Nets News

"Kiki Vandeweghe always had a feeling he'd be in New Jersey longer than his original contract with the Nets called for, and he will be. He'll just have a different title now. Vandeweghe, who signed on to be team president Rod Thorn's special assistant on Dec.31, was promoted to general manager Thursday and received a long-term deal. "

"When the Nets brought Kiki Vandeweghe aboard as Rod Thorn's special assistant in December, they noted he was hired through the draft. Well, they didn't wait to promote Vandeweghe to the team's general manager. And now Vandeweghe says he has no intention of waiting to get the Nets back to a championship contender level, although it's not going to be easy. "

"Party-crashing NBA basketball star Richard Jefferson grabbed a man by the throat in a swanky downtown Minneapolis hotel and choked him until he briefly lost consciousness, according to charges filed today against the New Jersey Nets forward. Jefferson, 27, is charged with fifth-degree misdemeanor assault. His first court appearance has been scheduled for June 18 in connection with the 1:40 a.m. incident at the Graves Hotel's Infinity bar on Jan. 27."

"Nets forward Richard Jefferson was charged with misdemeanor assault Wednesday after an investigation involving an incident inside a Minneapolis hotel last January in which he allegedly choked a man to the point of unconsciousness. The incident, which occurred on Jan.27, early in the morning before the Nets' game against the Timberwolves, happened at the Graves 601 Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, where the team was staying."

"Forward Richard Jefferson n was charged with misdemeanor assault yesterday in Minneapolis municipal court for allegedly choking a man in an incident following the Nets' game in Minnesota Jan. 27."

"Nets forward Richard Jefferson was charged in a Minneapolis court Wednesday with choking a man who said Jefferson crashed his private birthday party in January. Jefferson was in Minneapolis for an N.B.A. game against the Timberwolves. The accusation came from Lyle Fox, who, according to a police report, said a hotel area had been roped off for the party. He said Jefferson entered the area, and when he was asked to leave, threw or pushed Fox onto a bench, grabbed him by the throat with both hands and began to choke him."

"It's almost time to close the 27-year-old Izod Center, according to a majority of 600 likely voters from New Jersey who participated in a poll commissioned by The Record. By a 55 percent to 37 percent margin, the respondents — three-quarters of whom were from the northern half of the state — said the Meadowlands arena should be shut down now that Newark's Prudential Center has been open for six months."

"The Nets are still on their way to Brooklyn. That was the message Nets owner Bruce Ratner had Thursday regarding speculation that his team may instead end up in Newark. According to a report in the Star-Ledger of Newark, Devils owner Jeffrey Vanderbeek and Newark Mayor Cory Booker are trying to gather investors to buy the Nets and move them to the Prudential Center, the new arena the Devils moved into last fall. "

"Rod Thorn called from New Jersey. Pat Riley left a voice message from Miami. One by one, the guys checked in, telling Byron Scott how happy they were for him, how much he deserved the N.B.A. coach of the year award and the taste of Western Conference playoff success after New Orleans’s five-game brush-off of Avery Johnson and Dallas. What a strangely connected, capricious world these men navigate. "

"Vince Carter's right ankle hampered him all season, and it was one of the biggest factors in the Nets' failure to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years. That's why Carter wasted little time and had the ankle surgically repaired Wednesday, one week after the Nets' final game. Carter underwent an arthroscopic procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, having "multiple loose bodies" and a bone spur removed, according to a statement released by the team. "

"Addressing a variety of topics in a season-ending meeting with reporters at the team's practice facility, Thorn did not reveal exact details of his plan to get the Nets back on track after they missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years. But he did suggest that Carter will be back despite calls from some to trade the star guard, who signed a four-year, $62 million contract last summer. He also said he would not be surprised if Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris and Nenad Krstic are back again, too."

"So change will be forthcoming, but Thorn stressed it doesn't mean a complete, total overhaul. He said he would be "comfortable" if the four main offensive pieces - Carter, Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris and Nenad Krstic - returned en masse."

"Rod Thorn promised changes, yet said he wouldn't be "surprised" if Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter remain teammates. Thorn said the Nets were not good defending on the perimeter or inside — what else is there? — yet the team president said he would be "comfortable" if the same nucleus returned. In both cases, Thorn added a you-never-know type of disclaimer during his postseason wrap-up with beat reporters Monday."

"The Nets, who have turned seasonal sponsorships into an art form, have made T-Mobile their partner for this year's NBA playoffs. Here's the unique part: the Nets aren't even in the playoffs, which began on Saturday and will continue into mid-June. So how did Nets Chief Executive Officer Brett Yormark manage this one, which is believed to be a first in professional sports?"

"The Nets expect to lose about $40 million in the just-completed season, with similar red ink expected annually for the basketball franchise's foreseeable future at the Izod Center. At the same time, the estimated cost of their proposed new building — the Barclays Center in Brooklyn — has soared to $950 million, or more than twice the price of any pro basketball or hockey arena ever built in the United States. At this rate, the Nets can't afford to stay in the Meadowlands — but can they afford to move to Brooklyn?"

"The Nets have been reluctant to pursue restricted free agents because their teams can match any offer, but they could get lucky. Atlanta's Josh Smith and Luol Deng would fit the Nets' needs."

"Package deal: Unless the Nets get impact players in the draft or someone gets hurt, their three rookie picks won't play. Package a pick or two and maybe a future No. 1 with Richard Jefferson and see what it gets."

"The Nets are headed into an offseason with more change looming than in any recent year. There will be draft picks at 10 (likely), 21 and 40. Bostjan Nachbar and DeSagana Diop are unrestricted free agents, and Nenad Krstic is restricted, so the Nets can match. All want to return. "

"The lone dissenter was Boki Nachbar, who is probably no better than 50-50 to return, because some eager shopper might throw more money at the free agent than the Nets are willing to spend."

"Richard Jefferson was pulling on his dress socks in front of his locker after a 105-94 loss at Boston Wednesday night when he was asked if there was any relief in having the Nets' disappointing season finally come to an end. Jefferson, who had reached the playoffs in each of his first six seasons - including a pair of appearances in the Finals - hardly hesitated before saying, "There's never any relief. "You always have hope that things are going to go better, so relief is definitely not the case," Jefferson said. "I wish we had more games to try to make it." "

"The honest-to-gosh last game of the 2007-08 season of agony came and went for the Nets in a 105-94 defeat against the Celtics here last night, and both Vince Carter and Bostjan Nachbar were involved. Even if their last games of the season should have been about a month ago. Both are headed for MRIs on their respective ailments, Carter on his right ankle and Nachbar on his lower back. Carter then likely will head for arthroscopic surgery to clean out loose bodies in the ankle, but he maintained last night no decision has been made."

"When the NBA schedule was released last summer, Wednesday night's game between the Nets and Celtics was a matchup circled by many who believed the two teams would battle it out for the Atlantic Division title. After a 105-94 loss to Boston that ends the regular season, the Nets are going home and the Celtics are moving on as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Boston will play the Hawks in the opening round. "

"This nightly Leon Powe showcase is inspiring - last night he shook the crowd with a career-high 27 points - but Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are starting to look out of place on the bench. So it was with gratitude and anticipation that the Celtics closed out the regular season last night with a 105-94 win against New Jersey for a rare, 4-0 series sweep of the Nets."

"The Celtics won 24 games and had their eyes on the draft lottery last season. But with the addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the offseason, among others, Boston went from laughingstock to the NBA's best record in one year. So instead of dreaming about the top draft pick, the Celtics are dreaming of winning their 17th NBA championship. Boston finished the regular season with a 105-94 win over New Jersey last night at sold-out TD Banknorth Garden during Fan Appreciation Night."

"The Nets will be looking to make significant changes. But one of those changes won't involve the coach, as team president Rod Thorn has repeatedly endorsed Lawrence Frank."

"The Nets will have to decide this summer whether Krstic, a restricted free agent, is still a key player. They also have decisions to make on two unrestricted free agents, Bostjan Nachbar and DeSagana Diop."

"In the second half they did. So they staged a furious comeback, needed overtime and won, 112-108, to assure their seventh straight season with a winning home record (21-20), one of the few areas of consolation in a campaign that ends tonight in Boston and sees them out of the playoffs for the first time in seven years."

"Then during the third and fourth quarters, you hardly knew he was there: 0-of-6 shooting and two points, paving the road to a 112-108 overtime loss at Izod Center. The Bobcats (31-50) squandered a 20-point lead to guarantee they'll finish with fewer victories than last season. "

"Sean Williams has played a grand total of 85 seconds in his last three games, including sitting for all of the Nets' last two games, a 113-85 loss to Toronto on Friday and a 111-98 win over Milwaukee on Saturday. But according to coach Lawrence Frank, that should change tonight, as the Nets host Charlotte in their final home game of the 2007-08 season. "

"They came out of North Carolina in 1998, top-10 picks and draft-day trade counterparts. Antawn Jamison, a power forward and national player of the year, had led his Tar Heels to the NCAA semifinals. Shooting guard Vince Carter was his sidekick."

"Success in the business of pro basketball is all about adapting. From the start of his career, point guard Devin Harris has understood that."

" Barring divine intervention, Larry Krystkowiak, Marc Iavaroni and Jim Boylan are days away from dismissal by the Bucks, Grizzlies and Bulls, respectively. Two others on Uneasy Street, Lawrence Frank and Sam Vincent, recently received votes of confidence - from Nets president Rod Thorn and Bobcats owner Bob Johnson, respectively. "

"No one took the Nets missing out on the playoffs harder than Lawrence Frank. He apologized to everyone, from ownership to management to the people who sell tickets to the fans, and vowed it wouldn't happen again. All indications are that Frank will get a chance to make good on his word, and that tonight's home finale against Charlotte won't be the Teaneck native's home finale as Nets' coach."

"Richard Jefferson is the only player remaining from the Nets' back-to-back Finals appearances and the years when they were a perennial contender in the East. Those days are gone. And Jefferson was in no mood to look back before Saturday night's 111-98 win over the Bucks."

"After conducting his introductory news conference late Saturday afternoon, Hammond watched the Bucks for the first time as a member of the organization in their 111-98 loss to the New Jersey Nets at the Bradley Center. It was the Bucks' sixth straight defeat."

"But at least two players, two of the young frontcourt guys, have questions of their own. Nenad Krstic headed for restricted free agency, wonders if he'll be back - which is his preference. And rookie forward Sean Williams just wants to know where he stands and what the Nets think of him."

"Still, Jefferson is an asset, and would inspire significant interest in trade talks. Teams from Phoenix to Toronto would love to have him. He can be moved to Utah for Andrei Kirilenko (and perhaps Paul Millsap) with one phone call. He can probably be moved to L.A. for Lamar Odom if the Lakers conclude that a 6-10 small forward isn't necessary with two 7-footers in the starting lineup."

"The futures of Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson are in question as well as those of several other members of a Nets team that fell far short of expectations and will miss the playoffs for the first time in seven years."

"Even if the Nets didn't collapse in the second half here in their 113-85 defeat to the Raptors, the Hawks would have ended the misery by beating the Knicks. Three games, including tonight at Milwaukee, remain for the Nets before they enter what should be an off-season of unending activity."

"With a 113-85 loss to the Raptors, the Nets were finally eliminated from the playoff race, making this season the first since 2000-2001 - the year before Kidd arrived - that they won't be playing in the postseason."

"Instead, the Raptors are revelling in a rise to sixth place in the East, their fans are overjoyed at the grief they caused Vince Carter and that confidence that seemed so shaky about a week ago now abounds. "Guys were ready to get out of their slump and that's everybody," T.J. Ford said after the Raptors shredded Carter and the Nets 113-85 at the Air Canada Centre. "

"In addition, the Nets never showed a willingness to attack the paint or get to the foul line, contributing factors that allowed the Raptors to take control en route to a 113-85 win."

"Bosh delivered on his end of the bargain, his teammates followed right along and the 32nd sellout of the season at the Air Canada Centre was wired for sound on the way to a 113-85 win over the New Jersey Nets and the man Raptors fans love to hate, Vince Carter."

" "Obviously, it's real frustrating because you don't want to get used to this," said Harris, who has experienced a 10-16 (.385) record with the Nets since the Feb. 19 trade - and that record contains one more defeat than the Mavs suffered in all of 2006-07 (67-15). "It's not like we're just stinking it up every night. We play well then give up leads. It's hard to continue to fight uphill." And a lot of the Nets' agony is self-inflicted, Harris contends. "

"As a member of the Dallas Mavericks last year, Devin Harris lost 15 games in the regular season. Since coming to the Nets on Feb.19, Harris already has tasted defeat 16 times. And while the way his season ended a year ago was disappointing - the top-seeded Mavs were knocked out by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs - nothing compares to what Harris is dealing with now with his new team. "

"Now, everything must go perfectly. The Nets can't lose, and the Hawks can't win. If either happens, the Nets' run of six straight playoff appearances is over. Face it, it's over. If you saw them last night, perfect was not in the vocabulary. Playoff improbability became virtual impossibility as the Nets staged another stunning shooting drought - going 2-of-28 in a third-to-fourth- quarter span that included misfires on their last 19 shots - as the Cavs rode 33 points from LeBron James to a 104-83 victory here last night. "

"Richard Jefferson is aware of the inevitable but refuses to acknowledge it publicly. Instead, he continues to call himself "optimistic" and "positive." But for the first time since he has been a Net, Jefferson has little reason to be either - at least when it comes to the fate of his team. After losing to the Cavaliers on Wednesday night, 104-83, the Nets could finally be put out of their misery on Friday; even if they beat the Raptors in Toronto, they would be eliminated from the playoffs if the Hawks beat the Knicks at the Garden. "

"For one more night at least, the Nets are still playing for now. And part of the reason Vince Carter is still playing this season is so that he can have a positive influence on the team's future."

"The Nets could be officially eliminated from the playoffs with a loss in Cleveland tonight. Only a Memphis Tigers-style collapse by both Atlanta and Indiana would allow the Nets to get into the postseason."

"By the time the Nets return from their three-game road trip to Cleveland, Toronto and Milwaukee, they will either be eliminated from the playoffs or on the verge of something amazing."