Quote:
|
Originally Posted by GMJigga
True, if you're referencing his decision to not pay KMart.
However he's since said he'd go over the cap to sign players (meant primarily at Carter, could also secondarily mean Krstic too but thats my assumption).
Kidd and Jefferson, the big 3, represent the face of the franchise. He'll keep them for the same reason as Carter. Especially if they're playing well and winning games.
On a similar note I've got the belief that Ratner will not be the owner for long. Once Brooklyn is completed he'll have his housing development that he piggy-backed off the move to brooklyn and he'll cut this 'boat' loose. You think he'd want to sink it for kicks before he left?
|
I am referencing his basketball IQ-less allegiance to Vince Carter. His decision to keep Vince Carter instead of Richard Jefferson. His unfounded assumption that Vince Carter will put more butts in seats than wins will.
Vince is a star on the decline. Regardless of his box score averages, his marketing numbers are down...jersey sales, shoe sales, all-star votes, etc.
Say all you want about Nets attendance numbers during the 01-04 playoff runs. Nets have only been a consistently good team for the past 6 years. It takes time to build a fan base, especially when there is an already established team competing in the same market. To add to that, the Nets are trying to draw in a less densely populated area: North Jersey vs Manhattan. Add to that the number of businesses looking to buy tickets, again, where Manhattan has an extreme advantage.
In addition, do not forget the fact that Brett Yormark has jump-started the Nets as well. The rise in attendance has been steady from before he got here. However, his strategies have been the major factor in the dramatic increase in season ticket holders, not Vince Carter. In fact, I was in Brooklyn Heights on Monday, and a doctor who parked behind me on the street saw my Nets license plate holder. She asked me about season tickets etc and was thinking about getting tickets in NJ so she could have better pick in Brooklyn.
Any correlation between Vince Carter and attendance is minor and difficult to prove. While having Vince Carter definitely helps, Jason Kidd is still the face of this franchise and losing Kidd would be the only player that would significantly affect revenue. Not KMart, not RJ, not Carter. And the effect of losing Kidd would still be minimal, with the momentum Yormark has created.
Now, if it were only basketball decisions that factored in, I think the smartest move would be to keep Vince, RJ, and Kidd unless Garnett or Brand are available. Brand will probably not be, so Garnett is the only choice. My opinion is that anything short of Garnett will not improve the team.