International Flavor, But What's To Savor?

Oh, dear me...it looks like the Nets are going to fill their roster with "serviceable veterans" after the signings of Eddie Najera and Jarvis Hayes brings the roster to 15. Seems like about 13 of those 15 are forwards or centers, so perhaps the plan by Thorn and Vanderweghe is to corner the market on big men, and hope that some team needs what the Nets have and will want to deal with NJ.

Or not, because frankly, there is no way this can be over (and Thorn even said so himself).

I'm a bit baffled by the signing of Hayes, who has never done much in the "making an impression" department. Supposedly he can shoot, but really, is this an upgrade over Boki Nachbar (and I've read the pros and cons from everyone out there already - perhaps Thorn thought that Boki was a permanent bad back waiting to happen after last season?)? Frankly, I think not. Let's hope this guy doesn't wind up as the 14th man, because that's an awful lot of money to spend on a guy who is as inconsistent as they come.

Najera I understand. Not only is a solid front line player, good soldier and even a decent three point shooter, but he's the league's only Mexican born player, which fits right in with the Nets new motto - "hey, we may not challenge for a playoff berth, but we'll be able to market to any ethnicity in the tri-state area". Eddie's hard-nosed and frankly we don't understand why Mark Cuban didn't want him back (and seriously overpay for him) in Dallas.

So, Eddie got a 4 year deal, that puts him into the 2010 "let's sign LeBron" fantasy camp. He's likely front loaded on his contract so that he doesn't screw up the cap space, but we're still wondering if this is the best way to rebuild the team.

I guess it is if you are refusing to take large losses, but then again, if the team stinks, won't it just be harder to get fans into the Izod?

Jarvis Hayes? Ok, I'll stop repeating his name now, and accept that this may be this year's Jeff MacInnis. Wouldn't the money have been better spent on a backup combo guard like Keyon Dooling (and I am no fan of his either, but he's got to be a better signing than Hayes).

I did read some optimism over the past day about the Nets being better than anything thinks they will be. Well, until Thorn makes more changes, you can forget about that.

But, the Nets do have hope - though it's only the summer league, Brook Lopez looked like a man amongst boys in the pivot, Ryan Anderson had some moments to build on, Chris Douglas Roberts played like he had that second round chip on his shoulder, and this Jaycee Carroll guy may have found himself a home after going undrafted. Suddenly, you have to wonder if Sean Williams or Josh Boone are expendable...Williams because he doesn't have a true position and seems a bit thick in the head, and Boone because there are others on the team that might be better served in the offense.

But again, we'll see what transpires, since the Nets are thin at guard.

Let's hope the 3 rookies stick around and get some NBA tutoring from Vince Carter and others...because otherwise, there really isn't a lot to get excited for with this squad.

More thoughts coming tomorrow.

Joe