Some NBA Truths

For the second time in a year, it looks like the Nets will not be getting their man. For the second time in a year, the Nets have alienated their current players. For the second time in history, they are pointed in a really, really, really bad direction.

Last year, the trade offer from the Nets to the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony were made really public. The Nets appeared to have two strong trades - one including 4 teams in January and then one straight up with Denver in mid-February. Both deals centered around the Nets sending Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and some of their stockpile of first-round picks to Denver.

While most Nets fans (and probably playes too) were excited by the possibilities, all the rumors really got to Devin Harris. In the 20 games after the first trade fell through, he saw his scoring (12.4 vs 16.6), shooting (40.3% vs 42.6%) and rebounding (2.0 vs 2.6) go down (interestingly though his assists went up from 6.8 to 9.0). Ever since his name was first mentioned in trade talks in November 2010, Harris felt betrayed by Avery Johnson, who he had pushed to hire. He sulked and was miserable. It was clear that something needed to be done before he poisoned the rest of the team. Luckily for the Nets they not only found a trade partner, but they were able to net Deron Williams in return. Things were suddenly bright. They had a boat load of cap space and a bonafied star.

But here is where things get dicey. Williams was unable to re-sign until January and under the new CBA who be a fool not to opt out once that date comes. He is going to be a free agent after this year. While moving to Brooklyn and being the face of the franchise is an exciting thing, Williams wants to win. He will not be sticking around if his supporting cast is not upgraded. That is the truth.

Ok, so the Nets know this. They know they need to make a splash. Aside from trading for LeBron or Wade, there is single player who could have a bigger affect on the Nets than Dwight Howard. He is the most dominant center in the game and if combined with a franchise PG, the possibilities would be endless. The problem as in the past is finalizing the deal.

Howard has made his trade request public. But unlike Carmelo, he actually wants to come to NJ (or the Lakers or Mavs). He wants to join forces with D-Will. He wants to be a member of the Brooklyn Nets. And yet somehow, for the second time in a year, the Nets were unable to make the trade. I know that after failing to convince Melo to come to the Nets, they turned around and traded for D-Will, but the difference is that NO ONE saw that Utah trade coming. No one had their feelings hurt by the Utah rumors because no one knew about them. The Melo rumors killed the team and if the Nets aren't careful, the Howard rumors are going to kill them too.

Teams are within their right to shop and inquire about players. It is part of the game, but when those talks become public and when the talks then break down, the teams need some damage control. Brook Lopez is now in a similar spot to Harris last year. He knows the team wants to replace him. He knows that they are not committing to him. He knows that he is trade bait. It is certainly an unenviable place to be in. Considering the rumors of his unhappiness with Johnson, I can't believe that this is going to end well. Once considered a cornerstone of this organization, he is coming off a disappointing year and has now been publicly disgraced. The Nets are going to need to do something - whether damage control with Lopez or somehow getting Orlando to pull the trigger.

And that leads me to the second truth: the Nets are not going to get Howard. I know that Howard wants to come here, but Orlando is asking for a ransom. Acquiring Lopez and a draft pick (plus Gerald Wallace from Portland) and shedding itself of Hedo Turkoglu's contract is not going to be enough for Orlando. They want more. And now they have another serious bidder - the LA Lakers. You know, the team with all the NBA titles; the team who's center lineage include Shaq, Kareem and Wilt; the team who just were upstaged by the Clippers; the team that can offer Gasol and/or Bynum. Yeah, the simple truth is the Nets don't have enough to keep up. They are not ready for primetime. They will not get Howard.

And finally, the last truth: the Nets, without Dwight Howard, will lose Deron Williams after the year. He will realize by game 40 that leading a team made up of Brook Lopez, Andrei Kirilenko, Anthony Morrow and 6 of his namesakes is not the situation he deserves. He will bolt and they will become miserable again. It is as simple as that.