2007 New Jersey Nets NBA Season Preview
The New Jersey Nets have quietly made some significant improvements to its lineup with the additions of much-needed big man Jamaal Magloire and rookie Sean Williams. Health will be a big key to how well they finish. Richard Jefferson has a history of health issues and Nenad Krstic missed most of last season.
Moreover, despite playing in 80 games in each of the last couple seasons, Jason Kidd is entering his 13th season and isn't getting any younger. His scoring average has decreased every season since the 2002-2003 season. Fortunately for New Jersey, his game isn't so dependant on scoring. He's still the modern day's Oscar Robertson, leading the league in triple doubles every season. He finished with a stat line of 13.0 ppg, 8.2 rbpg and 9.2 apg last season.
There is a lot for Nets fans to be excited about with the re-signing of Vince Carter and a rejuvenated roster. There were rumors during the summer that the Nets were involved in trade talks that would have sent Jefferson to Charlotte, while the Lakers received Gerald Wallace and the Nets received Lamar Odom. The Bobcats apparently nixed the trade.
The Nets were 41-41 last season and pushed to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.
Statistics Projections/Depth Chart
- Center: Jamaal Magloire 9.3 ppg, 8.7 rbpg (back up: Jason Collins)
- Power Forward: Nenad Krstic 14.8 ppg, 6.7 rbpg (back up: Josh Boone)
- Small Forward: Richard Jefferson 16.9 ppg, 5.4 rbpg (back up: Bostjan Nachbar)
- Point Guard: Jason Kidd 12.8 ppg, 7.7 rbpg, 8.6 apg (back up: Marcus Williams)
- Shooting Guard: Vince Carter 23.9 ppg, 6.0 rbpg, 4.5 apg (back up: Antoine Wright)
Key Losses
Mikki Moore posted some nice stats with the Nets last season, but don't be fooled. Much of those stats were spoon-fed by Jason Kidd, who happens to be one of the best, if not the best, point guard in the game. The Nets got better value springing for Magloire. New Jersey also lost point guard Eddie House, but with rising star Marcus Williams in their back pocket, they shouldn't miss him too much.
Key Additions
Don't underestimate the addition of Jamaal Magloire. He's a crafty veteran who is capable of producing double-doubles and is much tougher than Krstic, which makes him a good fit for them. He's a legitimate center who was an All-Star just a few seasons ago. The Nets also landed an intriguing prospect in the 2007 NBA Draft in Sean Williams. He's a tremendous shot blocker with some off court problems. However, whether he can hit a shot outside of three feet is still uncertain. Yet, the sky is the limit for this youngster and they can develop him gradually.
Team Rumors
Don't expect anymore big moves before February's trade deadline. The Nets filled in some holes and are looking fairly solid. Now it's a question of whether or not they can stay healthy.
Prediction
The Nets will win a few more games than last season, giving them a final season record of 44-38. Despite tying the Celtics for the second best record in the Atlantic Division, they'll lose the season series to Boston and will settle for just the seventh seed. In a tough seven-game series, the Nets will fall to the second seed Chicago Bulls. New Jersey's improved, but so has the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Fantasy Spin
Don't be afraid to pull the trigger on drafting Jason Kidd, despite his age. Fantasy experts have been afraid of him the last few seasons. Yet, every season he posts outstanding fantasy numbers and fills your stat sheet. He was labeled an injury concern a couple years ago, but other than one season where he played in only 66 games, he's been an iron man in recent years.
Vince Carter's always a great player to have. He's a big-time scorer, who brings some decent boards, assists and threes for a two-guard.
Be leary of drafting Richard Jefferson too high. His fantasy numbers have never stood out as much as some think. He's a very good scorer, but doesn't really feel a stat sheet. Moreover, there's never a sure way to tell if he'll remain healthy for the duration of a season.
Jamaal Magloire and Nenad Krstic are good gambles in later rounds of your fantasy draft. Both will have the opportunity to produce with Kidd passing them the ball.
NBA Eastern Conference Team Previews: Atlanta Hawks; Boston Celtics; Cleveland Cavaliers; Chicago Bulls; Charlotte Bobcats; Detroit Pistons; Indiana Pacers; Miami Heat; Milwaukee Bucks; New Jersey Nets; New York Knicks; Orlando Magic; Philadelphia 76ers; Toronto Raptors; Washington Wizards
NBA Western Conference Team Previews: Dallas Mavericks; Denver Nuggets; Golden State Warriors; Houston Rockets; Los Angeles Clippers; Los Angeles Lakers; Memphis Grizzlies; Minnesota Timberwolves; New Orleans Hornets; Phoenix Suns; Portland Trail Blazers; Sacramento Kings; San Antonio Spurs; Seattle Supersonics; Utah Jazz
