Entering this season, Billy King had a lot to be excited about as general manager of the New Jersey Nets. He has a deep-pocketed owner that's focused on winning, a head coach he believes in and a brand new Brooklyn arena set to open after next season. But once the Nets were able to acquire Deron Williams at the trade deadline, King had even more reason for optimism.
"I was optimistic at first because I just felt that what we were doing and where we were headed in the future was great," King told HOOPSWORLD. "But now having Deron, it helps because other people will see what we're doing. Having a great point guard means that a lot of people want to play with him. It's like having a great quarterback. If you have that great quarterback, it attracts the receivers and other players."
Eight months ago, the Nets couldn't have had a tougher time pitching New Jersey to players. The team was struggling and the franchise was in the midst of a transition period. Because of this, the Nets weren't able to sign any of the available stars. Now, with all of the pieces in place, King is confident that those days are over.
"The closer we get with the new building, the easier it is. Then having Deron, it becomes even easier. The pieces are falling into place. Last summer, when we went out to the free agent market, it was hard for those guys to really envision it. Mikhail [Prokhorov] was new as a owner, Rod [Thorn] was on his way out and Avery [Johnson] was new as our coach so I think there was a lot of uncertainty for a lot of those guys. Now, I think a lot of that uncertainty is gone. I'd say it is gone," King said.
It also helps when a player of Williams' caliber is leading the recruiting process.
"He's been in the league long enough so he knows a lot of people," King said. "He knows what we're trying to do and we've had some great meetings. I think people are asking him, 'What's it like?' I think players, for all thirty teams, are the best sellers."
The Nets have made huge strides, but King feels there is more work to be done. He feels that developing the team's young talent and adding the right players around Williams can take the team to the next level.
"A lot of it is just we're really young," King said. "A lot of these guys just need to continue to play and develop. Then we just need to continue to add the right pieces going forward that are going to fit with Avery's defensive philosophy as well as fit in with Deron, who can really push the ball up the court. I think we have to add the right pieces, and not always big name pieces, but just the right pieces."
But how does a general manager approach an offseason with so much uncertainty?
"I think you go through it in compartments," King said. "You do the draft and you deal with that. Then you wait and see what happens after that. You have to plan for July 1 because things can happen, but if there's a work stoppage, then you adjust and you wait for the new rules to come about."
Work stoppage or not, the toughest summer for the Nets is in the past. Now, King has all of the pieces to wheel and deal and transform the Nets into a contender.
Sullinger Returning to Ohio State: When Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton told reporters that they were returning to Texas next season, very few decision makers around the league believed the duo. Both players had already expressed interest in leaving for the NBA, and it seemed that they were just trying to say the right thing on the eve of the tournament.
When Jared Sullinger spoke to reporters about his future following last night's loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, there was no such feeling. The comments were genuine and calculated.
"I'm going to be an Ohio State Buckeye next year," Sullinger told reporters. "Winning is that important to me. I don't like losing. This is not what I came here to do. This is not what I came here for, to sit here and see my seniors crying. I came here to win a national championship, to see them celebrate. I wanted tears of joy with these guys."
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It's not uncommon for players to promise that they'll return after an emotional loss only to change their minds later when cooler heads prevail. Four years ago, Mike Conley Jr. told many of the same reporters that he would be back for a second season, but ultimately decided to enter his name in the draft anyway. Sullinger was given several chances to reconsider or back away from his promise, but he wouldn't take the bait.
"I'm a man of my word," Sullinger said. "I won't change my mind for nobody. This is what I want. This is where I'm happy. I'm happy being an Ohio State Buckeye and playing for Coach Matta."
Matta wasn't surprised at all by his star's announcement. Sullinger had been telling those close to him that he wanted to return for much of the season.
"He told me from day one he'd be back for two years," Matta said. "He said, 'Draw me up a contract, whatever you want me to do, I'll sign it.' With him, his freshman year was as good as I've ever seen a freshman have. I think all the things he learned this year, with a great off-season, I have no doubt he'll be the best player in college basketball."
This wasn't Sullinger simply trying to answer a question from a reporter or making a decision on the fly. This is what he had been planning all season long, which is why his announcement was much more believable and genuine than those of his peers.
News and Notes: Here are some items from this week's news and notes bin.
• Tennessee reached out to Xavier's Chris Mack this week and was prepared to offer the head coach an 8 year, $16 million contract. Mack wasn't interested, but the offer shows just how much money the Volunteers are willing to spend to get their man.
• Marcin Gortat had to leave last night's loss to the New Orleans in the third quarter after breaking his nose in a collision with teammate Steve Nash. Gortat had totaled 18 points, 10 rebounds and a block in 27 minutes before slamming his nose in the back of Nash's head. Gortat will undergo surgery to repair his nose this morning, and he's questionable for tomorrow's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
• Rashad McCants is averaging 10.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists as a reserve for the Dallas Mavericks' NBA Development League affiliate, the Texas Legends. But that doesn't matter because balling is just a hobby for McCants. The guard has started a rap career under the name "Suni Black," and his first song makes that very clear.
Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19246#ixzz1HitSqYuo
