There is a quiet confidence around the Nets about their chance of landing a big name in free agency. True, there was a quiet confidence around the Nets about their chances of landing Carmelo Anthony last season and you all remember how swell that worked out.
But they now have someone in place who wasn’t around for the Anthony sweepstakes: Deron Williams. And so the Nets are hoping Williams can help attract the type of player that in turn will make him want to stay.
League sources acknowledge the Nets are among the more aggressive teams pursuing Denver’s Nene and while acknowledging the suitor field is densely populated, one rated their chances as “pretty strong” with the 6-foot-11 hulk. Denver, Indiana and Houston are among the strongest competition.
Nene is the Nets’ top free agent choice.
And then there is Tyson Chandler of Dallas. Sources acknowledge there is mutual interest on both sides and one source close to Chandler said the Mavericks center and his camp were “waiting to see what the Nets want to do.” Chandler and Nene, both 29, have indicated they want out of their respective locales.
The overall grand prize for the Nets would be Orlando’s Dwight Howard, whom they will try to obtain with a trade package containing draft picks and Brook Lopez. But any movement there likely would not occur for some time, if at all, as the Magic aren’t jumping at the chance to deal the once-in-a-decade center.
So the Nets can’t sit and wait. They must be aggressive. And getting Nene or Chandler does not negate the shot at Howard. Should the Nets amnesty clause Travis Outlaw ($7 million this year) or renounce Kris Humphries ($6 million cap hold) — and they don’t need to do both — they would have ample funds.
And yes, Humphries remains on their radar. They have contacted his agent, Marc Cornstein.
They also need to address the small forward spot and the names discussed are familiar — Tayshaun Prince, Caron Butler, Andrei Kirilenko, and Shane Battier. Two other names have surfaced, Grant Hill and a name from the past, Boki Nachbar, who is back from playing overseas.