The New Jersey Nets were a very poor team last year vs. the NBA sportsbook odds but with a new owner, a lot of salary cap space and a new head coach, the Nets could be improved in 2010. The Nets have not been able to make a big free agent splash so it may take time for them to make major improvements vs. sportsbook online odds.
The Nets did sign forward Travis Outlaw to a five-year, $35 million deal but he is not considered a premier player. He averaged 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 23 games for the Los Angeles Clippers last season after coming over from Portland. He has averaged 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in seven seasons and is a nice complementary player but not a star.
The Nets have a new owner in Mikhail Prokhorov who is willing to spend money but all of the big name free agents decided against going to New Jersey. The Nets still have a lot of salary cap room so they may add other players before next season but head coach Avery Johnson will probably have to wait another year for major help. New Jersey is looking at adding either Tyrus Thomas or Luis Scola but both of those players are below the elite level.
New Jersey has a lot of money to spend but free agents like LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer and Rudy Gay avoided the Nets. It also appears New York’s David Lee has little interest in the Nets.
Since the Nets were spurned by top free agents this time they could look to free up even more cap room for 2001 or 2012. The Nets are talking about deals with Indiana and Portland for Danny Granger and LaMarcus Aldridge. Those two players would help them this season and they could then get rid of their contracts after this season to free up money.
New Jersey was 12-70 last season straight up. They were not that much better against the spread as they went 33-48-1. The Nets should be improved this season but since they didn’t make a big free agent splash, they probably won’t be improved enough to make the playoffs.