--The Nets, who have the 10th, 21st and 40th picks barring trades, have scheduled their initial group of candidates for pre-draft workouts that will start on Wednesday, June 4. The Nets have commitments from 37 players so far and will likely bring in more than 50 players. Several key names are still being scheduled while some sure-fire first five picks such as Derrick Rose of Memphis and Michael Beasley of Kansas State, have declined invitations.
The first workout group includes Darrell Arthur, the 6-9 power forward from national champ Kansas. The Nets also have scheduled workouts for 7-0 Texas A & M center DeAndre Jordan, 7-0 Nevada center JaVale McGee, Kansas All-America forward Brandon Rush, 6-10 Florida Southern power forward Marreese Speights, Arizona shooting guard Chase Budinger, 7-0 Ohio State center Kosta Koufos, Memphis forwards Joey Dorsey and Chris Douglas-Roberts. One intriguing day, Thursday June 12, has two power forwards scheduled who both are high on the Nets' list: UCLA's 6-9 Kevin Love, and LSU's 6-10 Anthony Randolph. --Much of the off-season so far has contained various rumors regarding a deal with Denver for Carmelo Anthony. While there were talks that may have gone beyond the exploratory arena, team insiders insisted the deal never approached the serious stage. There is little chance of a revival and the Nets publicly declined any comment.
"I don't comment on any trade rumors and it's just a rumor," said general manager Kiki Vandeweghe who indicated the Nets continue talking with virtually every team to take the trade market temperature while looking to improve.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "What this team needs is toughness at the basket, an interior presence, and like a lot of teams we need some shooting." -- GM Kiki Vandeweghe, addressing the Nets' chief needs to be addressed in the off-season.
