Nets are Officially Brooklyn Bound

HOW THE NETS GOT TO BROOKLYN
Last night was the final home game for the "New Jersey" Nets. They close the season in Toronto on Thursday. After 35 years in New Jersey, the Nets are moving to Brooklyn. As of April 30 they will officially be the Brooklyn Nets when they unveil their new logo and colors. They will immediately begin play in Brooklyn in 2012-13. The Nets move to Brooklyn has been in the works for many years now.

 

The Nets have been subject to move for over a decade. A group of real estate developers bought the team in 1998 with intention of moving them out of East Rutherford to Newark. The group would agree to a deal with late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to form YankeeNets. They ultimately created the YES Network to broadcast games. Bruce Ratner, a real-estate mogul, purchased the team in 2004 with intent to move them to Brooklyn. Ratner was the main guy in the Atlantic Yards development project and wanted to use the Nets as a main attraction.

 

In 2009 Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov purchased the Nets from Ratner. Proko, for short, bought the Nets from Ratner in a deal that included moving them to Brooklyn and Proko helping Ratner fund the Atlantic Yards project and Barclays Center, where the Nets will move next season.

 

By the end of the 2009-2010 season the Nets lease at the Meadowlands was up and they signed a two-year lease with the Prudential Center in Newark. Stability is not a word often associated with the franchise; as you can see, three cities in 14 years, four owners.

 

The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958 and people around Brooklyn have been clamoring for a team ever since. Bruce Ratner and Prokhorov have made that dream a reality. Jay-Z is also a small-stake owner with the team and has helped promote the team. Prokhorov, a billionaire, is the third richest man in the world according to Forbes. So for him to help fund Ratner's project is small change to him. Proko's incentive is to own an NBA team and help globalize the NBA and help basketball in Russia reach new heights.

 

The Barclays Center opens in 2012 and is expected to be amongst the league's nicest arenas.

 

LAST GAME

I was there to witness the final game in NJ last night. I feel right off the bat that this game would have been a lot more exciting and emotional if it was held at the IZOD Center (formerly Continental Airlines Arena) where the Nets played from 1981-2010, including their two NBA Finals seasons. The Nets moved from East Rutherford to Newark in 2009 for their final two years in NJ. They shared the Prudential Center with the Devils.

 

The Nets held a very nice ceremony at halftime, welcoming back former players and introducing them at halftime. The culmination of the ceromony was Todd McCullough and Kerry Kittles walking out the Eastern Conference finals trophies of 2002 and 2003. The team also played highlight videos throughout the evening and played video messages from former members of the team but are currently under other contracts. Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, Byron Scott, and Brian Scalibrine were amongst the players to wish the Nets well in their future in Brooklyn.

THE FUTURE
The game itself, featured Deron Williams and Brook Lopez in street clothes. The Nets lost to the 76ers but it does not really matter. The loss was the last the Nets will ever endure in NJ. People hope it's also the last losing season for a long time. Deron Williams is a free agent after the season and there has been a lot of speculation about where he will end up. The Nets have also been the favorites to land Dwight Howard for quite some time, if the Magic chose to deal him.

A combo of Williams and Howard brings instant credibilty and excitement to Brooklyn. It also likely brings a playoff contending team. The Nets starting five (using their current lineup, when healthy) of Deron, Marshon Brooks, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Brook Lopez is not bad, in fact that lineup, with a healthy Deron especially, could likely compete for a playoff spot. The Nets have a lot of questions to answer this off-season. Dwight Howard will be the big target.

They lost out on the Rockets first round pick, which they would have owned if Houston made the playoffs. The Nets traded their first round pick to the Blazers for the deadline deal that brought them Gerald Wallace. The pick is top three protected so there is a chance they keep the pick and traded essentially nothing for the man known as "Crash." Avery Johnson does bring stability to the coaching staff as he is in this for the long run. The last two years have been disappointing but the roster has not been very talented so it is not Avery's fault. GM Billy King and Avery have been together for two years and have worked well and are confident they have the right plan and the support of ownership.
 
CONCLUSION
I have been to many Nets games, including during their runs to the finals and the Nets truly have some smart and passionate fans. You just do not see or hear them often, especially the last few years while the team has struggled. But many believe Brooklyn is the answer to reviving the franchise.

 

New Jersey Governor Christie, in a statement last night said "good riddance" to the Nets. As a New Jersey native myself, I have no ill-feeling towards them. In fact, I wish the Nets well and hope that with a new city, new identity they can have long-lasting success in New York.