Yankees
Nets
The Nets completed their awaited trade with the Mavericks today, sending Eduardo Najera to Dallas for Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams. Now watch the 3-34 Nets’ fortunes turn.
It's another fringe transaction that doesn’t really affect anything but their bottom line and future flexibility. It’s about getting younger and more assets without infringing upon their cash for free agents this summer. Last week, the Nets bought out Rafer Alston and got Chris Quinn, a 2012 second round pick and cash from the Heat.
Najera is a better player than Humphries, but he just wasn’t the right fit with the Nets. He would have been better suited for some of the teams that featured Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, a veteran that could have helped them defensively against good teams or in the playoffs. At the time of his signing last year, I thought Najera could help the Nets. But injuries prevented him from really contributing or even teaching the younger guys about working hard or pushing them in practice.
That said, I didn’t agree with giving Najera a four-year deal. And if the plan last summer was to develop the young players -– as it especially is this year -– the Nets never should have given Najera a four-year deal. They know it’s a mistake, but it was a package situation. They signed Jarvis Hayes and Najera on the same day. Both are clients of Dan Fegan, who also represents Yi Jianlian. Enough said there. But the truth is the Nets should have given Hayes the longer-team deal and Najera the one-year with a second-year option.
Being able to unload Najera’s contract was a good move by the Nets. Humphries, 24, is nine years younger and his contract expires after next season. He's young, energetic and, most importantly, has a more favorable contract, making only $200,000 more than Najera was scheduled to make in 2010-11, so it shouldn’t have any impact on their summer plans.
Also, you have to believe Humphries is going to get a chance with the Nets. He’s young and they want to develop players. He’s also a Fegan guy. Do the Nets only make moves involving Fegan guys? Last week, they bought out Alston, another Fegan guy.
Anyway, Humphries should get some minutes behind Yi and even Brook Lopez when the Nets go small. Assuming they find the right deal, it’s only a matter of time before Josh Boone and Tony Battie are traded. Humphries will slide in there and get a shot to show he can play. He played 12.6 minutes in 25 games for the Mavericks, averaging 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds.
The Nets hope Humphries can help their rebounding. They have been out-rebounded 24 times in the last 25 games, and that is one of his strengths. This season in Dallas, his per-48-minute board average is 14.5 –- more than any Net. That number for his career is 12.6
All in all, it's a low-risk move that could give the Nets some reward, especially if Humphries can stay healthy. Najera never could.
The other part of the deal, Shawne Williams, the No. 17 pick in the 2006 draft, was expected to be waived. But Nets president Rod Thorn said he wants to see what Williams, who was exiled by the Mavericks, can do. If it doesn’t work out or becomes a distraction, the Nets will waive him.
The Nets also waived Sean Williams today to create room for both players. The Nets know they made a mistake taking him 17th in 2007. They took a risk on a troubled kid with a big heart and he proved to be more trouble than anything.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
