Having gotten no help on the free-agent front, Nets coach Lawrence Frank is looking for improvement from within.
"The key for us is going to be all of our players putting forth a great effort. The whole has to be greater than the sum of the parts," Frank said. "Together we have to celebrate the team, celebrate the success of teammates. It's not 'I' but 'we.' " The Nets' free-agent plan has been to wait until most signings go through, then maybe add a body. The Nets again are young, very young. Six players (Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Terrence Williams, Sean Williams, Yi Jianlian) have two years or less experience.
And though they have athletes, the Nets are not necessarily an athletic team. Yes, they have Lee and Devin Harris and the Williamses. But they also have Lopez along with Eduardo Najera, Bobby Simmons and Jarvis Hayes, nice veterans but hardly track-meet material. Plus, they will be without Vince Carter's vastly overlooked leadership.
"We have high hopes. We expect a special season," Frank said. "We have to embrace the opportunity we have, embrace the challenge."
Frank, meanwhile, could be patching and spackling his coaching staff. Assistant Brian Hill was scheduled to meet with Pistons officials in Detroit last night to discuss the possibility of joining John Kuester's staff.
"We are exploring the possibility of adding Brian Hill to our coaching staff, but nothing is imminent at this point," said Kuester, whose Pistons yesterday officially signed Knicks free-agent forward Chris Wilcox.
Additionally, Nets aide Roy Rogers, who worked diligently with the big men, is considering an offer of more money and security to be a Rutgers assistant.
Harris and Lopez start practicing today in Las Vegas with the Team USA mini-camp. The two Nets stars are among 23 of the NBA's best young players invited to compete.
