subject: New Jersey Nets Tickets - Looking Forward [print this page] Hopefully New Jersey Nets fans can see it; it's the light at the end of the tunnel. The Nets set the record for the most consecutive losses to start a season this year, but there are plenty of reasons for fans of the team to be optimistic. This franchise is certainly not in dire straits from a long-term perspective, and I actually believe that this organization could be a bright spot in the league within a couple of seasons.
First of all, the current roster is not as bad as the team's record might suggest. The Nets experienced an injury to their best player, point guard Devin Harris, early this season. Harris should be the team's leading scorer by season's end and his presence and leadership was sorely missed. The Nets also lost their big acquisition in the Vince Carter trade (guard Courtney Lee) to injury in the early going. Those two players make up the team's starting backcourt. I think most teams would struggle if they lost their starting backcourt, especially a team as young as this one.
Nobody was expecting the Nets to win a title this season. The club is rebuilding, and they've assembled some great bricks with which to build. Harris and Lee are both very promising players. Harris is a lightning-quick point guard with above-average scoring ability for the position. His playmaking skills are still developing, but he's already pretty solid in that respect. Lee is a versatile two-guard who can do a little bit of everything. He is a good outside shooter, can put the ball on the floor, is a good passer and has the potential to be a very good defender.
New Jersey also has Brook Lopez, who, in only his second season in the pros, is already one of the top centers in the Eastern Conference. Lopez has a knack for putting the ball in the basket and is steadily improving as a rebounder and a defender. He's got the potential to be a perennial 20-10 guy.
With three very promising young players, the future already looks bright, but one must figure that the team is going to add another elite youngster through the 2010 draft. The Nets are on track to land a top five pick, perhaps even the first overall selection. This kind of draft position should get them another stud player. Two guys that would look to be great fits on this team are Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors and North Carolina's Ed Davis. Favors is a talented freshman power forward that has garnered comparisons to Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard for his elite athleticism.
Pairing him and Lopez down low could result in many more victories in 2010-11 and would certainly increase the demand for New Jersey Nets tickets. Davis would probably be a good backup plan if Favors wasn't available. The Tar Heel power forward has shown himself to be a really good rebounder and defender with a good touch around the rim. Either of these players would fill the void at the four and add to the young core of this developing team.
One must also keep in mind that the Nets will have a significant amount of cap space this summer and could be a destination for free agents. Could the team potentially land a LeBron James or Chris Bosh? I wouldn't rule it out considering the young talent on this roster. Even a free agent below the top tier of names, such as Carlos Boozer, could be a great addition to this team.
I love the direction in which the Nets are heading, and there are good things on the horizon for this organization. When keeping in mind the young talent, the potential draft position and their salary cap space, a lot can change for this team in the near future.
