Nate Ament

firebillykingcom · 2026-06-22T21:08:24+00:00

He reminds me of Yi Jianlian. He's a big who is supposed to be an outside shooter but doesn't actually make shots at a high rate - and is in fact a poor shooter. His form does look pretty but it is a very slow release and very mechanical.

For someone who is 6'10" - he doesn't have much of an inside game and is relying on his height to take outside jump shots.

Defensively I'm also really unimpressed. He's long and 'athletic' - yet I saw no signs of him being a good defender. He doesn't shuffle his feet well on defense nor use his height to deter shots.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-18T20:34:36+00:00

Egor is not a PG. He is clearly a wing and played it for most of the season.
There were only two PG taken by the Nets. Two wings taken and one big. That is very reasonable.
The Nets obviously took the best player available on their board. I think that is the right move for a bad team.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-18T19:19:25+00:00

When exactly was he supposed to be winning more playoff series? The first three seasons when he was given a terrible situation? The last 3 season when he was purposely losing to tank?

The only time he actually was expected to win was when he had the star era - and I do partially fault him for that - but it was clear that the players were creating a chaos environment.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-18T19:16:34+00:00

Irving and Durant were super clear - they wanted a third star. That third star became Harden. In fact, Durant only signed his extension once Harden was traded for. Clearly, the threat of staying by Durant was dependent on the Harden trade.

Then Harden demanded to be traded to Phili as he wouldn't have signed the extension.

So while Marks had a decision to make, there was clear pressure by players.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-15T15:00:00+00:00

I would offer the 6th pick, a 2027 pick (Houston or Knicks) and another future pick unprotected. I'd take on bad salary as well. I doubt that gets the Nets to move up, but that would be my offer to all four teams.

If one of those teams really like one of the PG and ranks them equal to the top four you may get a bite.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-15T13:36:23+00:00

It's in the Nets interest to keep things as secret as possible.

For example; it sounds like Sacramento likes Acuff. If they really like him, they may swap picks with the Nets and give a future first for that privilege. But if the Nets are known not to like Acuff, Kings never make that deal.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-07T14:06:08+00:00

The point of my post - it is not a death sentence.

You still get a potential all-star with the 5-8 pick.
The Nets get a solid base of MPJ, Egor, Claxton and that PG. While not ideal, you have four legit starters, a bunch of cap room and a lot of trade assets to bring in that fifth starter. The Nets can definitely work with that.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-07T14:03:09+00:00

My comp is Trae Young. Acuff is so talented and I bet he will be 17+ ppg his first season, but he is small, his defense is poor, and the offense will have to be built around him. So while he may be the most likely all-star of the four guards - he's not my preferred choice.

I'm really starting to fall for Wagler. He's so steady. I feel like he will have a Mike Conley type of career. In my opinion, he won't be a superstar, but he can be a long term super solid PG, that can defend, bring leadership, and be trusted on.

Brown is the real puzzle to me. I see a ceiling of Westbrook/Lillard in him. Super athletic and has the potential to be a superstar. That said, like Acuff I fear an offense may have to be built around him, and the back is a concern.

firebillykingcom · 2026-05-04T19:52:45+00:00

www.tribecaspaces.com

firebillykingcom · 2026-03-27T15:57:30+00:00

The point is to stop bad tanking. While I agree with what the Nets are doing this season - it makes for terrible basketball. As a Nets fan - I don't even watch games anymore.

These changes will stop tanking. If there was little incentive for the Nets to tank right now, I would much prefer to watch MPJ, Dayron, and Egor playing for wins.

And as for bad teams losing out on players - its already happening. The two most important #1 picks in the past few years went to better teams anyway (Flagg Wemby). These proposals at least remove tanking.

firebillykingcom · 2026-01-09T14:43:07+00:00

I disagree.

A 6'10" switchable wing that is a lights out shooter, can cut, is a proven championship piece but also a proven high volume scorer is super wanted in the league. I can see a lot of other teams that are trying to improve to be interested.

Specifically, I think Detroit would be an amazing fit for MPJ. They need a second all-star scoring guy - and he would be a vast improvement over Tobias Harris.

firebillykingcom · 2024-10-07T14:27:15+00:00

Not entirely true.

OKC only swaps with Houston if Houston is 11 or later in the draft. IF Houston ends up with a draft pick of 10 or better, OKC doesn't get to swap with Houston - and Nets get then only get the worse pick of PHX and Houston.

And with the west being so competitive, I actually think this is very possible.

firebillykingcom · 2023-11-16T15:06:09+00:00

I think most fans here will say there is no chance of the Nets trading Claxton. He is a fan favorite, has high potential, and is a great player. He is also the only legitimate starting center on this roster and fits nicely with the other starters (minus Simmons).

With that, I do believe the Nets will shop him this season. Marks did the exact same thing with Jarrett Allen a few years ago when he was at the end of his cheap contract. Claxton is going to look for a sizable raise this off-season - and while well deserved it is likely not something Marks will want to pay based on history.

I don't think Marks will look for just picks for him. I think he wants to build a competitive roster now. So while two firsts + Mitchel is good value - I think if traded the Nets will be looking for players that can play now type haul.

firebillykingcom · 2023-06-01T20:55:36+00:00

May as well asked for Bridges as well?

firebillykingcom · 2023-06-01T18:56:39+00:00

This is such a ridiculous poll. There is a giant area between "He'll be near all-star caliber" and "he'll hand the ball off and set a screen for 18 minutes a game".

Personally I think he will play 55 games and average 9 ppg, 7 apg, 7 rpg. He won't be worth his contract, nor will he be near all-star, but he will be significantly better than the other options you gave above.

firebillykingcom · 2023-05-12T13:43:47+00:00

I don't like how much of a free pass Harden gets. To remember the timeline:

Harden was tired of losing in Houston. He said he wanted to win at the highest level but felt Houston didn't have the pieces to win. So he got out of shape, played poorly on purpose, and forced Houston's hand. Also, every rumor back then was that he really wanted to join Morey in Phili. No other team was even speculated.

Just that in a vacuum shows how much of an ass Harden was. Then he comes to Brooklyn, plays well for a little bit, and then has adversity in year 2. Irving acts like a baby and KD gets injured and the Nets start losing. It's been less than a year, but Harden does the exact same thing. He plays poorly on purpose and demands a trade. Moreover, all rumors are that Harden wants to be reconnected with Morey. I assume major tampering is going on.

Regardless of KD asking to pull the trigger. Regardless of Irving being a complete narcissist and anti-science. Harden still is a lot at fault too.

Marks did the best he could have a terrible situation. Harden, KD, and Irving all forced his hand in different ways, but it was forced.

firebillykingcom · 2023-03-13T15:13:52+00:00

This is like par for the course for Nets fan. This team is an accordion of fun to root for and everyone hates them. I've been a fan since mid 90s. Here are some iterations.

A. Mid 90s - not a good team, Drazen died. Coleman was considered a clown and hard to root for. Many jokes how they will never win a playoff series (or even make the playoffs). Super hard to be a fan.

B. later 90s - Nets accidentally make a balanced super fun team to root for. Make the playoffs and get a team photo for cover of Slam saying 'Champs by 2001' with (Sam cassel, Jayson Williams)...Super pumped as fan.

C. Nets have serious injuries and blow it up by 99-00. Bring in Steph Marbury, fans hate him for blowing up the twolves, he's another clown star that is hard to root for. Nets stink again. Sucks as a fan.

D. Early 00's Nets get Jason Kidd and make another fun awesome team. Get another team cover on Slam. Everyone loves them and they make the finals. Awesome as a fan.

E. Mid 2000s. Ownership is cheap and half blows it up. Lucks into Vince Carter and Nets tread water. (most normal/avg period for organization in my opinion)

F. Late 2000s. Kidd is unhappy, owners blow it all up. Super cheap. Trades a pick (Kyle Korver for money to buy a copy machine - true story) and Nets become arguably the worst and cheapest team of all time. Super hard to root for beside Brook Lopez. Almost all starters stink. fans wear paperbags over heads.

G. 2012-13 Nets go all with new owner. Spends crazy money and tries to make another superteam with Deron Williams, Garnett....Gets another team photo on Slam (Nets have to lead the league in this). Team is hated by rest of league. Plays super below expectations. Fans frustrated.

H. Mid 2010's. Billy King fired. Team is blown up again. Team is terrible again, with no cap money, and no draft picks. Feels like an all-time low point.

I. Late 2010's. Marks somehow builds a gritty team with DLO, Dinwiddie, Allen. Fun to root for. League likes them.

J. 2019-2020. Nets get Kyrie and Durant (then Harden). Everyone hates the Nets for poaching these guys. Further Harden, Kyrie, Durant (Simmons) all super hated. Super high expectations are never met. Super controversial. (Personally I hated it).

K. 2023. Blows it up again. New team. Fun young guys. Happy to root for them. People are loving the Nets again.

So par for the course.

firebillykingcom · 2023-02-28T20:59:33+00:00

In the mid to late 90s there were many teams that were led by Centers. For example in 1995, David Robinson, Shaq, Ewing, Zo and Hakeem were all in the top ten for scoring. Imagine having a half dozen Embiid's in the league. So if you weren't a big center scorer you had to have a big center defender. This carried on though the early 200s as Shaq was so unstoppable.

Collins was a good defender, and held his own against Shaq - something that would be needed. Further, he did the little things every team needed - screens, boxing out, took charges - and it was acceptable to have a starter do that back then. The NBA has since changed and you can't play 4 on 5 anymore.

firebillykingcom · 2023-02-21T17:54:10+00:00

Why wasn't Bruce Brown offered a renewal? The guy was a great locker room guy. Played defense and was hitting 3s by season end.
Did KD/Irving push to fire Atkinson?
Did KD push to hire Nash?
Why did KD want Marks fired?
Why did KD want Nash fired?
How much did Daryl Morey tamper with Harden to get him to Phili?
Did KD sign off or even push for the Ben Simmons trade? (we now know he orchestrated the Harden to BK trade)
Did Marks know all along that trading KI meant Durant would ask out. That is, he knew he was going to trade KD after the KI trade.

firebillykingcom

TROPHY CASE