A Thorn on Their Side
Once upon time, the Nets wasted draft picks on stiffs like Yinka Dare. Players with modest talent such as Chris Morris had the gall to put in writing “trade me” on their sneakers. Players with more talent however not nearly as a lot of as they thought, like Stephon Marbury, wrote “All Alone” on their ankle tape. And throughout all this, fans and New York media alike responded with Derrick Coleman-like enthusiasm: whoop-de-damn doo.
Then when the 1999-00 season, Rod Thorn took over a Nets team that desperately needed somebody along with his professionalism and player analysis skills. Rod Thorn’s initial major move was to pick Kenyon Martin as the number one decide within the draft. While Martin suffered through an injury-plagued first season, by his second season he was a serious defensive presence and an enormous half of their running offense.
In 1984, Rod Thorn created what was clearly his best draft pick while GM of the Bulls, choosing Michael Jordan. But, in 2001, after having one full season to judge the Nets’ needs, Rod Thorn had what would have to be considered the simplest off-season of his career. The Nets written Eddie Griffin and then turned around and dealt him for 3 picks that they turned into Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong.
Richard Jefferson was one in all the Nets’ brightest stars. A nice athlete who plays outstanding defense, Jefferson is also one among the league’s best scorers, getting 19.5 points on fewer than 13 shots a night. Jason Collins doesn’t wow you if you have a look at the stat sheet, but he does so several little things when he is on the court, he is well revered by his teammates and thought of a winner throughout the league. Brandon Armstrong, a reported sharp-shooter who will’t shoot, offered less of an impact.
But it had been Thorn’s trade that off-season that actually turned things around. Thorn traded proficient but selfish potential superstar Stephon Marbury for an older Jason Kidd. Kidd instantly energized the franchise, guaranteeing a winning record the year he joined the franchise. Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, and Keith Van Horn immediately improved their game and Jefferson and Collins’ NBA initiation couldn’t have gone smoother with Jason Kidd leading the charge. The reenergized franchise made it to the NBA Finals in each 2002 and 2003, ultimately losing to additional proficient Western Conference foes (Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs).
Thorn made a number of errors along the approach in his quest to seek out a real center. He traded Keith Van Horn for a miscast Dikeme Mutombo, who never fit in with the Nets running vogue, and then signed Alonzo Mourning to a terrible 4-year, twenty-million-dollar contract only to determine him miss most of the season because of his kidney ailment. But, the Nets appear as if they have finally found their center in Nenad Krstic whom they written in 2002 and stashed in Europe for 2 years to develop his game. Krstic has become an offensive force for the present Nets, averaging 13.five points per game on a better than fifty% FG percentage.
Thorn conjointly saved the Nets’ organization when they were in danger of sliding back into the abyss. Faced with demands from possession to cut costs, Thorn shipped off Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, and Lucious Harris. Fans were outraged, but Denver is currently stuck with Martin’s bloated contract, and Kerry Kittles is semi-retired when enjoying only 11 games last year. Thorn created the correct choice in Richard Jefferson over Kenyon Martin, and then created another great move by stealing Vince Carter from Toronto for the incredible bargain price of Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning (who refused to suit up for Toronto), and a few harmless draft picks.
The Nets begin their series against the Miami Heat equipped with three superstars acquired by Thorn and a budding fourth in Krstic, conjointly written by Thorn. Whereas you’ll quibble with his bench selections that backfired this year (Mark Jackson and Jeff McInnis), the Nets are surely thrilled to have this Thorn on their side.
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