The Nets see the Knicks holding Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire and hope to raise the stakes with Deron Williams and Dwight Howard.
As they prepare for their long-awaited move to Brooklyn next year, the Nets are set to offer a trade package which included center Brook Lopez and two future first-round picks to Orlando for Howard, the superstar center, before he becomes a free agent in 2012, according to an ESPN.com report.
Howard’s presence would be another lifeline for a franchise that has won 36 games over two years. The Nets believe Howard would lead to Williams, who can opt out after this season, into signing up long term, but right now, the best chip the Nets have is money. Williams ultimately can get five years and $100 million for the Nets. Other teams could pay $70 million over four. Howard and Williams together could give the Nets the needed big splash for their Brooklyn move.
The report said the Nets, to make the deal work, would slap their amnesty clause on Travis Outlaw and would take back Hedo Turkoglu with three years and $35 million remaining. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, if the Nets were able to acquire Howard before his opt-out decision, they only could extend his deal one year. Like Williams, Howard can become a free agent after this season and it has been widely believed Howard’s preferred destinations are the Lakers and Knicks.
The Magic would have to be amenable to dealing Howard and convinced they cannot re-sign him. All of this presents a two-fold danger, though, for the Nets. Howard still can opt out — like Williams. Similar to the case of Devin Harris, the Nets run the risk of alienating Lopez if his name is continually mentioned in trade talks. But those are risks the Nets apparently feel are worth it for a talent such as Howard.
If plans for Howard fizzle, the Nets have alternate blueprints to upgrade the front court. The situation at forward is horrible. There’s Outlaw, whose name is more readily associated with “amnesty” than “bounce-back.” Next is Damion James, whom coach Avery Johnson really likes — when he’s healthy. As a rookie, James played just 25 games. Finally, there is rookie Jordan Williams, scheduled to return today from Poland, where he went to earn a lockout living but basically landed, ate kielbasa and turned around.
So, yeah, the Nets need to make a free-agent splash, and can start talking to agents today. They have interest in Denver’s Nene. With their salary-cap room and waiving Outlaw, the Nets could offer Nene the 4-year, $70-million max.
Nene wants out of Denver, where he played center, though he feels his best position is power forward. He is expected to have many suitors and reportedly prefers Dallas and Miami, two teams well north of the cap.
The Nets also will attempt to upgrade at small forward. Several free agents have been mentioned: Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, Washington’s Josh Howard and Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko, currently in Russia. Kirilenko’s agent, Marc Fleisher, said yesterday the versatile forward has not yet committed to returning to the NBA.
“His decision on whether to return all depends on the NBA offers,” Fleisher said. “No teams, including the Nets, have been ruled out.”
As the third-worst scoring team in the league last season, the Nets will look for offensive help at all positions. Atlanta guard and former Knick Jamal Crawford appeals because of his ability to create his own shot.