Enjoy another draft preview, this one provided by Darren of Hooplah.. Nation. Daily Basketball still needs bloggers for about 2/3 of the NBA teams. Visit the NBA Draft Preview page and see if your team is available. For now, enjoy this preview of the New Jersey Nets.

Last Season’s Record : 41-41
Draft Picks: #17
Draft Needs: Inside Presence, Back-up Guard to back-up Williams

Let’s just say for the last seven years, the Nets have yet to draft anyone that is able to come in straight away and help the team. The last man to do that was Kenyon Martin, not Richard Jefferson, who was acquired from a draft day deal that saved us from frickin Eddie Griffin, nor Nenad Krstic, who spent a year learning to cook somewhere in Serbia before coming back, and we know what happened from there.

After finishing the season 41-41 and also getting dumped out of the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second consecutive season, I suppose the Nets’ management should just implode the team and rebuild. But if Jason Kidd were to get his coveted championship ring if he stays with the Nets, keeping the team together for another playoff push would be the best choice. Therefore adding depth to the team using the draft and through free agency would be the only way of strengthening the team.

The biggest need for the Nets are definitely on drafting someone who can provide them with an inside presence, block shots, rebound the basketball, and can hit jumpers to spread out the floor. Guys that fit into the resume include Al Horford, Spencer Hawes, and Julian Wright. The team has already worked out players like Josh McRoberts and Stephane Lasme, both of which I like a lot due to their shot blocking, but Lasme is limited offensively so I’ll end it there.

Last year, with the #22 pick, the Nets got themselves a steal in Marcus Williams and #23 for Josh Boone, this year I hope we do get the chance to do the same. With the 17th pick this year, the depth of talent available around the 15th – 20th picks are deep and the Nets have all the chance to draft someone who could help them down the stretch as early as next season. Josh McRoberts, Tiago Splitter and Jason Smith all are bigs available around that number, Personally I fancy McRoberts compared to the rest of the three — he’s athletic, block shots, can run the floor, and he passes the ball well enough. I don’t think Jason Smith would be the person to actually provide us with an inside presence, he’s rather a Nenad Krstic type of player, therefore I go with McRoberts.

The Nets don’t have a second round pick, which could be very helpful indeed in this draft, with guys like Jared Jordan and Dashaun Wood available in the second round. However the Nets could always trade down, which is workable given the players we have, guys like Eddie House and Mikki Moore are good trade bait to get us a pick in the second round. But, there is also a possibility that the Nets could trade up for a pick in the top 10, say a trade involving Richard Jefferson to the Timberwolves.

However, it’s too early to still be sure of whom the team will draft, but once the workouts finishes we will have a better picture. Right now I fancy Josh McRoberts a lot, because he’s definitely the type of player the Nets need, but, I do not give away the possibility of the Nets drafting another athletic wing again ala Antoine Wright.

If the New Jersey Nets are your team, then you should visit Hooplah.. Nation on a daily basis!