The following post is an ‘easy’ and exaggerated, yet very possible way to fix the worst team in the NBA, and make them go from worst to first. Enjoy!

So the New Jersey Nets have finally won their first game of the 2009-2010 season, and it only took 19 tries! They broke the record for a winless start to an NBA season (18 games) with one of the least experienced starting 5’s in the NBA – but at least they got rid of that coach. What does it all mean as we approach 2010, when it will be the summer of THE free agents?

The Nets are losing Rafer Alston ($5 million+), Tony Battie ($6 million+), Trenton Hassell ($4 million+ and a player option), Jarvis Hayes ($2 million+), Simmons ($10 million+) and Sean Williams ($1.6 million and a team option) as free agents. Honestly, I can’t see them signing any of those guys again because none are that great and they will all ask for an above average salary ($5 million+).  This means the Nets are losing $28 million off of the books and they will have tons of money to spend.  But before I get into free agent signings, how will this team even suit up with 6 players leaving from their roster?  The draft.

Out of those 6 guys I think the Nets will actually resign Sean Williams, he won’t be asking for much more than a 2-year contract worth about $1 million per and they definitely need front court depth. The Nets are going to have to not trade any draft picks in addition to making a big splash in the free agent market in 2010. So to the draft we go.

Naturally the Nets will get the #1 pick because the lotto ALWAYS works out for the worst team, right?  Right.  And with that #1 pick the Nets will draft John Wall; he is the best PG in the draft and is 6’5″, athletic, a slasher who can get to the lane and can even shoot the rock.  There aren’t many flaws in his game at this point.  So Wall will replace Alston as the backup PG.  Devin Harris is clearly staying put, as he is looked at as the Nets franchise PG no matter who they sign or draft.  With the guys that the Nets are going to sign he will truly be a pass first PG now.  After the Wall pick I don’t care who the Nets draft but I’d like to see them take a backup center with their next pick.

Next comes the free agent barrage.  The Nets are going to be in Brooklyn so naturally they are going to go after Jay-Z’s best friend in LeBron James.  Did I mention they are going to get him too?  The Nets will sign him to a MAX contract but who cares; he’s worth the money so to speak (no athlete is worth $30 million a year but contracts are so flawed if anyone should get it, its James and Pujols in the MLB).  By signing LeBron you take the place of 3 players on the current Nets roster (Hassell, Hayes, and Simmons).  Bron-Bron’s backup is pretty good too; his name is Chris-Douglas Roberts.  So now you’re saying, ‘But the Nets have all this money to spend, what will they do next?’

Well I’ll tell you, Courtney Lee is good but he just isn’t in the plans as a starter right now but is a superb backup!  So the Nets are going to go out and get none other than Joe Johnson because they need a starting SG, duh.  Johnson won’t cost them more than $15 million a year because he is going to take a discount for the privilege to play for the Nets franchise and with LeBron of course.  Johnson adds 3-pt shooting depth and is a leader on the court and has helped turned the Hawks franchise into a contender.  You’re probably thinking, ‘But I thought the Nets had money for two max contracts?’

The Brooklyn Nets could use a new PF, no?  If not that leaves Yi and Josh Boone to play PF.  I don’t think so.  In this plan, those two are the last two guys off the bench.  I know this may sound strange but the one and only T Will (Terrence Williams) is coming off the bench as PF, by default.  He is too good to ride the bench but the Nets are going to be so deep he will have to guard some big buys at the PF position.  Now you’re thinking, ‘Well who is going to start at PF?’  And that is where David Lee comes in.  The man gets no respect from the Knicks whatsoever so the Nets are going to jump right in there and steal David Lee away for about $12 million a year and actually give him a multi-year contract.  Lee won’t mind; he will make more money and doesn’t need to move!  Oh yeah and the fact that he can content for an NBA Championship after spending countless losing years on the Knicks will be enough to lure him over to the next NY borough, Brooklyn. 

Lastly the Nets need a center – wait nevermind, no they don’t.  Brook Lopez is the franchise center so he doesn’t need a backup but of course David Lee can always play center, especially if T-Will is in the game, and then there is the great Sean Williams to play center as well.

Nets 2010 Depth Chart:
PG – Devin Harris; Backup – John Wall
SG – Joe Johnson; Backup – Courtney Lee
SF – LeBron James; Backup – Chris Douglas-Roberts
PF – David Lee; Backup – Terrence Williams
C – Brook Lopez; Backup – Sean Williams

So there you have it, your 2010-2011 NBA Champions: the Brooklyn Nets!  If only this was going to be true.

-The Basher