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**schub** · 07-03-2004, 07:06 AM

Quote:

"The cost-cutting is totally exaggerated," he said. "Look, every team makes decisions as to what are the best players for this particular group to work together, play together, and how do you do that in a cost-effective way? Sometimes that means trading someone much more needed by another team, you know, and saving some money so we can keep other players."

Outlining his plans, he said:

¶He hoped to retain the Nets' three key players - Jason Kidd, the free agent Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson.

¶The Nets' chief executive officer, Rod Thorn, and General Manager Ed Stefanski would remain the decision makers, with ownership providing a final word but submitting to the consensus of the basketball staff.

¶He was willing to take a financial loss next season to keep the team intact.

¶He believed the Nets would be a profitable enterprise when the team eventually moves to Brooklyn, where he plans to build a new arena as part of a complex that will also include offices and housing.

Well, the Kool-Aid tastes nice, but I'm still waiting for the pudding.

More articles at NetsDaily.

ToddMacCulloch11 · 07-03-2004, 07:42 AM

That makes me feel better...now we just need the actual resigning of kmart to happen..

**jmk** · 07-03-2004, 07:55 AM

There was one thing I didn't see in there. The MLE. The LLE. Anything about free agency other than Kenyon. Bringing in Damon Jones would probably be enough to staisfy me, but I'd like to see some talk about if we plan to sign anyone.

Charlie Brown · 07-03-2004, 09:04 AM

With Kidd possibly missing games, maybe Rafer Alston would consider the Nets. I would love for the Nets to pick him up.

**schub** · 07-03-2004, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jmk!
There was one thing I didn't see in there. The MLE. The LLE. Anything about free agency other than Kenyon. Bringing in Damon Jones would probably be enough to staisfy me, but I'd like to see some talk about if we plan to sign anyone.

Quote:

Ratner said while personnel decisions reside primarily with Thorn and GM Ed Stefanski, he would use the $5.1 million mid-level exception if convinced it would help the team.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/nets/17746.htm

**schub** · 07-03-2004, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PSUmtj112!
With Kidd possibly missing games, maybe Rafer Alston would consider the Nets. I would love for the Nets to pick him up.

I kind of doubt it. Still nothing concrete on how much time Kidd will miss, if any, and with Planinic here, Alston can find a lot more playing time elsewhere.

Charlie Brown · 07-03-2004, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by schub!

I kind of doubt it. Still nothing concrete on how much time Kidd will miss, if any, and with Planinic here, Alston can find a lot more playing time elsewhere.

That's true re: Planinic, unless the Nets plan to give him more minutes at the 2.

NYCbballFan · 07-03-2004, 08:00 PM

If the Nets pursued Alston or even a Damon Jones at a higher cost, such as the MLE, it would imply a management/coaching belief he fits the back-up PG role.

On the part of either Alston or Jones, coming off the 03-04 season, do you think either of them believes he wouldn't beat out Planinic for the job? That's not to say ZP won't earn the job in his 2nd season, but based on standing track record, we're not talking about Marquis Daniels. I doubt prospecting free agent PGs at this point are discouraged by Planinic.

**schub** · 07-04-2004, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NYCbballFan!
If the Nets pursued Alston or even a Damon Jones at a higher cost, such as the MLE, it would imply a management/coaching belief he fits the back-up PG role.

On the part of either Alston or Jones, coming off the 03-04 season, do you think either of them believes he wouldn't beat out Planinic for the job? That's not to say ZP won't earn the job in his 2nd season, but based on standing track record, we're not talking about Marquis Daniels. I doubt prospecting free agent PGs at this point are discouraged by Planinic.

Alston or Jones would beat out Planinic, but the Nets aren't going to let Planinic rot on the bench. He's a first round pick. He has obvious talent, and just needs experience, so he will still eat at any other PG's playing time. I like Jones, though, because he'd be more suited to play alongside both Zoran or Kidd.

Charlie Brown · 07-04-2004, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by schub!

Alston or Jones would beat out Planinic, but the Nets aren't going to let Planinic rot on the bench. He's a first round pick. He has obvious talent, and just needs experience, so he will still eat at any other PG's playing time. I like Jones, though, because he'd be more suited to play alongside both Zoran or Kidd.

Jones would be great too.

To be honest, I am just ready for some new players on the bench. For whatever reason the Nets bench was stale last year.

NYCbballFan · 07-04-2004, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by schub!

Alston or Jones would beat out Planinic, but the Nets aren't going to let Planinic rot on the bench. He's a first round pick. He has obvious talent, and just needs experience, so he will still eat at any other PG's playing time. I like Jones, though, because he'd be more suited to play alongside both Zoran or Kidd.

It's not like Planinic was a lottery pick. If the Nets sign a more-expensive back-up point, which in itself would indicate a judgement about Planinic's prospects at PG, how would the Nets justify guaranteeing a regular PG role to Planinic before the season began? He certainly hasn't earned it yet. If Planinic doesn't show any more staying power than he did last season, when there was no other viable PG on the roster, it doesn't make sense to play him any more than last season.

Armstrong was a low 1st round pick, too, and at this point, Planinic hasn't shown up as a better prospect than Armstrong did, despite greater opportunities in his rookie year. Again, if the team makes a decision about not bringing in a quality PG in deference to Planinic, that's one thing, but I doubt Planinic's presence is scaring away any free agent PGs from looking into the Nets.

**schub** · 07-04-2004, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NYCbballFan!
It's not like Planinic was a lottery pick. If the Nets sign a more-expensive back-up point, which in itself would indicate a judgement about Planinic's prospects at PG, how would the Nets justify guaranteeing a regular PG role to Planinic before the season began?

Not a guaranteed role. Just guaranteed minutes. A judgement of his prospects can't be made yet, with the limited minutes he played last year. Even still, he played much better in the last month of the season when Kidd was out.

He certainly hasn't earned it yet. If Planinic doesn't show any more staying power than he did last season, when there was no other viable PG on the roster, it doesn't make sense to play him any more than last season.

Quote:

Originally posted by NYCbballFan!
Armstrong was a low 1st round pick, too, and at this point, Planinic hasn't shown up as a better prospect than Armstrong did, despite greater opportunities in his rookie year. Again, if the team makes a decision about not bringing in a quality PG in deference to Planinic, that's one thing, but I doubt Planinic's presence is scaring away any free agent PGs from looking into the Nets.

Big difference between Armstrong and Planinic. Armstrong was the 3rd of 3 first round picks, where Planinic was their #1. They were set on him for a long time before the draft, and had him stop working out for other teams. And Planinic has shown more talent than Armstrong ever has.

Planinic alone won't scare away point guards, but the combined presence of Kidd and Planinic sure can.

**Aurelino** · 07-04-2004, 08:09 PM

To be fair to Zoran, I don't think he had the most encouraging environment around him when Scott was the coach. Give him a full season to work with Frank and I am sure he will blossom

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