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NJ Record about EG: Nets' deal looks better than ever

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by windandsea, Oct 18, 2003.

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  1. windandsea

    windandsea Member

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    Nets' deal looks better than ever

    Saturday, October 18, 2003

    By STEVE ADAMEK
    STAFF WRITER

    EAST RUTHERFORD - Think Grady Little got lambasted on Boston talk radio Friday? Two years ago on NBA draft night, Nets' president Rod Thorn heard much the same from this area's 15 minutes-of-fame crowd.

    After drafting Seton Hall product Eddie Griffin, once considered a potential top overall pick, with the draft's seventh choice, Thorn dealt him to Houston for three first-rounders: Richard Jefferson (No. 13), Jason Collins (No. 18), and Brandon Armstrong (No. 23) - and the phone lines lit up. Why, caller after caller hollered, would the Nets trade a player projected by many as a superstar for three relatively unknown West Coast guys?

    So, pardon the Nets now if, not publicly but privately, they say, "I told you so." Not only did Jefferson and Collins become rotation fixtures (and starters last season) during the Nets' back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals, but the Rockets and new coach Jeff Van Gundy suspended Griffin indefinitely this week for detrimental conduct.

    Privately, that's what the Nets feared from Griffin who, among other things, got in a postgame fight with a teammate at the Hall. Publicly, they said (and still say) that they made the deal to improve their athleticism and depth - a deal that now stands as the first step in the rebuilding process that produced consecutive Eastern Conference titles.

    "That summer, the biggest starting point was getting those three guys," coach Byron Scott said Friday before the Nets' 95-90 preseason loss to the Celtics. "When we looked at our [draft] board and the things the we needed from a basketball standpoint, being able to get three guys in the first round that could help [our] team was big."

    The trade of Stephon Marbury for Jason Kidd followed three weeks later and, obviously, played the biggest role in the franchise's turnaround. Signing free agent center Todd MacCulloch helped, too. Still, as Collins said of the vitriol the Nets received the night he joined the team, "I don't think anyone's complaining right now."

    In fact, Jefferson suggested that not only him for Griffin straight up seems like a one-sided deal now, but, "Right now it's Jason Collins for Eddie Griffin straight up if you really look at their production the first two years."

    Collins' numbers his first two seasons (8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 52 percent shooting) certainly compare to Griffin's (8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 38.3 percent).     Jefferson, meanwhile, (12.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 48.3 percent) has been everything that Armstrong (1.7 points, 32.1 percent) hasn't, although the shooting guard has shown signs of life this training camp.

    As for Griffin, Van Gundy said, "We're going to let him be away from the team until he can get himself together and do everything professional basketball players are expected to do, which starts with show[ing] up on time."

    "I don't think we really looked at [him] as a controversial-type guy," Scott insisted Friday.

    Maybe. Or maybe the Nets are simply too modest to gloat.
     
    #1 windandsea, Oct 18, 2003
  2. a-rock

    a-rock Member

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    sad but true....
     
    #2 a-rock, Oct 18, 2003
  3. Roxnostalgia

    Roxnostalgia Member

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    May be true and that's too bad, but there is still no reason that RJ should have been on that Olympic team.
     
    #3 Roxnostalgia, Oct 18, 2003
  4. Old Man Rock

    Old Man Rock Contributing Member

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    Totally biased article. I lived in NJ and they're always homers. Why does everyone want to claim to be geniuses when it just isn't so.

    The nets had Martin and Van Horn who was really a pf at the time and also eric williams. They had no room for Eddie and new he wasn't ever going to replace KMart so why draft him.

    The Rockets had full roster and did not three first round picks to ride the pine when 2 out of three would have probably started on IR. Also they still had faith in Cato in spite of what the fans thought and Cato is better than Collins.

    So where is the brilliance. Both teams just did what they needed to do and it just worked out better for the Nets. But Eddie was considered a talent coming out of the Draft. And many people had him projected much higher. Yes Jefferson is having a better career than Griffin. But let's not forget Griffin is still 21 and if he can get his act together he will be a player in this league for a while.

    So they have no need to gloat. And when all is said and done the Rockets have a more promising future than the nets an will win a championship before they do and then who will gloat.
     
    #4 Old Man Rock, Oct 18, 2003
  5. CriscoKidd

    CriscoKidd Member

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    Why is it they continually feel the need to reassure themselves that they made the right move?

    They didn't even get the best players that they could have with the picks they got from us.
     
    #5 CriscoKidd, Oct 18, 2003
  6. SLA

    SLA Member

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    Well...rude article. :)

    Of course we would never blast them...they will never win the championship.

    Eddie for 3 first rounders was kinda bad..but we didn't need the 3 first rounders anyways. Eddie was SUPPOSED to be good.

    But I appreciate us sucking that year...

    BECAUSE NOW WE GOT YAO MING.

    You can't beat that...Yao Ming and Eddie Griffin for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong sounds good for Rockets.
     
    #6 SLA, Oct 18, 2003
  7. New Jack

    New Jack Member

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    Well, if I were the Nets, I would gloat. I sure remember gloating a whole lot when we first made that trade. I was laughing so hard at them back then and I know I wasn't the only one.
     
    #7 New Jack, Oct 18, 2003
  8. The Real Shady

    The Real Shady Member

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    We would have the same type of article over here in the Houston Chronicle if we screwed over another team in a trade. And we did get screwed royally in this one.
     
    #8 The Real Shady, Oct 18, 2003
  9. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    big deal. Yao > Jefferson > Griffin. Which end of the equation wouold you rather be on?
     
    #9 SamFisher, Oct 18, 2003
  10. DCkid

    DCkid Member

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    I agree that the deal worked out better for the Nets, but were the Rockets really screwed over <B>royally</b>? Maybe I just don't give Jefferson, Collins, and Armstrong enough credit. I like Jefferson to Shandon Anderson. Neither could dribble, create for themselves, or shoot outside shots, but they could both run, jump and play adequate defense. Remember how good Shandon was when he played on a running team with a great passing point guard...remember what happened when he came to the Rockets? We couldn't get rid of him fast enough. What makes you think it would have been any different with Jefferson. Not to mention that was one of the weakest drafts in NBA history, so there probably wasn't a lot of demand for draft picks that season. As for Collins and Armstrong, I wouldn't even want them for free, much less having them taking up much needed cap-space.
     
    #10 DCkid, Oct 18, 2003
  11. ILuvEddie33

    ILuvEddie33 Member

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    RJ is juss a consided muthfuc***! I cant stand him!! Im not juss sayin dat cuz I like Eddie but still to say that now if a deal is made RJ has all the advantages!! Yea he is good but everybody knows that if he was in Houston he would not be that good!!! Its all cuz of Kidd!! and most of his points come from dunks. it's not Eddie's fault that Steve is a selfish player. Sure Eddie doesnt make all the open shots but RJ isnt that good outside the paint either and Eddie is still learning how to be on the inside! so he needs to shut the fu** up wit his lil bit** voice!:mad:
     
    #11 ILuvEddie33, Oct 18, 2003
  12. huby_n1

    huby_n1 Member

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    When did Collins ever average 8ppg and 5rpg in his career?

    http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jason_collins/index.html?nav=page
     
    #12 huby_n1, Oct 18, 2003
  13. sonique15

    sonique15 Member

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    definitely agree......no one knew Griff would take foreva to develop. The Rockets needed a 4, they got the one with the most potential in the draft. I dont fault the Rockets on makin the swap. I fault Eddie for not working hard and making himself worth at least half of what we gave up. Rockets made a good deal that night. Not out fault it didnt pan out the way we would have hoped.
     
    #13 sonique15, Oct 18, 2003
  14. SLA

    SLA Member

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    #14 SLA, Oct 18, 2003
  15. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    RJ is a nice role player. But that is all he is. He is clearly one of the most overrated players in the NBA. People talk about him being on the cusp of being an all star when he really isn't even close. He has a sporatic jump shot at best. I blame RJ's offense primarily of being the beneficiary of playing with Jason Kidd. RJ's points mostly come on put backs and fast break opportunities. In fact it is the fact that RJ can't score on his own that holds the Nets back. You could say the same for Martin but at least he is a solid defender.

    Griffin has been a disappointment so far, no question but he still is young and still has time to make ammends.
     
    #15 Deuce, Oct 18, 2003
  16. Doctor Robert

    Doctor Robert Member

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    New Jersey is saying I told you so, while EG is 21 years old? EG could potentially play in the NBA 17 more years.... a little early to act like the case is closed. He might become anything from Jermaine Oneal to Shawn Kemp to Leon Smith.
     
    #16 Doctor Robert, Oct 18, 2003
  17. Yodels

    Yodels Member

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    If I were Eddie and read or were told all this, it would motivate me to kick some tail this season. It really depends on Eddie's makeup...is he a fighter? We're not asking for emotion...in fact I admire stoic personalities...but I would be happy if Eddie shut us all up and comes out like gang-busters...ala Kelvin Cato
     
    #17 Yodels, Oct 18, 2003
  18. Doctor Robert

    Doctor Robert Member

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    Here's my prediction.... EG will grow up before New Jersey wins a championship.
     
    #18 Doctor Robert, Oct 18, 2003
  19. spaceboy

    spaceboy Member

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    ditto on that


    Give him time...
     
    #19 spaceboy, Oct 18, 2003
  20. Fegwu

    Fegwu Member

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    My sentiments exactly. It is too early for articles like these because for all we know Eddie could turn it around soonest -he is only 21 and they say players don't reach their prime until the hit the 26 - 32 years age mark. So Eddie still has time as long as he remain an NBA player.

    PS. - This article lost all it credibility by manufacturing Collins stats. Judge for yourselves;

    Per NBA.COM

    PPG = 5.1

    RPG = 4.20

    BPG = .58

    FG% = .417

    3p% = .167

    FT% = .738
     
    #20 Fegwu, Oct 18, 2003
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