NJ Nets start 0-18, Can they buy a win?

Devin Harris must have been jumping for joy when he learned he was heading to the New Jersey Nets. Not only was he being traded for one of the all-time greatest point guards in the game, Jason Kidd, but he was at least going to have an alley-oop wingman in Vince Carter. Harris who's been known to score in bunches probably felt like he could at least garner some attention for future free agency. However, he soon inherited a team minus Vince Carter, full of newbies and guys who skipped the D-League. And now, Devin Harris and the Nets have officially sank to a new low, as the team has began the 2009-10 campaign at 0-18. The loss is a new record for worst start to an NBA season, with 23 games the longest losing streak in NBA history during a season. Ironically that 18th loss came to Harris' former team, the Dallas Mavs.

It's a dismal record and beats out previous awful starts by the LA Clippers and expansion Miami Heat. New Jersey is playing like an expansion team right now, with no real identity, young players, a new coach - GM Kiki Vandeweghe (Lawrence Frank was fired last week), and lack of offense or defense. The interesting stat to see would be how many games part owner Jay-Z has sat courtside for this season. It's likely Jigga man preferred slapping hands with VC, Kidd and Richard Jefferson, but isn't exactly in a rush to give a fist bump to Yi or Josh Boone after a score. For several years now, the talk of Jay-Z and Nets officials has been discussion of moving this team to Brooklyn, but would the city really want this team?

Perhaps the answer is for Jay-Z to do something about this. The mogul could arrange a who's who of rap artists for a "Rappers Unite for New Jersey" campaign. Then the Nets could buy a win, or some players to help stop the bleeding. New Jersey's upcoming games against the Charlotte Bobcats, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, andIndiana Pacers offer the team a glimmer of holiday hope for that first W. Right now, they're in contention for next year's #1 draft pick, but surviving the 82 game season will be quite a ride for Nets fans, players and personnel.

Read more about the NJ Nets at NY Daily News

Richard Jefferson Wedding Fiasco

San Antonio Spurs star Richard Jefferson was all set to marry a former Nets' dancer, Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols. The couple were scheduled to get married at the Mandarin Oriental last Saturday, but the NBA star chose to call the whole thing off the night before. Jeferson became a runaway groom so to speak, leaving Nichols jilted. She immediately called her family and alerted them of the news. Nichols checked into the Mandarin Oriental hotel and was upgraded to a 45th floor suite overlooking Central Park. The Richard Jefferson wedding was priced at around $2 million for the affair. Some guests had already arrived and then discovered that Jefferson was not going to show. RJ, who had called about 2 hours prior to the wedding, made sure his best friend who had shown up for the event was given access to his black American Express card.

A picture here from June 13th, shows the happy couple with Nichols showing off the engagement diamond. Jefferson has yet to give any comments about the incident, and his former fiance/girlfriend has also kept quiet, wishing to move forward with her life. As the famous saying goes, "all's fair in love and war"...or is it "love and basketball"?

(Story Source: NYDailyNews.com)

Also see: The NBA Player's Wives List

Jason Kidd passes Magic for Assists

On Sunday, Dallas Maverick point guard, Jason Kidd, moved past Earvin Magic Johnson for the third spot in terms of All-time assists for the NBA. A pass from Kidd to Josh Howard for a jump shot was the milestone during a Mavs game against the Phoenix Suns.

Jason Kidd now has a career total of 10,142 assists, playing for three teams during his career thus far (Phoenix, Dallas, New Jersey). In Dallas for his early career, Kidd spent time alongside Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn, racking up assists. Once he was sent to New Jersey, he had even more teammates to dish to, including Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin and eventually high-flyer, Vince Carter. Last season, a trade saw Jason Kidd sent to the Mavs for multiple players including Devin Harris. Now in Dallas, Kidd has enjoyed having guys like Jason Terry, Josh Howard and former league MVP, Dirk Nowitski to pass for layups and jumpshots.

When Kidd's latest accomplishment was announced in Dallas, Mark Jackson was one of the spectators on his feet who at the time was serving as one of the commentators for the game. Kidd now takes third place behind Mark Jackson (10,334) and Utah Jazz great John Stockton (15,806) for overall assists.

75 Cent Nets Tickets?!?

If you're a New York/New Jersey native and want to see some pro basketball for a dirt cheap price, the Nets have a deal for you. Right now the New Jersey Nets are amongst those contending for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 16-17 record. While they've dealt both Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson away, Vince Carter still remains and has rising point guard Devin Harris with him. Harris has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Nets and may be amongst those chosen for this year's East All-Star Reserves.

In a previous report on what franchises are worth, a comment was made that the Nets are hurting most as they try to secure loan money to get the team moved to Brooklyn. Wiht the team's record below .500, and J-Kidd & Jefferson out of town, ticket sales must really be hurting, as the Nets have offered the following $0.75 cent ticket deal for select games.

Fri, 12/26/08
07:30 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Mon, 12/29/08
07:30 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Chicago Bulls

Mon, 01/05/09
07:30 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Sacramento Kings

Wed, 01/07/09
07:30 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Mon, 01/12/09
07:30 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Thu, 01/15/09
07:30 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Tue, 02/03/09
07:30 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Fri, 02/20/09
08:00 PM New Jersey Nets vs. Washington Wizards

Your Complimentary* Nets Tickets Await!

Join us to see the Nets battle Gilbert Arenas & the Wizards, cross-river rival NY Knicks, Chris Bosh & the Raptors OR Carl Boozer & the Jazz!

As part of the Nets Tickets on Us Program, you are receiving this one time, complimentary* ticket offer to see the Nets take on some of the NBA's best at the IZOD Center. Simply select one of the home games listed below and you can receive up to two tickets to the game. It's about taking a break and enjoying a night out, courtesy of the Nets.

Valid on tickets regularly priced at: $110 $80, $76, $40, $20, and $15.

To take advantage, enter the following code in the Paperfast Offer box: ONUS

You're not dreaming, because these are real 2008-09 regular season NBA games for 75 cent admission! That's cheaper than going to the movies, or even renting a movie at Blockbuster! The opposing teams might not be the NBA's best, but the Portland Trailblazers are nothing to shake a stick at. Last year's Rookie of the Year, Brandon Roy, as well as big man Greg Oden and phenom LaMarcus Aldridge make that one exciting team to see. You've also got Memphis with Rudy Gay and then Oklahoma with Kevin Durant. Once again, not the cream of the crop for the NBA, but for 75 cents and the chance to see some future All-star phenoms, why not?

Head over to Ticketmaster at this link and use promo code: ONUS in the Paperfast Offer Box. You can print tickets directly to your printer to avoid shipping and handling. There will most likely be at least a $3.50 or so convenience charge though.

BuzzerBeaters & East Guards

Several great buzzer-beaters in Friday night's NBA action. The Oklahoma Thunder (former Sonics) were on cloud 9 after young superstar Kevin Durant knocked down a huge 3 to put his team ahead. With just seconds remaining though Carmelo returned the favor, hitting a three to give the Nuggets the win, coach George Karl's 900th. Can it get any worse for the Thunder? When it rains on them, it pours...

Vince Carter also hit a 3 to win the Nets game Friday night. The Nets continue to be amongst playoff contenders in the East behind the standout play of Guard Devin Harris, who was acquired in the Jason Kidd trade. Recently though the Nets were offering a ticket to any of 5 home games for just 75 cents. Maybe a move to Brooklyn and bringing the King to town will see better ticket sales.

As for guards in the East, ESPN NBA Analyst Jeff Van Gundy was saying he thinks PG's Jameer Nelson, Jose Calderon and Devin Harris are all deserving of All-Star spots. His co-analyst Mark Jackson let him know that they won't all be playing in Phoenix this February, so it will be interesting to see which guys get the nod. With Billups departure, Iverson is back east. Then you've got superstar guards like Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen, so the bench will be interesting.

Speaking of Ray Allen's Celtics, there's now rumors that Boston is interested in acquiring Stephon Marbury. Newsday reported:

On Friday, a source-based report on ESPN.com suggested that the Celtics are interested in signing Marbury once he completes a buyout with the Knicks, who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday. Walsh, who has given Marbury permission to talk with other teams to find a new home, said he had no indications that the Celtics, or any NBA team, had a sincere interest.

The Celtics were caught off-guard by the report, and general manager Danny Ainge had no comment Friday about Marbury.

A KG-Starbury reunion would be something to see, but would it help or hurt the Champs? Marbury's been a star in the past but his on/off court problems are always a danger to teams he plays for. Read Newsday's full article here.

Lebron's 11,000 Points Milestone & NYC Courtship

Last night King James added to his legacy by making history. Lebron became the youngest player in NBA history to score 11,000 points, as his Cleveland Cavaliers outdid the New Jersey Nets 106-82. James needed just 13 points to beat Kobe Bryant's record, and James did it in the first quarter alone with 15 points. Lebron not only broke Kobe's record, but also helped his team improve to 9-2 on the season. Right now they are just a half game behind the Boston Celtics for best record in the East.

While it is historic to see Lebron accomplishing these feats, it's still amazing how Lebron James and Kobe Bryant are held up in comparison to the all-time great, Michael Jordan. Jordan has them outdone in terms of MVP awards, scoring titles and NBA titles. Of course, both Lebron and Kobe are capable of catching him on the NBA titles, but as for scoring titles & MVP awards, that will be a tougher feat.

So he's achieving success but does he want to stay in Cleveland? According to Washington Post, Lebron is still committed to helping the 9-2 Cavs win. The New York Times has a recent article discussing the New York/New Jersey courting of Lebron as he's come to play in both arenas recently. It's no secret that both teams would love to add King James to their roster, especially the Nets who are partly-owned by rapper Jay-Z. But according to Sonny Vacaro, a former shoe executive who worked with James at ABCD camp, the Nets' move to Brooklyn could mean no James in NJ.

“LeBron’s relationship with Jay-Z will go on regardless,” Vaccaro said. “He’ll be an international celebrity in New York. If the Nets aren’t in Brooklyn, he’s not going over there for even $200 million. They’re putting pieces together. They’re doing the right things. They’re just living in the wrong building.”

The Nets’ move has been sidetracked by delays, the faltering economy and legal challenges to Atlantic Yards, the proposed development that would include the new arena. The latest litigation has pushed groundbreaking to next spring at the earliest, with a predicted opening in 2011.

The rumor mill continues, but for now Lebron's enjoying his success with the Cavs...

Will an NBA Team Sign Stuart Tanner?

Amazingly enough the highlight of the preseason NBA isn't a facial from Lebron, a Chris Paul lookaway pass or a brawl spilling into the front stands. Instead it's footage of a 28-year old amateur basketball player defeating Nets guard Devin Harris in a game of one-on-one.

Tanner challenged Harris to the contest earlier this month in Stockwell, London. Devin Harris was there for a Nets preason game, so why not? Harris has four years under his belt, including a stint with the Mavericks in the Finals. Tanner is working towards becoming a personal trainer, and was merely a fan. Well that's what Devin thought!

Stuart Tanner was able to fake Harris, dribble between his legs, hit swish jumpers and basically embarass a guy who is paid millions to play the sport. The crowd roared in approval. YouTube viewership has soared of the video to the stat of over 3.5 million views of the footage.

Devin the dude had the following comments:

Harris is then shown on the clip exclaiming: "Man, did you see how fast he was?"

"He tricked me. He hustled me on my own court. He might be able to get an NBA contract. We might need to sign him up tonight," Harris said.

What a good sport Harris is, being gracious in defeat. After all he may have been embarassed, but he still gets to play before crowded arenas, making millions while tossing lob passes to Vince Carter. Tanner's definitely got game, so will an NBA team please sign this baller before the And 1 mixtape tour does?

Watch a 2:05 video clip of Tanner vs. Devin at YouTube.

2008-09 NBA Preseason Info

According to NBA.com, the NBA season is a little over a month away. In the meantime, the preseason schedule was announced last month and features plenty of action to get fans ready for the 2008-09 season. Preseason tickets can often be purchased cheap for great seats, even front row! Some of the games are held at smaller arenas, maybe even in your own backyard area. Keep in mind that many teams may be looking to rest or preserve superstars during these games so you might not see your favorite stars on the court. I've had the opportunity to see both Lebron James and Michael Jordan play in preseason games, as well as Paul Pierce, Vince Carter and Chris Bosh. So you just might get lucky if you choose the right game!

Several teams will also be overseas for a few contests. The Heat and Nets will suit up to play one another for two games in Paris at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy on October 9th. The two teams meet several days later in London for a game on the 12th. France basketball may be most famous for the 7 footer Vince Carter leapt over and dunked on during the Olympics several years ago.

On October 14, the Wizards and Hornets will play in Berlin, and move to Barcelona for a October 17th game.

There's also the NBA China Games 2008, featuring the Bucks and Warriors. The teams will play twice; once at Guangzhou Gymnasium in Guangzhuo on Oct. 15, and at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena on Oct. 18. The games were scheduled in anticipation of bringing former Buck star Yi over to the Chinese fans, but he was traded in the offseason to New Jersey. The China Games will be aired on ESPN.

There will also be a unique outdoor game played at Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, CA. The game will feature the Phoenix Suns against the Denver Nuggets. The October 11th game will be televised on TNT.

There's plenty more action to check out this offseason including several Euroleague teams competing against NBA teams, games at different arenas and a chance to check out all the teams vying for this year's title!

You can view the full NBA preseason schedule here.

Changing of the NBA Guards

We now have a shift of guards going on in the NBA from East to West, West to East. Just as All-Star weekend descended upon us, we saw Mike Bibby sent over to Atlanta in a multiplayer deal. This gives the Hawks a better floor general and greater chance at a playoff spot. While Bibby is a great player, he won't put the Hawks into the Finals this season. He makes for an extra scorer and passes well, but it's hard to see him leading them to the promised land. Playoffs? Yes. out of round 1? Probably not.

The other move is Jason Kidd is finally headed back to Dallas. The funniest part of this trade was that Keith Van Horn, a retired NBA player, had to make the decision to finalize the trade. How often is that seen in the NBA? Van Horn's contract amount allowed the trade to happen, so Van Horn returns to his original team, the Nets. It remains to be seen if he will play. Kidd arrives into Dallas to help Dirk and Josh Howard try to get back into the Finals and win it. Everyone knows Kidd immediately improves any squad he's on. The Nets have just shown us this season an example of lackluster play by the rest of the team despite Kidd's continued all-around floor leadership.

Both moves improve these teams easily. Kidd will definitely have the bigger impact of these two trades, which is a no brainer. The Nets will probably start to play more like the Heat, and the Hawks just may take the Nets' playoff spot away. The Mavericks are still considered amongst 3 or 4 West coast teams with a legitimate chance to make the NBA Finals and win it all.

Kidd Trade on Hold

Thanks to the contract of Dallas Mavs' player Devean George, the Jason Kidd trade has been put on hold. George blocked the trade by saying he did not want to give up his "early Bird rights", which is a provision he earned by being in his second year and on a second contract with the Mavs.

According to the Associated Press:

Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, a player who has "early Bird rights" at the end of a contract - like George has this year - has veto power over a trade because he'd lose those rights if dealt. By keeping them, Dallas could exceed the salary cap to re-sign him.

"We're not trying to hold things up or be difficult, but just like teams make tough decisions all the time - about cutting players or making trades - they do what's best for their team, and it's my obligation to do what's best for Devean," his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Wednesday night.

"You don't want to stop teams from doing their business, but we don't feel like it makes sense at this time. He's starting right now and things are going pretty good."

It was not immediately clear whether this was just a snag or a deal-breaker. (SOURCE: AP)

Have no fear Mavs fans... J-Kidd can still move from NJ to Dallas within the next week, prior to the February 21st trade deadline.

The West is Making Moves

Not Jerry West, but the Western Conference. It's just becoming painfully apparent that the Western teams of the NBA want to improve and want to win. It seems as if the Eastern teams with the exception of 2 teams that made moves this offseason (Orlando & Boston), do not want to win for now.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jason Kidd wind up in Dallas before February 21st's trade deadline. The Mavs are looking to improve upon their team and that surely would help a lot. Nothing against their current guards, but adding a court visionary and leader like J Kidd will absolutely improve their offensive flow. Dallas is already known as a relatively high scoring and uptempo team, and having Kidd with Dirk would be akin to having Nash with Nowitski. Great point guard, great front court player. It's a winning formula that could push them past the Suns or Spurs. Ron Artest may also be dealt from Sacramento. It would not be surprising if he went to yet another team out West.

Looking at what the East has done, the Miami Heat were DOA before the Shaq trade, so it's hard to really give them props right now. The Nets picking up Stromile Swift helps, but not enough. I wouldn't expect this to turn NJ into contenders. However, if they swing a deal with Dallas and pick up some new talent, possibly it inspires Vince Carter to step it up. The Cavs are one team who has made the Finals but doesn't appear interested in going back or winning it. No moves made, yet.

The Celtics are one of few Eastern teams who went leaps and bounds to improve in the East. That will be put to the test on Sunday when the Spurs come to Boston. Unfortunately, KG who makes the Celts tough to beat will be watching courtside with his abdominal injury. Orlando is the other as they added Rashard Lewis who is a deadly scorer. Combine him with the incredible inside presence of an emerging Dwight Howard, and you can't ignore Orlando as a possible contender.

Watch for a few more moves before February 21st, and don't be surprised if analysts continue to praise the Western Conference for the next few years.

Webber Comes Full Circle

Chris Webber started his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors. He then bounced around from the Wizards to Kings to the Sixers and then the Pistons. Now Webber has returned to his origins as he has been signed by Golden State. The Bay Area star is back, but aged of course. Webber hasn't played in any games since losing with the Pistons in last year's Conference Finals. Read the Associated Press story here

In other trade rumor news, Jason Kidd is now saying he is ok if he is traded. Kidd says he doesn't feel he'll win a title in New Jersey, and they need to trade him for a bunch of guys to give them a championship chance. Kidd also says when he would achieve a triple double in a game it usually meant a win, but it's just not working out right now. Heading to tonight's game against the Bucks, the Nets have lost 9 in a row, and are sub-.500 in the Eastern Conference. Possible teams interested in J Kidd right now are the Mavericks and Nuggets, so a deal is looming before the February 21st deadline.

Kidd Trade? Kobe v Lebron

In recent reports it's looked like Jason Kidd's agent has requested that the New Jersey Nets trade the star point guard. According to NY Daily News, Jason Kidd hasn't spoken with his agent Jeff Schwartz in weeks so he has no knowledge of any requests. As for now Kidd is still in New Jersey leading the show for the losing-record Nets. However you'd have to believe his career is in the late stages and he wouldn't mind playing for a title contender. Somehow the Nets botched the game in Minnesota Sunday night despite having the lead late in the fourth. May be a good time for J Kidd to find his new team. Read the full story here

In other news, Andris Biedrins is officially a rebounding monster. The Golden State F/C pulled down 26 rebounds in a win against the New York Knicks last night. This is the highest number of boards pulled down by anyone this season, with 24 being the previous high. The Warrirors beat the Knicks 106-104 in a contest that came down to the wire. Read the full story here

In other games, Hedo Turkoglu's buzzer beater ended up beating the Celtics 96-93 in Orlando. This is the second time Orlando has taken out the team supposed to be top contender of the East. It shows the Celtics vulnerability to lose to top contenders in the Eastern Conference, so it's hard to see them knocking off a West Coast team in the Finals, should they even make it. There has been recent speculation that the Celtics may try to add Damon Stoudamire to the mix.

Also Sunday marked a battle between Lebron and Kobe. Despite a pause for a leaky roof, Lebron James got the best of Kobe at the Staples Center and the Cavs were victorious. Lebron scored a game high 41 points and Kobe led the Lakers with 33.

2008 Begins: Around the NBA

Just like 2007, all good things must come to an end. That includes the Jazz ending the Trailblazers' 13 game win streak. Utah 111-Portland 101. This makes the Pistons own one of the hottest streaks in the NBA.

The Magic pulled off a 112-110 win in OT against the struggling Bulls. Toronto edged out New Orleans 107-102 , and the Bobcats made a nice fourth quarter run to win their game.

Players of the week for last week, were Chris Paul and Paul Pierce. Paul had an incredible 40 point effort and Pierce had a 38 point effort as their teams added wins.

Kiki Vandeweghe returns to the NBA, this time in a top exec role with the NJ Nets.

TheStar.com discusses the upcoming mic check for Raptors' coach Sam Mitchell.

Boston Herald discusses how the Celtics are more than star power.

ESPN's Daily Dime looks back at 2007 and ahead to 2008 for the NBA.

How the NBA Gives Thanks

(Above: D Wade serves up Turkey meal courtesy of NBA.com)

The NBA and its players definitely lend a helping hand for Thanksgiving. Most NBA teams had their players serving food to those in need so they could enjoy a good traditional holiday meal. Here's how several of the teams give assistance to those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday.

- The Nets served Thanksgiving dinner at the Montclair Citadel Salvation Army.

- The TWolves served meals to Purple Heart recipients and military families of Minneapolis.

- The Pistons distributed meals throughout Pontiac, Michigan for Lighthouse charities.

- The Pacers gave holiday groceries and tickets to a Pacers game for families at the Pacers Academy.

- The Knicks are hosting food drives up until December 13 for NYC families in need.

- The Lakers served Turkey dinner to families at the LA Boys & Girls Club.

- The Bucks helped out at Milwaukee's House of Peace holiday dinner program.

- The Nuggets' Marcus Camby runs an annual "Cambyland Turkey Tour" and delivers dinners to families at the Boys & Girls Club.

You can check out a 22 image photo gallery of the above and more at NBA.com.

New Jersey Nets Preview

NBA.com has been featuring a behind the scenes look at the New Jersey Nets training camp. They have an extensive preview of the team here. This season should be an interesting one for the Nets in what looks to be a more competitive Eastern Conference. The Celtics, Magic and Knicks all added key players from the West to their squards, which instantly elevates their playoff chances. None of the 3 aforementioned teams made the postseason last year.

The Nets bring back their 3 main superstars in Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Half-Man, Half Amazing, Vince Carter. These three give a scoring advantage over most teams, but the one thing that continues to hurt New Jersey is its inside scoring game. Nenad Krstic is returning from a tough knee injury last season, and hoping to pick up where he left off. The success and improvement of the big man could be what leads the Nets to the playoffs, or keeps them watching at home.

The Nets also added another big man, in former all-star, Jamaal Magloire. Magloire is listed as a backup to Krstic and could provide a great relief player off the bench. Along with Magloire the Nets bench looks a bit deeper this season with sophomores Josh Boone and Marcus Williams as well as Boston Nachbar and Antoine Wright coming in to contribute. Marcus Williams has shown flashs of brilliance, and if Kidd has injury problems Williams could break out with a strong leadership role for the Nets.

Last season Vince Carter saw career highs, and Jason Kidd continued to run the show with many triple doubles. It will take more of the same this year, as well as a healthy squad to compete in the East. With 3 teams now capable of ousting last year's playoff teams from contention, the Nets will need to bring their top performances night in and out. Don't expect a Finals appearance, although a simulated version video game season says the Nets make Eastern finals.

Celtics Rout Nets 36-33?

In what seems like a charity football game score, the Boston Celtics defeated the New Jersey Nets 36-33 in a half of basketball at Worcester, Massachusetts. Ok, not really, the game was canceled after just a half. The game was called at the DCU Center due to "court conditions". The arena is traditionally used for minor league hockey games and dampness was seeping through up onto the court.

Smartly, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd were all listed as "DNP" (Did Not Play) for the game, preventing possible injuries. Boston Nachbar lead the way for the Nets, scoring 10 points, almost 1/3 of his team's total.

For the Celtics, the big three combined for 17 points (Ray Allen had 7, Garnett 6 and Pierce 4). The exhibition game lasted for just one hour.

The Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason contest Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun arena in Uncasville, CT.

Nets Get Magloire at Center

I've been a NJ Nets fan ever since the days of J-Kidd, K-Mart and Richard Jefferson. They had an exciting brand of ball and pushed the ball up the court fast like a West Coast style offense. They reached the NBA finals several times only to fall short to more superior West teams like the Lakers and Spurs.

After adding Vince Carter, the Nets assumed the 3 headed superstar star attack of Vince, Kidd and Jefferson, but the knock on them has always been they needed a solid center inside. Nenad Krstic has been developing nicely but his injury last year really hurt the team, especially because they didn't have much on their bench to replace him with.

Now the Nets have finally addressed their issue of a veteran center and have signed former All-star center, Jamaal Magloire. I think this is a great move for the Nets and finally gives them what they've been lacking, in terms of depth and a solid player upfront. Magloire is a seasoned veteran who could help them get past the 1st few rounds of the playoffs. If Nenad, Kidd, Jefferson and Carter stay healthy the Nets now have a deep rotation which includes sophomores Marcus Williams and Josh Boone as well as Eddie House. I'd give the Nets a solid chance, however other teams continue to add to their championship caliber teams, such as the Bulls who seem ready to make a serious push for the NBA Finals this season. Then you have the veteran teams of Detroit, Miami and Cleveland making the East look very interesting this season.