That is a very solid signing for them, RR is one of the most consistent offensive spark plus off the bench there is in the league. He is a great fit for them, providing the scoring when RJ and Kittles's offensive games are slumpingf. With Mutumbo and RR, I think without question you have the strongest team in the east next year (I qualify this with the fact I thought Phily was that team last year before they starting trading their defensive players and rebounders). They still have a weakness at the 2 guard, sorry Kittles and Harris don't cut it, but they are looking strong--especially for the East.
yeah, they definately have a VERY solid team now. the nets have hugely improved the already top team in the east. the west might have to watch out.
Kittles is decent for the "2," and Rogers can play backup 3/4, maybe leaving some minutes for Jefferson at the 2 (he'll be their starting 3). Chad Ford thinks next year's Finals should be Kings-Nets. Barring injuries, missed Kings' free throws and Laker-loving refs, I'd have to agree.
I personally think Kittles totally sucks in cruch time and other times is at best adequate. He is an awefully weak 2 guard for a team that wants to compete for all the marbles. While to me clearly the best team in the East is the Nets, they do not at all stack up to the Lakers or Kings in talent. Though I kinda like how they might match up with the Kings if they can play slow plodding BB (can control tempo--who better than JK to do this, and play physical--Martin and Dike are good places to start). I like their match-up against LA much less because LA can play slow, physical, defense oriented ball and still mostly do the things they want to do on the court. The best chance for the East is the Kings knocking off the Lakers in an up and down affair and the Nets bruising by the Kings. Stranger things have happened.
Here's an interesting quote from a Nets source: "We didn't trade for Mutombo and chase Rogers with the idea that they're the silver bullet that can topple the Lakers. We're crossing our fingers that the Kings do it for us. They were dangerously close last year. I think it's just a matter of time. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but I think we've put together a team that would give the Kings a real scare. It would be a great series to watch." http://dynamic.espn.go.com/espn/chat/chatESPN?event_id=2216 So they're counting on the Kings beat the Lakers for them and for the Kings to hopefully be vulnerable enough to be beaten. IMO, no East team will win the championship for a while; that conference is just to damn weak. The Nets would probably be around a 5th or 6th seed in the West.
Rodney Rogers can play both at the 4 and the 3,and could prove to be a valuable player for the Nets but he can be inconsistant because of his conditioning problems.
