New Jersey Nets

Updated last: Aug. 15th

Since it's the summer there are mostly prediction and rumors that can be posted for now. Once the season gets underway stats and updates will also be on this page.

FEATURES

After getting Marbury, Williams, Kittles, and Van Horn all to resign for long term deals the Nets starting team seems to be one of the best in the league, my problem is with their bench. Jamie Fieck, Eric Mrudock, Jim MacIlvain, Rony Seikley,Scott Burell, Lucious Harris, Elliot Perry, George Muresan, and Even Eschmeyer make up the bench of NJ. These are the guys that will make or brake the playoff chances for this team and if they don't get their act together the team will be in a lot of trouble. The following is a breakdown of the bench:

-Jim MacIlvain- has contributed little or nothing to this team. Sure he is a shot blocker (he is actually pretty good at it), but for 5 million a year he's not worth it. Becuase of his high salery he is basically untradable, even though any CBA center is capable of doing the work he has.

-Jamie Fieck- is probably the only player on their bench that has any potential in NJ. He is an excellent back-up and is definetly worth his contract. Also, note the fact that he came from a ten day contract unlike the rest of the current bench (go figure).

-Lucious Harris- is a player I'd rather see waived then on the Nets roster. He hogs the ball and takes horrible shots. The only thing he does well is lose the ball. I think he should be packaged in a trade and be sent a way to a team that is willing to release him (ie Ed O Bannon and Yinlka Dare).

-Rony Seikley- Thank god he was finally waived. Though he did help the team more then Harris, he only played in 10 games in two years. I can't wait to see a team pick him up only to learn that the only thing he can do now is complain about minor injuries.

-Elliot Perry- A descent back up point guard, and should be able to hold the fort down for the 5 minutes Stephon needs a break. Only problem is he is currently third string and not needed with Murdock also on the bench.

-Eric Murdock- is probably the most interesting bench player on the Nets. He did excellent in the summer league and is admired around the league. Several teams are even interested in trading for him. Hopefully this will happen. Murdock's style is way too slow for the fast pace of NJ and since he has stock we should try to ship out some scrubs such as Harris or MacIlvain with him. (So far I have heard both Orlando and NY are interested in him).

-Scott Burell- has a cheap contract and is a pretty good player, but last year he flat out stunk. He wasn't in shape and was very lazy on Defense. He also managed to get himself injured for a good third of the season last year. He has some potential to be the player he was, but after last season it doesn't look that good, even if it was shortened from the lockout.

-George Muresan- is a GIANT question mark. Several teams past on him this year because of failed physicals and he hasn't played in over two years. But becuase he has such a small contract and such potential he might be worth it. For now we should keap him as a third string center (basically taking Seikley old job for a lot less money) and pray he can become what he once was. I would say he has a 10% chance of actually helping this team, but even with those odds we should keep him.

-Even Eschmeyer-a second round draft pick that played horrible in the summer league. However, like Muresan he has a small chance of becoming a good center and with his price tag (min) the Nets should keap him.

-Overall- I hope a trade goes through to get Murdock and either Harris, MacIlvain or both off this team. Thus we good get a good backup small foward and be able to keap Perry as a backup point gurad.

NEWS

Third year forward Keith Van Horn has agreeds to the maximum salary of 73 million dollars for three years.

Jamie Fieck has agreed for a six year long contract for 15 million dollars.

Scott Burrell has agreed a one year one million dollar contract.

Rony Seikley was waived by the Nets.

Even Eschmeyer signed a two year deal for the NBA's minimum. However, the Nets have the right to release him after one year.

George Muresan has signed a one year deal for the NBA's minimum.

Rumor Report:

Murdock rumors are spreading everywhere. However, there is no proof of any of them. Currently the biggest rumor is that he might be sent to Orlando for Dale Ellis.