Thorn Talks Offseason, with Optimism
April 19, 2010
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—The season of struggle has given way to an offseason of optimism. Uncertain though it might be, the future is bright for the New Jersey Nets. Much hinges on uncontrolled odds (Draft Lottery), good decisions (the Draft) and a mutual belief in the potential of just how new everything can be next year in Newark (free agency), and at this early stage, all possibilities are in play.
This excites Nets President Rod Thorn, who said in a Monday conference call that the “real work starts now.” The next three touchstones will be getting a coach, seeing what transpires in the draft and free agency and furthering the development of returning players who showed improvement as the season progressed. As each step is achieved, the team could quickly ascend into a contender.
“It depends on what we do this summer,” Thorn said. “Obviously the 18th of May is an important day for us. That’s the day the lottery will be determined. If we get fortunate, we should be able to get a very good player. And even if we don’t get fortunate we should be able to get a very good player. (Then there’s) who we end up with coaching-wise. And with free agency, there are a lot of players out there.”
Though the team’s ownership change remains pending until the NBA offers final approval (which itself depends on vacant possession being established at the Barclays Center construction site in Brooklyn), Thorn says he will return unless he hears otherwise, and will be making the coaching hire. Until the ownership transfer takes place, Thorn’s focus will be completing the preliminary work involved.
The coaching search has begun its earliest phases, with Thorn analyzing his options and ascertaining which of his targets are interested. He’ll begin the interview process within the next few weeks, and intends to have someone in place before the draft, though he hedged against that being a definite timetable.
“Somebody who has defensive presence, who understands what you have to do to get players to play together and improve their individual defense, is someone you have to look at,” Thorn said. “Someone who’s a leader, who can get guys to play to whatever their max is. You have to look at somebody who has respect of players. And can get the best out of players.”
Thorn hopes to see the team improve on not only its defense (108.0 efficiency, 25th) and rebounding (-4.3 differential, 26th), but also its passing. The Nets finished the season last in the league with 18.8 assists per game, which was compounded by poor shooting (.429 FG%, 30th; .318 3P%, 29th), though Thorn credited Terrence Williams’ late-season surge for improving the ball movement.
After an up-and-down beginning to his pro career, the rookie swingman exploded in the final six weeks of the season, a stretch that culminated with the NBA honoring him in April as the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. During the 22 games played by the Nets in March and April, Williams averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting .438 (.316 3P%) in 32.5 minutes.
Thorn said that if Williams aims to become a “really good player in this league,” he should focus on his shot and his defense. Only one other player was specifically mentioned: sophomore standout Brook Lopez, who averaged team-leading totals of 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
“He has a big upside, he certainly got better and in these areas – he became a better passer, No. 1, because of all the double-teams he got,” Thorn said. “He still needs work on when he puts the ball on the floor and the double team comes at him; he needs to cut down on turnovers. As you can see with (All-NBA Magic center) Dwight Howard, it’s easier to take big people out of the game offensively than it is people who play out on the court. If you’re committed to double-teaming people in the post you can make it tough on him.”
With all the attention turning to the players yet to join the squad, Thorn underplayed the potential impact those additions might have on the returning core, indicating that changes are inevitable after a 12-win season. Thorn said that several distinguished themselves and will be part of the mix going forward, and he hopes their confidence remains unaffected through any transactions.
The first three to come will be decisions on the 2010 options held by the team (Chris Douglas-Roberts and Keyon Dooling) and backup forward Kris Humphries, who played well after arriving in the January deal that sent Eduardo Najera to Dallas. Thorn said that while the team will have to wait on Humphries to choose, it’s likely the Dooling and Douglas-Roberts decisions will come as late in the process as possible, in order to maximize flexibility and gauge the full context of available moves entering the draft.
From there, it’s a full-court press on free agency, and everyone knows the names at the top have enticed teams league-wide to clear cap space underneath the estimated $56 million threshold. The Nets – currently committed to approximately $22 million in salary next season (assuming Humphries re-signs) – trail only the Knicks as far as flexibility, yet realize that the number of teams able to offer a “max” contract limits the potential return; backup plans must be in place, because not everyone can land their No. 1 option.
“Those are decisions you have to make,” Thorn said. “Not everybody is going to get one of the top guys, and chances are many of the top guys aren’t going to move anyway. So you look at a combination that might help you – it might not be one of the top names out there – but you figure out if that’s way you want to go.
He continued: “That’s what everyone with money is trying to figure out between now and July 1. There are nine teams with at least $15 Million, and a couple teams that can sign two max guys if they want to. Competition is very stiff out there. And we have to look at every free agent, determine whether they can help us, determine what our interest should be. Because in essence, we’re trying to build a team. We need depth as well as players who are, quote-unquote, a cut above.”
