Team Report: Roster Report

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Team Report: Roster Report

Getting Inside | Notes and Quotes | Roster Report
DRAFT PICKS:

--Marcus Williams (selected No. 22), 6-3, 215 point guard, Connecticut. Excelled in summer league and may emerge as the steal of the draft at 22. A true point guard with exceptional court vision. Rated by most as the best point guard in the draft. Gifted passer with terrific leadership skills. Looms as the heir apparent to Jason Kidd. Conditioning has been a problem, as has quickness. Turnover prone.

--Josh Boone (selected No. 23), 6-10, 237 power forward, Connecticut. Another potential steal who may miss half the season. Underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in left shoulder and is lost for 4-6 months. The Nets expect a December/January return. Very athletic. Good offensive rebounder who runs floor, blocks shots. Limited offensively. Around-the-rim scorer. Shaq-like at the line (.559 career). Disappointing final year with UConn.

--Hassan Adams (selected No. 54), 6-4, 201 small forward/off guard, Arizona. Went through workouts with a foot stress fracture. Required surgery, healing is progressing. Explosive, energy type player. NBA strength in an undersized body. Very tough. Downside is he has no true position. Has two guard body, three man skills. Shot is suspect.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Nets had three unrestricted free agents: guard Jacque Vaughn and forwards Lamond Murray and John Thomas (he was signed for the final two games and then kept for the playoffs). Vaughn signed with San Antonio. Murray and Thomas won't be back. Vaughn became expendable when the Nets drafted UConn point Marcus Williams. Murray had inconsistent minutes all season but hit clutch three-pointers in the playoffs. Nets picked up the team option on Cliff Robinson whose return was in question after his suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy. Nets also bought out, then waived Scott Padgett. With the trade acquisition of Mikki Moore, the Nets remain in the free agent market for a shooter.

PLAYER NOTES:

--Guard Vince Carter, who can opt out after the season, claims he doesn't dwell on contract issues, but that doesn't mean he can avoid them.

"I don't think about that stuff. When it comes up, it comes up. (A kid at his youth camp) said 'Yeah, you've got your option (year) coming up.' He broke it down for me. I was like, 'You're my agent now.'"

--Guard Zoran Planinic, interviewed in a Spanish paper, said he knew his Nets career was done when the team drafted Marcus Williams.

"It was clear that he was not going to be limited in his play," Planinic told El Correo de Alava.

--Forward Cliff Robinson and the Nets finally have overcome logistical problems -- the veteran spends the off-season in Portland -- and finalized his re-signing. Robinson, suspended in the playoffs for violating the NBA anti-drug policy (the bans carries over for the first two games) gets a two year deal for $1.6 million this season with a partial guarantee ($500,000) next year.