NBA Finances - New Jersey Nets
Monday, May 19th, 2008 by Robert Smith
New Jersey Nets
Definitely back next year – 9 players
Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson – Both guys are locked in for another 3 years for a total of over $94 million. They represent the central core of this team, and now with Jason Kidd gone, it’s up to the Nets to rebuild around them.
Devin Harris – 1yr & $7.8 million – That is starter’s money. He has next year to prove he’s the Nets’ point guard of the future. The Nets also have young, former first rounder Marcus Williams pushing up behind Harris. Next year will be telling.
Stromile Swift and Trenton Hassell – Swift came over in the trade with Memphis, and he has a player option for $6.2 million right now, which he will certainly exercise because nobody else on this planet will pay him anywhere near that much. This $6.2 million represents the end of his current contract that overpaid him in Memphis, Houston, Memphis again, and now New Jersey. He’s still a young guy and he’s a phenomenal athlete, so he should look at next season as an opportunity to get another contract, or an extension on his current deal. He could make the Nets rotation; maybe even as a starter. He has that kind of talent. He’s just yet to prove he has that kind of brains. Hassell came in the Kidd trade with Dallas. He’s got two years and $8.7 million left. The second year of that is a player option, which he’ll very likely exercise. That’s way more than he’s worth unless he cracks the regular rotation next year; which is actually highly possible. He doesn’t score much, but he’s a tough defender, and a veteran presence. These two will either be valuable role players next year, or trade bait.
Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, and Maurice Ager – These 3 are in the exact same situation, having just completed the 2nd year of their rookie scale contracts. The team option has already been picked up on them for a third year, so they’re all 3 back next year. The 4th year is also a team option, and at the end of the 4th year, they’ll become restricted free agents. None of the 3 make a huge amount of money; all of them falling between $1 and $1.2 million next year. Boone is a starter already, Williams is penciled in as Devin Harris’s back-up, while Ager hasn’t cracked the rotation yet, but he’s a nice-looking athlete with an apparent upside.
Sean Williams – He’ll be in the 2nd year of his rookie scale next year. His rookie scale money is a little more than the 3 listed above because he was drafted higher. It’s still not a huge amount (about $1.5 next year).
Might be back next year
Bostjan Nachbar & Desagana Diop – They’re both un-restricted free agents. The Nets need both of them for depth reasons. They will both expect raises. Other teams will likely be interested in their services and will come with offers. You do the math. Nachbar made $2.5 million last year, and Diop made $2.15. As important role players, they could both try to at least double that, and are in pretty good negotiating position to do so, particularly Nachbar because he represents the only outside shooting depth on the Nets’ bench besides point guard Marcus Williams.
Darrell Armstrong – The resident “wonder if he retires this year” veteran. If he doesn’t, and wants to come back for the veteran’s minimum next year, it’s worth it for the Nets just to have him on the practice floor and in the locker room. Chances are though, his career is over.
Nenad Krstic – He’s a restricted free agent and the Nets’ qualifying offer is $2.8 million. This is the situation the Nets are most worried about this off-season. When he’s healthy, he’s a starting center. He doesn’t dominate anyone, but he can put up solid numbers; certainly worth more than $2.8 million. He’s going to get offers, and the Nets will have the option to match them. This is why they’re nervous. They can’t control how much another team offers him. This situation could also screw Diop. If the Nets have to pay too much to keep Krstic, it will limit the amount they can offer him.
Overall state of affairs
The Nets are in pretty good shape right now. They weren’t going anywhere with Kidd, and dumping his franchise player salary gave them some new-found breathing room financially. They have no contracts currently that would be considered harmful, and the only long-term deals they have out there are with Jefferson and Carter. They’re in a good position to negotiate. Krstic, Nachbar, and Diop are their off-season concerns, and in that order.
Tags: devan harris, jason kidd, josh boone, marcus williams, richard jefferson, vince carter
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2 Responses to “NBA Finances - New Jersey Nets”
Tkitna
Another good article. The Nets are definatly in the rebuilding stages, but I hope it takes them awhile.
As King Albert mentioned, I also thought Swift would do more in the NBA, but he has had a prolonged career so far and I suppose that says something.
King Albert
Very informative article. The nets seem to me that they should try a youth movement. I remember when Swift came out of LSU I thought he was one of the most talented players in years but he never panned out.