believe that’s the Brooklyn Nets. There’s going to be high expectations. They have bona fide star power now.
Q: What is it like seeing the Nets now versus when you played for them [from 1996-2001]?
A: The people in Brooklyn know they have a legitimate contender and fans will gravitate to that even more. It’s a long way from New Jersey. We didn’t have the same fan support, along with the branding. I can walk anywhere in Chicago and see most of the NBA T-shirts besides the Chicago Bulls shirts are Nets paraphernalia. They’re a popular team. The franchise is well on its way to being one of the top franchises in the league.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Knicks trading for Andrea Bargnani?
A: It’s a good move for them, but the question is will Bargnani play? There were questions about his dedication in Toronto. The Knicks are right there. They just need that added piece. If he comes and he’s 100 percent, he may be that piece.