The Nets were a popular team on this year’s version of the annual NBA.com survey of the league’s 30 general managers. The survey delves into a wide variety of topics, including the team most likely to win the title, the winner of each division and the best players at each position, among others.
But – before you ask – the Nets weren’t picked by any of the 30 GMs (and no, they aren’t allowed to vote for themselves or their own team) picked the Nets to win the NBA title, the Eastern Conference or the Atlantic Division.
The Nets also finished tied with the Knicks with a little over 13 percent of the vote for who would win the Atlantic Division. The Celtics were the runaway winners, as expected after winning it five years in a row, with two-thirds of the votes. The Atlantic, with Philadelphia also receiving more than six percent, was the only division to have four different teams picked to win it, as well as the only division where more than two teams got more than a single vote.
Not surprisingly, the Nets got plenty of respect from the league’s GMs for roster overhaul Nets GM Billy King and his assistant, Bobby Marks, put together. The Nets finished second – albeit a distant second – to the Lakers for which team had the best offseason. Joe Johnson and Deron Williams also received votes for the offseason acquisition that will make the biggest impact, though both finished far behind Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the voting, who combined for 90 percent of the vote.
They also finished as the runaway winners to be the league’s most improved team, taking home over 60 percent of the voting. And Joe Johnson’s acquisition was tied with Ray Allen going to Miami as the fourth-most surprising move of the offseason.
Individually, Reggie Evans and Kris Humphries predictably received votes for what player is the league’s best offensive rebounder, while Williams finished tied with Rajon Rondo for what player is the NBA’s best passer. Humphries also received votes for what player makes the most of his natural ability.
One place where the Nets notably were absent from the voting was for the honor of being the best point guard in the NBA. Chris Paul was the runaway winner of the award, with Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker each receiving votes.
That means, of course, that Williams didn’t get a single vote. While I think that’s off-base, I’m not surprised if for no other reason than the Nets finishing with a 22-44 record last year. The four players on that list all were on teams among the 10 best in the sport – like Williams was two years ago, when he was voted the league’s top point guard, receiving 50 percent of the vote.
If the Nets are one of the top four teams in the East this year, expect Williams to rocket back up this list once again.
tbontemps@nypost.com