One guy is going from the best, the Lakers, to the worst, the Nets. Another was so highly thought of coming out of college, he was undrafted. Another wanted to quit basketball last season. And then there’s the player who wants to win so badly, he sees the Nets as an upgrade — he was a Clipper.
And these are your four newest New Jersey Nets.
They include free agent point guard Jordan Farmar (three years, $12 million), who left the Lakers. Anthony Morrow was acquired for a second-round pick from the Warriors, for whom he played two years after being ignored out of Georgia Tech.
Free agent center Johan Petro (three years, $10 million) was so frustrated in Denver he wanted to quit. Free agent Travis Outlaw (five years, $35 million), the likely starting three, fled the Clippers, won over by coach Avery Johnson’s pledge to win.
“These guys fit into our plan very nicely. All different skill sets, all different abilities. We addressed four needs,” said Johnson, who said the Nets still need a starting power four. “It may come from a signing, it may not. We’re working on it.”
For now, everyone seems pleased with the results of Plan B. The Nets got a backup point guard, Farmar, who has championship pedigree with L.A.
“It’s going to be interesting to be part of something special, part of a rebuilding process,” said Farmar, noting the Nets are “committed to winning and that’s what I’m all about.”
Morrow brings superb shooting skills, something rare in Netville. And he envisions how it will work with Brook Lopez and Devin Harris.
“I want to come in and make their job easier. Brook can get a lot of open looks on the post, people can’t double off me. Devin can get in the paint,” he said. “I just want to complement all the athleticism we have.”
Petro appreciates feeling wanted.
“They really wanted me here,” he said. “Now it is my turn to show them I appreciate (it) . . . I can’t even describe how difficult last year was . . . The first couple games I wasn’t dressing I was in the locker room trying to figure out what I did wrong. At some point I wanted to quit, to be honest.”
Outlaw is the guy Johnson wanted when the pitch for LeBron James fell through. And Outlaw quickly wanted Johnson.
“He said I want to win. And when he said that, I was like, ‘I’m looking for the same thing too,’ ” Outlaw said.