The plan always has been to improve the kids, create cap space, build for the future, all the stuff you’ve heard — to use one of Rod Thorn’s favorite expressions — “ad nauseum.”
But there has been an amendment to the 2009-10 plan, which if it hasn’t been put in writing is certainly understood in the Nets’ organization from top to bottom:
Do NOT be the worst team ever.
“We want to try to win as many games as possible. That’s what we’re here for. We’re not here to just stand around. We want to try to win games,” said Thorn, the team president whose financial handcuffs seemingly have been removed – witness, for starters, the $200,000 added this week by the addition of Kris Humphries and the $800,000 more in salary Shawne Williams, who they’re keeping, makes over Sean Williams, who they’ve already pushed off the roof.
While developing the young core and prepping for free agency have always been the prime directives, the Nets want to add seven wins at least. They want to keep the 1972-73 Sixers as history’s worst.
“Hopefully, they won’t be an issue,” Thorn said of battling the all-time futility record.
But it might, especially when you’ve rocked the NBA for three wins in 37 games. That puts the Nets on pace for seven wins (6.6 to be precise).
“Obviously we don’t want to make history in a bad way,” Devin Harris offered.
So the moves to shake loose veterans like Rafer Alston and Eduardo Najera is the start. Figure the Nets could go the route Denver took in ’97-98 when they brought in vets like Cory Alexander when they were stuck on five wins in March (finished with 11). They wouldn’t bring in expiring vets to play over the young guys, but if they can help, why not? As long as they’re not “band-aid solutions,” according to Kiki Vandeweghe, for the long term.
And apparently, the Nets will be able to do that. Mikhail Prokhorov isn’t officially the owner yet but “he is informed” of any moves the Nets consider, Thorn said.
“But the bottom line is it is still the same in that I report to Bruce Ratner,” Thorn said.
For now. When the Russian billionaire is finally installed, the wallet will be fully opened. Too late to save the season, but not too late to save face.
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Vandeweghe said he intends to play Kris Humphries a little tonight. If the new big makes mistakes, so be it.
“What I told him is I just want him to play hard and rebound. I’m not worried so much about mistakes as long as you’re aggressive and go screen somebody, that’s fine,” Vandeweghe said.
Shawne Williams was undergoing a physical and is expected to join the team before the game. As part of the trade with Dallas, Nets waived any physical contingencies. So Williams could have scurvy and Nets wouldn’t care. But “there’s no reason to think that he wouldn’t” pass the physical Vandeweghe said.
And Devin Harris is playing despite his tendinitis-plagued right wrist.
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While so much is geared for the summer, Vandeweghe said the Nets would make a “significant” move, if possible, beforehand. Why wait to the summer? Thorn indicated as much the other day when speaking about the Nets trade. Of course, the team would have to be 100 percent secure in its belief it could re-sign the impending free agent. Thorn said he expects some top shelf guys to go. So why not do it early if possible? Of course, doing it is not easy.
“Sure, why not if you can short cut the plan with a player that’s worthwhile,” he said. “Typically those types of players don’t get traded easily. So I wouldn’t count on that.”
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Okay, can they get seven wins from here? You can say sure, but didn’t everyone figure on at least one win against Minnesota? That didn’t go too swell.
The key is right after the upcoming road trip. There is a four-game homestand that would have meant four wins in the Jason Kidd Era: Clippers, Wizards, Pistons, Sixers. They need three. That gives six wins (with no consideration to the six games until then – and they could sneak a win from those six).
So with six (or seven) wins, they would have 2 ½ months to get four more. Isn’t this as exciting as jockeying for playoff position?