Wilkens

Opening Statement: We've had a pretty good training camp. Players came in in good shape, a minimum amount of injuries. Vince Carter is 100 percent, very eager to get going. Alvin Williams, who had surgery over the summer, also is very healthy and playing good. Antonio Davis is back, certainly Jerome Williams will be here and we've added a few players. Over the summer we added Lindsey Hunter to our team, who had a very good camp with us. Lamond Murray also, we're working him in, and he's had a good camp and so we look forward to the season. We think that we're going to be a good solid team. It may take awhile to get the new players acclimated. Jelani McCoy is playing with us right now and has had a good camp and preseason so far. Certainly, we'll miss not having Keon Clark. That's a huge loss for us, but it's one we'll have to deal with.

Q: How will adding Lamond Murray help Vince Carter?

Wilkens: Lamond is an outstanding offensive player. He can make outside shots, we can certainly post him up as well. I think that he brings an offensive dimension to our team and certainly will help everybody, not just Vince, but it will help everyone else.

Q: What about positioning? Will you need to trade anyone?

Wilkens: We'll see. We'll have to see what happens. At this point in time, we've got three or four guys there (at center): Nate Huffman, Mamadou N'daiye and Jelani McCoy. Certainly at times when the lineup goes small, we can rotate and put Antonio Davis there. So we'll see, but Jelani has so far been the best of the three big guys, so we'll see what happens.

Q: After coaching Dikembe Mutombo in Atlanta, what did you think of the trade to New Jersey?

Wilkens: I think Dikembe will do a great job. First of all, he's a defensive presence that has to be reckoned with. He'll block shots, he'll rebound and he'll get the ball out to you. That won't stop them from running. They can still run; he just won't be the guy finishing on a fast break. But Dikembe will do whatever he can to help the team win, and I thought it was a tremendous acquisition. You know, he's a real presence that has to be reckoned with in the middle.

Q: Do you think this makes them (Nets) the team to beat in the East?

Wilkens: No question they are one of the teams to beat. Based on that and also how they performed last year. I think Jason is the best at pushing the ball up the court because he makes people effective, he finds people, he keeps the pressure on people. He just had an outstanding year, and I think he's very key to that whole team.

Q: What role will Lamond Murray play?

Wilkens: He's going to make a contribution. Whether he's the first guy or second guy, I don't know at this point. A lot of times that depends on game circumstances. I mean if Alvin Williams got in foul trouble, you bring someone in to replace Alvin. So we'll have to see, but certainly he's going to be an integral part of our team. I like what he does, he's had a good camp and I think he'll get even better.

Q: How disappointed are you that you don't have Hakeem Olajuwon?

Wilkens: Hakeem has to make the decision that's in the best interest for him, and I respect that. That's as far as it goes. I'm not gonna sit here; I'm gonna deal with what I have. Whatever decision he makes, I'll respect that.

Q: In signing him last year though, is he someone you thought would be around for a while?

Wilkens: Like I said, this is what it is. I'm going to deal with what is and not what I think or wanted. That's not important at this time. What's important to me as a coach is getting my team ready to play.