NBA FanHouse

Nets' Douglas-Roberts Has H1N1 Virus

Tom Ziller — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST

H1N1 has hit the NBA. The Nets announced Saturday afternoon that starting two-guard Chris Douglas-Roberts has come down with the dangerous virus, putting the player out of action and the rest of the team at risk.

Though the Nets have stunk, Douglas-Roberts has had a solid start to the season, a follow-up on a disappointing rookie campaign in which the University of Memphis product got little opportunity for New Jersey. CD-R missed Friday's game at Philadelphia with flu-like symptoms ... a rather prophetic diagnosis.

The Nets are limited to eight or nine players due to injury (Courtney Lee tweaked his groin Friday), so the team can't exactly afford to lose any others to illness. There have been no reports of the virus spreading in Nets locker room, and Nets PR says every precaution has been taken.

Later in the evening, Douglas-Roberts tweeted that he was in good spirits as the Nets hosted the Celtics: Let's go Netttsss!!! Cheering from the bed. I'm the flyest person who will ever have Swine Flu.

Nets' Douglas-Roberts Has H1N1 Virus originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At This Rate They'll Be New Jersey Nots

Chris Tomasson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Coaches

PHILADELPHIA -- They just made a stop in Philadelphia, so why not be the first to throw it out. Can the New Jersey Nets make a run at the 1972-73 76ers' all-time futility mark of 9-73?

The Nets are the NBA's only winless team at 0-6 after Friday night's 97-94 loss to the 76ers and every day another player seems to get hurt. Call them the New Jersey Gnats the way they're dropping like flies.

OK, so it's way too early to think these Nets are going to make history for basketball badness. And, besides, Nets guard Rafer Alston gets upset when somebody calls his team the NBA's worse.

"That does (hurt) because you know you have a lot of pride,'' Alston said. "It hurts to be considered the worst ... when you know you have a lot of basketball and life in your game and there's a lot of pride in each man.''
Of course, being bad might be all that bad for the Nets, who had just nine healthy bodies entering Friday's game, a number that dropped to eight when guard Courtney Lee was lost with a strained left groin.

The Nets have tried to clear as much salary-cap room as possible for next summer's big free-agent class, and could have around $24 million. Add in a bushel of lottery ping-pong balls, and there's a good chance of a very high pick to go along with all that money.

That was the formula the Denver Nuggets used early this decade when they tore down the team and went 17-65 in 2002-03. The result was landing Carmelo Anthony, the No. 3 pick in the 2003 NBA draft, to go along with a bunch of cap room, and that has helped the Nuggets make the playoffs the past six seasons.

The general manger of the Nuggets then was Kiki Vandeweghe. The general manager of the Nets now is Vandeweghe, although he doesn't have the same say he did then due to New Jersey president Rod Thorn.

"It's sort of a similar situation,'' said Vandeweghe, comparing those Nuggets with these Nets. "Players are getting a little bit older, great players with longer-term deals, and we weren't winning. So we had to try to figure out a way how you're going to win. What's the best way to go?

"So we tried to redo (the Nets) as quickly as possible. That's what you want to do. How can we win quickly? So we were lucky to be able to move all of the long-term deals and the bigger contracts, which was difficult to do in this economic environment. You try to get as much flexibility as you can.''

Starting with the All-Star break in 2008, the Nets dealt their three big stars in Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. And they haven't picked up any guys since then with big money.

Wait a minute. They did get one. That would be Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who is in line to buy the team and hopes to finalize a move to Brooklyn.

The Nets hope the lights of New York City will be enough to tantalize a big-name free agent to come their way. LeBron James? Dwyane Wade? Chris Bosh?

For now, though, NBA bylaws say the Nets still have to play this season. If they had all their bodies, perhaps the Nets wouldn't be the worse team in the NBA. But take away ailing Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian, Jarvis Hayes, Tony Battie, Keyon Dooling, Chris Douglas-Roberts and now Lee, and there's not much left.

"We've got I guess five of our first eight hurt,'' said Vandeweghe, at least expressing some relief that most of those players are expected back within a few weeks.

But there's much less relief for Nets coach Lawrence Frank. He's got a won-loss record sinking faster than the Dow Jones average did last fall.

There is speculation Frank won't end up being long for New Jersey. But he said he can't be worried about his job security.

"I can't control (that),'' said Frank, who calls it a "challenge'' to press on with all the injuries but won't use them as an excuse. "This organization has been great to me. I just have got to continue to do the best job that we can and can't worry about the things I can't control.''

Frank's Nets did fall apart in the second half Wednesday to Denver, losing 122-94 after leading 51-50 at the half. But they battled hard on the road Friday, leading by as many as eight points early in the fourth quarter before their lack of manpower finally caught up.

Count Nets forward Trenton Hassell as a player who is standing behind his embattled coach.

"He's a good coach,'' Hassell said. "You can't really worry about that as a player. You've got to keep on trusting what he is doing and believe in him because he is the leader of this team.''

Also count Hassell as one who, like Alston, doesn't believe his team should be known as the New Jersey Nots.

"I don't think we're the worst team in the league,'' Hassell said. "We just aren't getting the breaks right now. We've been in some tough games, and we've played some great teams. I think we're due.''

Why does one think that perhaps the Nets aren't due Saturday? They play host to the Boston Celtics, who figure to be quite ornery after falling at home Friday to Phoenix for their first loss of the season.

It remains to be seen who the nicked-up Nets might be able to be beat to get out of November with a win. Best bets look to be home games Nov. 11 against Philadelphia, Nov. 17 against Indiana and Nov. 21 against New York.

What should the game against the Knicks, who also will have more than $20 million of room next summer, be called? The Cap-Room Bowl?

But while Nets executives and fans are dreaming of free agents who might come their way next summer, that's not the general view among players. After all, the Nets are in line to have seven of their 15 players become free agents next summer.

"We see it as we've got 15 guys under contract so the future is now,'' said forward Eduardo Najera, who has two years left on his contract after this one. "We're aware there's going to have cap room but, at the same time, there are lot of free agents who are going to try to perform so we stay here.''

A guy who won't be going anywhere for a while is center Brook Lopez, one of the NBA's top young big men who scored a game-high 22 points Friday. But Lopez isn't thinking about the team's long-term future.

He's trying to get a win. And he wants one in a hurry.

"What more can you say now?'' said Lopez, not side-stepping questions about the talk of the Nets being the dregs of the NBA. "We're winless. But we're working really hard.''

The odds say that hard work and getting some players back from injury will get the Nets well past Philadelphia's infamous nine-win total. But can they avoid being the worst team in New Jersey history?

That would be the 1989-90 Nets, who went an NBA-worse 17-65. But they did get the opportunity to pick first in the 1990 draft.

They took Derrick Coleman.

Hmm. Maybe being really bad isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

At This Rate They'll Be New Jersey Nots originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA TV Analyst Calls Yi Jianlian a 'Chinaman,' Later Apologizes

Tom Ziller — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Media Watch

In his NBA.com video recap of last Friday's Magic-Nets game, NBA TV analyst Rick Kamla made the unfortunate mistake of referring to New Jersey forward Yi Jianlian as a "Chinaman." After FanHouse contacted Turner Sports about the remark, the video was pulled from NBA.com. It ran on NBA TV Friday and has been available on NBA.com since Friday night.

Turner Sports spokesman Jeff Pomeroy relayed to FanHouse an apology to anyone offended by the remark from Kamla and the network, which manages NBA TV and NBA.com. Pomeroy said Kamla was not aware of the connotations of the word, and meant nothing malicious or offensive by it.

Kamla's ignorant slip is far less troubling than the fact this video was broadcast on NBA TV and had been available on NBA.com for five days. The NBA has made serious strides to reach out to all corners of America and to expand the league's presence worldwide, with particular emphasis on Asia. Given the league's emphasis on marketing product to Chinese Americans, for this to go unnoticed within the NBA's digital arm for so long is disheartening.

Kamla isn't the first to make this mistake: AsianWeek took Steve Kerr to task in 2004 for referring to Yao Ming as a "Chinaman." Kerr apologized after being educated as to the history of the term and its continuing offensiveness to Chinese Americans. At the 2008 Masters tournament, CBS broadcaster Bobby Clampett called Chinese golfer Liang Wen-Chong "the Chinaman." He later apologized.

"Chinaman" is a term first used in a derogatory fashion in the American West beginning in the late 19th century. Anti-Chinese activists in California and throughout the West used the term to classify Chinese immigrants as subhuman.

Anti-Chinese sentiment is a sad legacy of the industrial boom of California in the post-Gold Rush era. European American-dominated unions led a fight to deny Chinese families the right to emigrate to the United States, culminating in President Chester Arthur's signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. The law not only restricted entry for Chinese families, but prevented Chinese men and women already in the United States from leaving and returning at a future date. The act was not repealed until 1943, and unlimited Chinese immigration was not allowed under federal law until 1965.

Note: An earlier version of this post stated that the clip ran several times on NBA TV Friday and Saturday. Pomeroy clarifies that the clip only ran on NBA TV once -- during the live broadcast of Kamla's highlights Friday evening. The clip was available on NBA.com until this morning, however.

NBA TV Analyst Calls Yi Jianlian a 'Chinaman,' Later Apologizes originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey

Tim Povtak — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Nets, NBA Injuries

Vince Carter was about to deliver one of those "don't-you-wish-I-was-still-here" games Friday night in New Jersey, when he fell to the floor clutching his left ankle midway in the second quarter.

Carter, traded by the Nets to the Orlando Magic this summer, had 16 points in his first 15 minutes before he left with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative and he told reporters that "hopefully,'' he could play Sunday in Toronto.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, the eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic, Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (serving a 10-game NBA suspension), had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets' guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, their eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds - the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (a 10-game NBA suspension) had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Hero of 09-10 Is ... Damien Wilkins?

Matt Moore — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Timberwolves, NBA Videos

The NBA isn't just made at Staples on Sunday afternoons under the lights, or in a Friday night showdown at the Garden. It's every night, players stepping up and making plays.

It's guys that will eventually be answers to trivia questions making huge shots that endear them and their teams to the hearts of young fans who first make a connection with this crazy, random, beautiful game.

The heroes aren't just the guys on posters and All-Star ballots, sometimes they are journeymen who show up every day, don't shoot a great percentage and get the job done.

Wednesday was Damien Wilkins' day.

The Wolves were out of their game against the Nets going into the fourth. Brook Lopez had dominated them, they couldn't get anything to fall, Kevin Love was out, and Ricky Rubio was somewhere across the sea, somewhere waiting for his fee. But somehow, someway the Wolves crawled back into it and had the final possession. And that's when Damien Wilkins showed up for the first buzzer beater of 2009-10.

First Hero of 09-10 Is ... Damien Wilkins? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nets' (Soon-to-Be) Owner Reportedly Drops $19K on Lunch

Matt Watson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Nets

The uber-rich are people, too, right? Well, they may put their pants on one leg at a time, but they certainly don't eat meals like we do.

Consider this: Mikhail Prokhorov, the Russian billionaire expected to purchase a majority stake in the New Jersey Nets, recently celebrated a positive meeting with the NBA's governors by having lunch with a half dozen friends. What's the big deal, right?

Well, according to the New York Post, his tab for lunch at Nello's, a tony restaurant in New York's Upper East Side, was nearly $19,000. How exactly does one eat the cost equivalent of a mid-size sedan? Keep reading to find out.

The Post obtained a copy of the receipt:

Besides pricey booze, the mogul from Moscow and the men and women in his party spared no expense on food.

Their check included $825 for three orders of truffle tagliolini; $600 for four orders of truffle carpaccio; $210 for three orders of veal chops with mushrooms; and $72 for six large waters.

Not to mention $15 for a bowl of chicken soup.

The lunch was topped off with a $5,000 bottle of vintage 1998 Chateau Petrus and two bottles of 2002 Montrachet Latour for $3,600.

All in all, the bill topped $15,000, not including 25 percent ($3,750!) for gratuity. It's not everyday a waiter gets a tip that can pay for a semester of college.

While Prokhorov hasn't officially purchased the Nets just yet, he's expected to be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors very soon. He's already received the stamp of approval from NBA commissioner David Stern, who hailed Prokhorov's interest in the Nets as a positive sign for the NBA as a whole.

"We think it's a good thing that the attractiveness of the NBA has begun to attract billionaires that are not located only in the United States," Stern told reporters during a conference call on Friday. "[One] of the most successful leagues by many measures, the English Premier Leagues, has 20 teams, and 10 of those are owned by ownership groups that are not located within England. So we think it's good that the NBA is being recognized as an asset worthy of global investment."

Stern unfortunately wasn't asked whether $1,425 for truffles was a wise investment, but Nets fans have to be pleased: a guy who shells out 20 large to fill his stomach seems like he'd also be a guy who doesn't t blink twice at paying a luxury tax.

Are you listening, LeBron?

Nets' (Soon-to-Be) Owner Reportedly Drops $19K on Lunch originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Jersey Nets Renting Out Players to Birthday Parties for $25K

Will Brinson — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nets

Thinking back on my childhood, the one thing I really, really, really wanted on my birthday was for someone to remember it. But after that, easily the No. 2 option was having a famous athlete swing by my party and act like he was thrilled to be dealing with tons of children on a random Wednesday in the middle of the season.

Fortunately, for some child who has insanely rich parents, that dream will possibly come true one day, in the form of a ~~barely recognizable by most kids~~ famous member of the New Jersey Nets. That's right -- the Nets are so desperate for ticket sales that they're making player appearances value adds to those low priced ($25,000) 10-game ticket packages.

From the AP:

For $25,000, the Nets are offering four courtside tickets for 10 games, parking, access to a private lounge at the Izod Center with free food and beverages and something more - a one-hour appearance by a Nets player of your choice at your home, office, school or party.

"It will be interesting to have an NBA player come to your birthday party or come to your bar mitzvah or even just coming to your house for dinner for an hour when your friends are over," Nets chief executive Brett Yormark said. "That's a terrific thing and it's tough to put a price tag on it."

But hey, I wouldn't be an intrepid blogger if I didn't at least try to put a price on it, right?

Alright, let's go then: assuming that a Nets' courtside ticket $500 (even though the AP's report indicates that tickets are $750 a piece), because that's the price that a live chat operateor at nets.com indicated I would be paying.

Now, the "value add" of the Izod Center seems a little tricky; it's not like you're getting a private area or a luxury box. What you're getting is access to the same free food that every single courtside ticket holder gets. Now, the parking pass is a little tougher, because just buying straight courtside tix, you don't get that, although I would imagine that anyone who coughs up 25 large probably warrants someone from the ticket office calling the normal seatholder and requesting that they mail it back in.

Whatever, the point being is that you're paying $20,000 for the tickets and getting the parking pass thrown in (for 10 games, anyway, that's a decent value, relative to the normal purchase). And, on top of that, you're getting a New Jersey Net to come over for dinner, or to your kid's birthday party or for whatever the hell you want, within reason.

Is that good value? Well, actually, yeah. It's not that freaking bad, provided that you're a Nets fan and you have a ton of money to waste and you think your kid would forever cherish the time that Devin Harris attended his birthday. Or, you know, if you're willing to pay 25 grrrr to spend a few hours picking Brook Lopez' brain; now that's a steal.

New Jersey Nets Renting Out Players to Birthday Parties for $25K originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

Matt Watson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Raptors, Suns, Timberwolves

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are 14 days remaining.

For everything the NBA has done to level the playing field -- the draft lottery, the salary cap, the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax -- only a select handful of teams have a legitimate chance to win the championship in any given year.

I know optimism is supposed to reign supreme in October, but here's a harsh dose of reality: in the past 26 years, only seven different organizations have hoisted the Larry O'Brien, and six of those teams have won more than once. In fact, in a league where fluke success is rare and dynasties are the norm, there are 14 teams that have yet to win a title.

Will any of these perennial losers buck their unfortunate losing streaks in the near future? While the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics (winners of nine of the last 11 titles) would disagree, it's a very real possibility.

While many expect the Lakers to repeat -- and at least one Celtic has predicted Boston will win 72 games -- the Magic and Cavaliers have re-tooled through trades and free agency after finishing last season as the two strongest teams in the East.

In fact, this might be Cleveland's last chance in a long time -- if LeBron James can't close the deal this year, he might bolt via free agency (surely you've heard, right?), adding a sense of desperation to their usual motivation. If the Cavs can't separate from the pack early, don't be surprised to see Danny Ferry make wholesale changes by the trade deadline.

The Magic are somewhat better positioned for long-term success, although they mortgaged their future by swapping the promising Courtney Lee in a package for the aging Vince Carter. It also remains to be seen how they perform with the expectations of being an elite team now that they're no longer able to play the underdog role, although you can never accuse a Stan Van Gundy team of being unprepared.

But if Cleveland and Orlando fall short, are we destined to watch yet another dynasty stamp their name in the NBA record book? The Denver Nuggets, who took the eventual champion Lakers to six games in the Western Conference finals last year, beg to differ, as do fellow non-champions like the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets.

As for the Clippers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves? They all fall into the never-were and never-will-be categories (or at least not-anytime-soon). Same goes for the Suns, who don't seem to know if they're building for the future or playing for today, as well as the Nets and Pacers, who have some interesting building blocks but not much else.

The Raptors and Bobcats hope their rebuilding process is nearing completion, but they'll be considered a success if they simply reach the playoffs, let alone win a game or two in the first round. And if there's anything we can learn from past champions, it's that the real winners are built to last and are never content to simply be there.

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player to Watch: Yi Jianlian

Tom Ziller — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nets

FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.

This is Yi Jianlian. He plays basketball for the New Jersey Nets. He was once a highly desired commodity in the NBA -- so desired that Yi's threat to abstain from joining the NBA when an undesirable team draft resulted in several Important Men, including a United States Senator, traveling to China to negotiate Yi's departure to Milwaukee.

After one year and a Bucks regime change, Yi was traded for a well-respected player, Richard Jefferson. Along with giving up the quite-good Jefferson, the Nets also agreed to take on the onerous contract of Bobby Simmons. (There was also some future cap relief for New Jersey, but suffice it to say Yi was a big deal in this trade.)

Given all the attention, you'd think Yi Jianlian is a great basketball player by NBA standards. But he is not. Yi is a pretty substandard NBA player. The Nets desperately need that to change.

Of all 2007-08 rookies who played at least 400 minutes in 2008-09, Yi rates out as below average in almost all production and efficiency ratings. The kingpin of single-number production stats -- John Hollinger's PER -- rates Yi as the 26th best Class of 2007 product ... out of 34 players. In per-minute scoring, Yi rates 18th of 34, despite his false billing as the Chinese Dirk Nowitzki. Only in rebounding (where Yi rates 7th among the class, of which there are 17 players who primarily man the center, power forward or small forward positions) and shot blocking (9th, or just below average considering the forwards and centers only) does Yi beat the class average. I did not list steals or assists in the graphic, as Yi is obviously low in the rankings.

But Yi's terrible shooting efficiency is what truly stands out. Among the Class of 2007 products who played 400 minutes last season, only Adam Morrison was less efficient with the shot. Adam! Morrison!

Why has Yi been so inefficient? He is utterly devoted to the jump shot -- 75 percent of his FGAs came on jumpers last season, says 82games.com -- and utterly terrible at converting jump shots. And as bad as his jump-shooting percentages are, his conversion rate near the rim is even worse -- the data reports Yi's inside FG% as an astounding 36.3 percent. (By comparison, Yi's much shorter teammate Devin Harris converted at a 54.7 percent rate near the rim. Even Keyon Dooling was at 54.1 percent.)

Problematically, Yi is becoming a bigger part of the Nets attack, for several reasons. First, as mentioned, Yi is seen as important, as valuable, as vital. Highly regarded prospects do not get squelched on the court (unless you're in Chicago, I suppose). New Jersey put out a lot of resources for Yi, and Yi's success (however unlikely) could be major marketing boon in the New York market and overseas. (I mean, Yao got Shane Battier a shoe deal in China.) But also, the Nets traded Vince Carter for players (namely Courtney Lee) who will not replicate his offensive impact, and drafted a player in Terrence Williams who could be an elite defensive role player ... but surely not a possession soaker.

Harris and Brook Lopez can only shoot so much, and with Lee and Williams slated for the staring lineup, Yi is going to be forced to take on a big ol' chunk of offense. And unless Yi's notable offseason regimen (he bulked up) turns massive, immediate dividends, Yi's big ol' chunk of offense is going to be a drag on the Nets. Another season of the status quo might place Yi's NBA career in danger -- or, if nothing else, he'll become the type of international player that hangs onto the edge of the league while flirting with Europe, or in Yi's case perhaps the Chinese Basketball Association.

Making things worse is that unlike most third-year players, Yi is in all likelihood already 25 years old. His handlers billed the 7-footer as a 19-year-old prodigy in the run-up to the 2007 draft. Since his entrance to the NBA, it has been pretty acceptable to assume that the rumors (and potential proof) that Yi was born in 1984, not 1987, are true. Among notable 2007-08 rookies, only Al Thornton and Luis Scola were older. Meanwhile, players picked after Yi -- like Spencer Hawes, Julian Wright, Thaddeus Young -- are far younger, from 21 to 23. Just another stone on the wrong side of the "Yi was a bad choice" scale.

Player to Watch: Yi Jianlian originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Courtney Lee Out to Prove Magic Wrong

Ariel Helwani — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Nets, NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive

Following his successful rookie year with the Orlando Magic last season, Courtney Lee could have never imagined being traded. But such is the life in the NBA, where the Magic decided to ship one of their bright young stars for the opportunity to team Dwight Howard up with Vince Carter. As a result, Lee enters this upcoming season with the New Jersey Nets with an Epcot Center-sized chip on his shoulder.

FanHouse recently spoke to Lee at the NBA Live 10 launch event in New York about how long it took for him to get over the trade and why the Nets shouldn't be counted out before the season even starts. The video interview is below.

FH Preview: New Jersey Nets | SI.com: Brook Lopez Key for Nets
Fantasy Basketball: Don't Sleep on C-Lee | Play for Free at Fleaflicker

Courtney Lee Out to Prove Magic Wrong originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Nets

Matt Steinmetz — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

The Nets finished last season with a 34-48 record, and then went ahead and traded their second-leading scorer, Vince Carter, to Orlando. Yet they head into the 2009-10 season with more optimism than a team in their position should rightfully have.

Hey, that's the wonder of cap space. Virtually all of what New Jersey had done over the past two or three seasons has been leading to the summer of free agency in 2010.

Player to Watch: Yi Jianlian | Fantasy Sleeper: Courtney Lee
Nets Coverage | Schedule | Roster

It's not like the Nets don't have talent to work with right now, though. They've got a nice, young backcourt tandem in Devin Harris and Courtney Lee, and a big man, Brook Lopez, who has the look of a solid NBA center for the foreseeable future.

But it's New Jersey's salary cap situation that makes them intriguing, and the plan is to try to be a major player in the free-agent market. While there are qualifying offers and team options to consider, only Harris and rookie Terrence Williams are guaranteed for next season.

Put one free agent superstar into the Nets' mix next season and they really might have something in New Jersey. But first the Nets must play this season.

Coach Lawrence Frank, starting his sixth full season, has an explosive backcourt, and it will be worth watching whether he will allow them to play as uptempo as they want to play.

Williams, whom the Nets drafted with the No. 11 pick, could provide immediate defensive help on the perimeter. Not to mention he's athletic and is at his best in transition.

Lopez showed steady progress over during his rookie season and is the kind of big man who fits well here. Lopez is willing to defend and rebound and yet not demand touches at the offensive end.

No team in the NBA will have more cap space at season's end than the Nets. Who knows if they will be able to lure a big name? But there is nobody in next year's class beyond their financial reach.

The goal in New Jersey is to improve on last season's 34 wins ... maybe push it to .500 and make the playoffs. That would be a step in the right direction, and would likely go a ways when it comes to enticing that special someone.

Rare is the big-time free agent who wants to sign with a rebuilding team. For the most part, the best free agents like to go to franchises that already have foundations because it's easier to become an elite team from there.

For the Nets, this season is about setting the table for what they hope will be a summer to remember.

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 34-48 under Lawrence Frank. Finished 3rd in the Atlantic Division, 11th in the Eastern Conference.

Offense: 108.3 points per 100 possessions, 18th in the NBA. 17th in shooting, 10th in turnover rate, 22nd in offensive rebounding, 14th in free throw rate.

Defense: 111.0 points per 100 possession, 24th in the NBA. 21st in shooting defense, 19th in opponent turnover rate, 15th in defensive rebounding, 29th in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Devin Harris led the team in scoring (21.3 points per game), assists (6.9) and steals (1.7). Rookie Brook Lopez led the team with 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

All statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Ziller's post on Nets forward Yi Jianlian.

Yi's terrible shooting efficiency is what truly stands out. Among the Class of 2007 products who played 400 minutes last season, only Adam Morrison was less efficient with the shot. Adam! Morrison!

Why has Yi been so inefficient? He is utterly devoted to the jump shot -- 75 percent of his FGAs came on jumpers last season, says 82games.com -- and utterly terrible at converting jump shots. And as bad as his jump-shooting percentages are, his conversion rate near the rim is even worse -- the data reports Yi's inside FG% as an astounding 36.3 percent. (By comparison, Yi's much shorter teammate Devin Harris converted at a 54.7 percent rate near the rim. Even Keyon Dooling was at 54.1 percent.)

See Ziller's full post on Yi.

Fantasy Sleeper

FanHouse's Tom Lorenzo previews one fantasy sleeper to watch from each team. Here's a preview of his post on Nets guard Courtney Lee.

The 2009-10 New Jersey Nets have a number of up-and-coming talent waiting in the wings. Maybe the most promising of them all is newly acquired swingman Courtney Lee. As a rookie Lee averaged 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 1.1 three-pointers (40.4 percent), 45 percent from the floor and 83 percent from the free-throw line in just 25.1 minutes per game. In New Jersey he won't only see his minutes increase, but he'll also see an increase in touches -- he had a relatively low usage rate (14.0) in Orlando.

See Lorenzo's full post on Lee.

Offseason Tracker

IN: Courtney Lee (trade), Rafer Alston (trade), Tony Battie (trade), Terrence Williams (draft).

OUT: Vince Carter (trade), Ryan Anderson (trade).

FanHouse Preview: Nets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Starters: 5 Coaches Who Might Start Feeling the Heat

Matt Steinmetz — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Hawks, Hornets, Nets, NBA Coaches

Who doesn't like a list, especially on a Monday morning when that's about all you can handle?

Training camps are opening, so here are five coaches likely to start feeling the heat if their teams don't get off to good starts.

Mike Dunleavy, L.A. Clippers: The Clippers head into the season with expectations, which might not be the best news for Dunleavy. He's got to figure out a way to reconfigure his relationship with Baron Davis so that the veteran point guard once again can thrive. If Dunleavy and Davis aren't on the same page, there's no hope in L.A.

Mike Woodson, Atlanta: Woodson is in a tricky spot. After advancing to the second round of the playoffs last season, the logical conclusion would seem to be that this is the year to take the next step. Only with Boston, Cleveland and Orlando, just how are the Hawks going to do that? It's going to be tough, and Woodson's the one who'll get blamed if Atlanta can't break through.

Lawrence Frank, New Jersey: Hard to believe, but Frank is starting his sixth full season with the Nets, and that's really the only reason we're putting him here. It's more a numbers thing, a percentages play, if you know what I mean. In the ruthless world of hiring and firing NBA coaches, Frank seems due.

Byron Scott, New Orleans: The Hornets took a step back last season, winning fewer games than the season before and getting thumped in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. It's clear New Orleans believes the acquisition of Emeka Okafor will put them back with the elite teams in the Western Conference. You know what that means for Byron Scott if it doesn't.

Jim O'Brien, Indiana: Let's face it, O'Brien's two years in Indiana have been pretty nondescript, and it's not like this season is setting up to be anything special. The Pacers are coming off back-to-back 36-win seasons, and they're banged up to start 2009-10. It's a little bit of a double-whammy for the Pacers, who aren't likely to be good or entertaining. Yes, O'Brien signed an extension last week but that's only going to make the decision that much more awkward if things go South.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

For Starters: 5 Coaches Who Might Start Feeling the Heat originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magic Don't Want Vince Carter Fitting In

Tim Povtak — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: Magic, Nets

ORLANDO -- Ever since he was traded to the Orlando Magic almost three months ago, Vince Carter has said all the right things. He's talked endlessly about fitting in with a team that reached the NBA Finals last season, about altering his game to fit with center Dwight Howard, and about being happy to change the way he has played his entire career.

On Friday, coach Stan Van Gundy finally asked him to stop.

He doesn't want Carter fitting in. He wants him standing out.

"I don't want him stepping on the court thinking about fitting in. He can fit in, in the locker room. We didn't bring him here to be a guy who is just moving the ball,'' Van Gundy said. "We want him attacking. I want the guy who has been so good all these years. I want all his greatness."

Carter chuckled Friday when told about Van Gundy's remarks. He is a seven-time All-Star with a career scoring average of 23.5 points. The Magic gave up promising Courtney Lee, veteran Tony Battie and point guard Rafer Alston to get him. The Magic lost Hedo Turkoglu to free agency this summer, and they want Carter to more than replace him.

The Magic, like a majority of NBA teams, open training camp this Tuesday.

"Yes, he (Van Gundy) has told me, he wants the guy who beat him in the past, the guy who scored 42 on him," Carter said Friday. "He said he wants it each and every night. I told him I can still be that guy. But I also said I didn't care if I averaged 23-25 points a game. I want to average 55-60 wins a season."

Carter, 32, hasn't stopped smiling about being traded to Orlando. He grew up in nearby Daytona Beach. He has spent his offseason in Orlando for the last five years. He never has played with a center like Howard. And he never has been past the second round of the playoffs.

"The timing is perfect for me," Carter said. "I've wanted this opportunity since I came into the league. In my 11 years, I've seen it all, done it all, been through it all. My game has matured. Now I want to win it all."

The Nets traded Carter as part of their rebuilding efforts and desire to create massive salary cap room for next summer. He has two years remaining on his contract, paying him $16 million this season and $17 million next. The Magic want to win the NBA title this season. The biggest issue is whether the loss of Turkoglu and the addition of Carter will change the delicate but very successful team chemistry.

Carter has been a regular this summer at the Magic's training facility, working the past few weeks with almost the entire roster of players. He went to Philadelphia and point guard Jameer Nelson's home for a week last month with most of the team for a bonding session.

Van Gundy already has changed his playbook for this season to include a few of the plays that Carter was successful with during his years in Toronto and New Jersey. Howard remains the centerpiece of the franchise, but Carter is expected to be his co-star this season.

"I think I proved last year that I still got it," Carter said. "I can be what they want me to be. I'm just so excited to be here. I'll do anything. I'm a team guy, and we'll see where that goes."

Magic Don't Want Vince Carter Fitting In originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nate Robinson, Andre Iguodala, Brook Lopez Celebrate NBA 2K10 Release

Ariel Helwani — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Knicks, Nets, NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive

The start of the NBA season is right around the corner, and that means the much-anticipated release of NBA 2K10. The video game hits stores nationwide on Oct. 6.

FanHouse attended the 2K10 launch party in New York City on Thursday, and spoke to Nate Robinson about re-signing with the Knicks, Andre Iguodala about the greatest moment in NBA2K history, and Brook Lopez about his new boss. Check out the video below.

Nate Robinson, Andre Iguodala, Brook Lopez Celebrate NBA 2K10 Release originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will New Nets Owner's Social Reputation Hurt or Help?

Tom Ziller — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Nets

Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski has a tour de force column on what the kids would refer to as Mikhail Prokhorov's steez. The new Nets owner has quite the social reputation (that's one way of putting it), and Woj investigates fully ...

... just as the NBA plans to. One of the conditions for the sale of the Nets to the Russian billionaire is approval by the NBA Board of Governors, which is a fancy name for the collection of NBA owners. Twenty-two of the other 29 owners must give the thumbs-up before Prokhorov can take the reins. An NBA official told FanHouse Wednesday this could happen at the league meetings in October or April, or by correspondence at any point.

The question is whether any owners will raise a stink about Prokhorov's reputation, which includes accusations of involvement in a prostitute ring and, less criminally, a desire to have good-looking women around at all times.

Woj quotes two anonymous NBA executives who attended the Euroleague Final Four (where Prokhorov's CSKA Moscow competed). The execs, Woj writes, "marveled over the spillover of Prokhorov-supplied blondes and brunettes that turned the tournament locale into a remote Playboy Mansion." This is not couched as some sort of demerit -- in fact, Woj seems to argue this will help Prokhorov connect with his millionaire players. To which I say ... well, duh.

The matter of the alleged prostitution ring is a bit more serious, and could potentially draw some attention from other owners and the league office itself. Julian Garcia of the New York Daily News recently reported on Prokhorov's involvement. The billionaire was arrested and detained in the French Alps in 2007 for suspected involvement in a prostitution ring -- it was thought that Prokhorov flew women into vacation spots to serve his friends and associates, with the women, of course, getting paid for their time spent. Prokhorov was released without charges being brought, however.

Still, a New Jersey congressman is calling for a full investigation of Prokhorov by the NBA -- even if said congressman thinks the NBA's commissioner is actually Joe Pesci's dumb sidekick in the Home Alone movies. The congressman's interest is surely more tied to the specific new brand of New Jersey pride that has sought to bury Brooklyn and get the Nets to Newark, where a nice new arena could use an NBA team. But Congress is Congress, and it's notable that there is wide interest in painting this Russian with the traditional Cold War era Russian paintbrush.

Where the real damage will be done over the next few years is in the New York media, where every report of a lavish Prokhorov party will be accompanied by snarky headlines and faux-puritanical finger-wagging. Certain sectors of journalism know how to prosecute the young and rich in the public eye -- heck, basketball players know that better than most. While I won't cry for Prokhorov's coming exposure, and obviously think any illegal activity should be covered vigorously, I'm a bit worried this will all become a Page Six running gag, and Nets players (current and future) will be tarred by association. What's the saying? "Don't hate the player?"

Will New Nets Owner's Social Reputation Hurt or Help? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Owner Can Revive the Nets Quickly

Tom Ziller — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:35:00 EST

Filed under: Nets

The Nets are not expected to do particularly well in the win-loss ledger this season. The squad missed the playoffs in the East last season, and has since swapped All-Star caliber Vince Carter for Courtney Lee and a few role players, and while Terrence Williams is expected to be a solid rookie he's not exactly superstar material. This is a rebuilding year.

But the work personnel boss Rod Thorn did to clear the books for the Summer of 2010 has been admirable, the Carter trade in particular opening up a gaping payroll hole just when a gaping payroll hole will be a good thing. As of today, the Nets can expect to have upwards of $30 million of cap space next summer, as much as any other team in the league.

If new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov -- a Russian billionaire who by no account will be shy about spending his fortune stateside -- wants to make a big splash in his first summer in the NBA, he will certainly have the opportunity.

According to figures provided by ShamSports, New Jersey is on the hook for only $18 million in salary for 2010-11. But the team has some key options it will pick up, and I'd expect (barring trades and not accounting for 2010 draft picks) the Nets will have $23 million of 2010-11 salary locked up.

If the most dire NBA projections come to pass, and the salary cap level is set at $52 million, the Nets would have $29 million of cap space to play with beginning July 1, 2010. Some expect the cap will only fall to $55 million, which would leave the Nets with $32 million in cap space.

What will rougly $30 million by you? Well, a max contract player with seven years in the league -- such candidates include LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade -- will pull up to $16 million in 2010-11 salary. Conceivably, if the cap does not fall as much as feared or if the Nets are able to jettison Eduardo Najera (who has $2.5 million in guaranteed salary for 2010-11) for an expiring contract, the Nets could be in play for two maximum contract players.

And of course, the Nets have the fairly desirable core of Devin Harris, an up-tempo point guard, and Brook Lopez, a talented and hard-working center. I'm not saying the team will be able to woo LeBron into spending a year in New Jersey before christening the Brooklyn Nets, or that a high-powered forward like Bosh or Amare Stoudemire will leap at the chance.

But Prokhorov will have one of the largest pots of cash to go along with the glitz of Brooklyn and the starry reputation he's quickly gaining. The Eastern powers ought to be watching behind them, because it shouldn't be take long for the New Nets to be breathing down their backs.

New Owner Can Revive the Nets Quickly originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nets Management Is Toast

Tom Ziller — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Rumors, NBA Coaches

There are myriad sightlines to Mikhail Prokhorov's purchase of the New Jersey Nets. Locally, the injection of capital saves the team's move to Brooklyn. Thanks to Prokhorov's immense wealth -- only Portland's Paul Allen has fatter assets -- the Nets will surely become major spenders in coming years. And nationwide, the entrance of a Russian capitalist into such a high-profile American industry will surely draw massive attention, both good and bad.

But Dave D'Allesandro of the Newark Star-Ledger has his mind on the Nets basketball management structure. Rod Thorn, the team's basketball ops boss, is entering the final year of his contract. Same for coach Lawrence Frank. D'Alessandro notes that in his Tuesday LiveJournal entry detailing his interest in the Nets, Prokhorov cited the promotion of Russian coaches and managers as a driving force behind his potential entry to the NBA.

What that means for our comrades in East Rutherford ... well, it is not good. Like Dave D., I have a hunch Thorn, Frank, Kiki Vandeweghe and the rest of the staff will be saying "dasvidania" at season's end.

New owners habitually jettison management when taking over a team -- it's an accepted practice going back to the 1970s. And Prokhorov's a special case: he has money, he has nationalistic pride, he has a desire to further the careers of his countrymen and friends, he has an aching need to win (as seen with his CSKA Moscow club) and he has completely carte blanche. If Thorn's contract extended into 2010-11, perhaps you could see Prokhorov holding off on the upheaval. But the new owner has literally no incentive to stay with the status quo.

Maybe there's even an anti-incentive to staying with Thorn beyond April. I mean, the Nets have oodles of cap space this summer, and every superstar alive will be a free agent. July 1, 2010 is the opportunity for the Nets. Prokhorov is going to want his people in place for that.

Frank is good coach and will find a job quickly. Thorn, who has been around forever, might end up back at the league office (he's close with commissioner David Stern). But wherever they go, I am fairly convinced it won't be Brooklyn.

Nets Management Is Toast originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mikhail Prokhorov, Russian Billionaire, Buys the Nets

Tom Ziller — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:52:00 EST

Filed under: Nets

Well, that got out of hand fast: Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov has officially purchased the New Jersey Nets. Speculation about Prokhorov has been building over the past week, despite Nets officials denying the team was up for sale. But Prokhorov and incumbent owner Bruce Ratner announced the deal today.

According to a Nets press release, Prokhorov's investment vehicle Onexim will take an 80% stake in the Nets, a 45% stake in the Barclays Center (the Nets' unbuilt Brooklyn home) and an option for a 20% stake in Ratner's Atlantic Yards development. Prokorov will pay $200 million to get into the league, and it has been reported that he will put $700 million toward the construction of Barclays.

Prokhorov is said to be the wealthiest man in Russia. He made his fortune like all good Russian ingenues: natural resources. Nickel was his mineral of choice, and Forbes has reported Prokhorov is worth $9.5 billion. Among NBA owners, only Portland's Paul Allen ($16 billion) is richer.

The Nets' release marks the first quarter of 2010 as a tentative date for the closing of the deal. Twenty-two of the other 29 NBA owners must approve the sale before it can be consummated. An NBA official says the vote could take place as soon as the league's October meeting.

Ratner hopes to break ground on Barclays this December. The Nets hope to open the 2011-12 season in Brooklyn.

Be sure to follow FanHouse for more on the Prokhorov purchase.

Mikhail Prokhorov, Russian Billionaire, Buys the Nets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Russian Tycoon Tells Nets Owners He Wants the Team

Tom Ziller — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:50:00 EST

Filed under: Nets

As previously reported, Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov is indeed looking to purchase the New Jersey Nets. Prokhorov posted a LiveJournal entry detailing his weekend proposal to extant Nets shareholders. I don't speak Russian, so I'll depend on Reuters's reportage, which states Prokhorov plans to invest $700 million in the construction of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in exchange for ownership of the team (and assumedly a big chunk of the gym).

The arena and the team go hand-in-hand -- without the Nets, the arena promoters have an extra 45 or so dates to fill up. Having an NBA team attached long-term to a building cuts down some of the risk in constructing the building in the first place. Situations we've seen in Oklahoma City and Kansas City -- where a city builds an arena to get a team, instead of having the team in place first -- are rare. So you see why Prokhorov's interest spreads beyond the development side of the Brooklyn equation. (He also happens to be a massive hoops fan.)

Of course, Brooklyn is its own beast. I don't think it's unfair to say current Nets majority owner Bruce Ratner is primarily concerned with Barclays getting built at this point so that he can eventually move forward with the rest of the surrounding Atlantic Yards development. Ratner has been slammed by the economic downturn and tough legal challenges to the Atlantic Yards project. Selling off Barclays Center before ground is broke -- and giving up the top tenant in the process -- isn't ideal, and it's certainly got to be a bit embarrassing for a power broker like Ratner.

But the alternate is apparently millions of dollars of sunken costs, since no one else seems to be offering to rescue the project for the low, low price of Devin Harris and Brook Lopez.

As Reuters reports, Prokhorov would be the first non-North American NBA majority owner. There are no league rules preventing foreign-born team owners, but 22 of the other 29 team owners must vote to approve any change in ownership. It's unclear how many current owners still harbor Cold War mentalities.

Russian Tycoon Tells Nets Owners He Wants the Team originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Questions Surround Yi Jianlian's Status for Nets Season Opener

Tom Ziller — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:39:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Rumors

Opening night still seems so far away (too far away), but there are already questions as to whether Yi Jianlian will be available for New Jersey. Reports surfaced this week placing Yi in China playing for his native Guangdong in the National Games at the end of October. The Nets kick off the season October 28 ... which also happens to be the final day of the China Games.

But Nets boss Rod Thorn told the Newark Star-Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro that Yi will not be missing any Nets games. Which implies that Yi will not be participating in the China Games. Which is not going to make the Chinese Basketball Association very happy.

Tensions between the CBA and the NBA have been around the entire decade, since Wang Zhizhi refused to report to his Chinese team Bayi at the conclusion of his second season with the Mavericks. Wang was essentially treated as a defector, and it took several years to get Wang back into the nation's basketball system's good graces. The CBA also clashed with NBA interests in 2001, when a top official from Shanghai's CBA club prevented Yao Ming from entering the NBA draft. The club had pushed for a massive share of Yao's NBA earnings in exchange for his release from an unwritten lifetime contract. (In an odd turn of events, Yao now owns the Shanghai Sharks.)

Guangdong famously figured in Yi's initial NBA drama, when the club insisted it may not allow the forward to join the Bucks (who drafted Yi in 2007) because Milwaukee was not one of its approved destinations. Yi eventually made his way to Wisconsin, though the Bucks traded him to New Jersey after one mediocre season.

Yi figures to be the starting power forward for NJ on opening night ... provided he's not in China wearing a Guangdong jersey. The CBA could fix this issue in the future, of course, by moving its National Games up. Or by not requesting the few NBA players from China to come back and play for their regions, considering the NBA players are already asked to represent China in FIBA play.

Questions Surround Yi Jianlian's Status for Nets Season Opener originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA FanHouse

Nets' Douglas-Roberts Has H1N1 Virus

At This Rate They'll Be New Jersey Nots

NBA TV Analyst Calls Yi Jianlian a 'Chinaman,' Later Apologizes

What Did They Say?

Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey

First Hero of 09-10 Is ... Damien Wilkins?

Nets' (Soon-to-Be) Owner Reportedly Drops $19K on Lunch

New Jersey Nets Renting Out Players to Birthday Parties for $25K

Tip-Off Timer: 14 Teams Without a Title

Player to Watch: Yi Jianlian

Courtney Lee Out to Prove Magic Wrong

FanHouse Preview: Nets

For Starters: 5 Coaches Who Might Start Feeling the Heat

Magic Don't Want Vince Carter Fitting In

Nate Robinson, Andre Iguodala, Brook Lopez Celebrate NBA 2K10 Release

Will New Nets Owner's Social Reputation Hurt or Help?

New Owner Can Revive the Nets Quickly

Nets Management Is Toast

Mikhail Prokhorov, Russian Billionaire, Buys the Nets

Russian Tycoon Tells Nets Owners He Wants the Team

Questions Surround Yi Jianlian's Status for Nets Season Opener