When Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov emerged from his meeting with LeBron James in Cleveland last week, he stressed he had Plans A, B and C, and regardless of what happened, the Nets would have “a great team” moving forward.
Well, despite the team’s belief they are still in the running to land James, a general consensus places the Nets no better than third on LeBron’s wish list. James, of course, is Plan A.
So Plan B was Rudy Gay with Carlos Boozer or David Lee. Gay re-signing with the Grizzlies makes that plan moot. Now there is Plan C. But the Nets don’t want to implement it until LeBron, Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Toronto’s Chris Bosh announce their intentions. LeBron has said he will inform the world of his choice tomorrow as “The NBA Held Hostage” continues.
“I would expect we’ll be hearing soon,” outgoing Nets president Rod Thorn said. “Everyone is waiting on what the big guys decide. It’s hard to say because they’re being close-mouthed. Anything else is just idle speculation.”
The Nets feel they remain in the LeBron running — “We’re still at the table,” Thorn said.
“The feeling all along is we had a shot at the top free agents and that we have other ways to go if it doesn’t go our way,” Thorn said.
What ways? There are Boozer and Lee, but the Nets will not overpay. They are more likely to fill in their roster with lower-tier free agents, continue to rebuild and plunge back into the free-agent market next season. If LeBron says “Nets,” they will open space for a second max guy, namely Bosh, though the Cavaliers have a sign-and-trade ready with Toronto if James commits to home.
The Nets could deal Kris Humphries to open salary room.
So where will the Nets turn? Good, cost-effective players.
So your Plan C New Jersey Nets could include Charlotte’s Tyrus Thomas, Houston’s Luis Scola or Miami’s perennially underrated Udonis Haslem at power forward.
The small forward spot offers a lot of familiar names, all complementary types, such as Washington’s Mike Miller, Utah’s Kyle Korver, the Clippers’ Travis Outlaw and Rasual Butler, Miami’s Dorell Wright, ex-Net Richard Jefferson, Orlando’s Matt Barnes and ex-Knick Al Harrington. A lot of names. The Nets have a lot of holes.
Remember Prokhorov’s claim when he came to New York in May. He said for all areas, “I do my best to invite the best people,” but that didn’t always make a team work.
“Sometimes you put together not the best players, but as a team it’s much stronger than very good individuals,” he said.
And that could be Plan C.
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A candidate to replace Thorn, Hornets general manager Jeff Bower, withdrew himself from consideration.
“I appreciate the interest shown by the New Jersey Nets to discuss the opportunity with me to head up their basketball operations. At this time, however, it is not the right fit for the Nets or myself. I remain focused on improving our Hornets roster on a daily basis,” he said in a statement.
Thorn is actively seeking his successor. He acknowledged some candidates required him to get permission from teams, others did not. Joe Dumars of the Pistons already withdrew.
Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti, whom the Nets have not received permission to interview, is a choice. Others who may be considered are former team execs such as Billy King, Billy Knight and John Gabriel. Also in the hunt is current Nets VP of basketball operations Bobby Marks, a candidate for at least an assistant GM’s job.