2007 Nets Preseason Press Confeence

[RPF]

Welcome to the 2007 New Jersey Nets preseason press conference. Before we get started we would like to congratulate the champions, the Denver Nuggets and TheSyndicate on a title run last season. Last season we took some steps forward in our plan to bring a championship here to New Jersey. We want to thank Vince Carter for his time here and we are sorry to lose his veteran leadership. Last season we were fortunate enough to make the playoffs but met up with the Baron of Philly and couldn't contain him.

We started off this year without a pick in the draft because of the trade for Mike Miller but we were able to buy into the draft and select Daequan Cook and Juan Carlos Navarro. Then we bought back our defensive anchor, Chris Kaman. We followed that up with picking up some quality rotation players and bringing back fan favorite Jamal Crawford back. I would like to thank the training staff for our successful training camp.

So with all that being said, things are looking up for us this season. We hope to contend for the division but that will not be an easy task. The Atlantic has added another championship gm in the fold with InnerGI taking over for the New York Knickerbocker franchise. This concludes our remarks and we now open the floor to questions.

[78#]

You've had two very successful offseasons in a row. I felt you're roster was great last season, but it appears the team is even better this season. How do you feel this team compares to last season? Also, you matched Kaman's max offer from New Orleans. Are you pleasantly surprised with how he's rewarding your faith in him or did you see this coming?

[RPF]

Thanks for the question, we feel that this years team is more well rounded than last years. We will miss the veteran leadership of Vince Carter but we had a good training camp and we're focused on contending for the division. Enough cannot be said of the improvement of Chris Kaman, he is the reason why we felt comfortable with letting VC walk.

[NOLa.]

This team is being pegged as a step below the Celtics, but up there to compete for a top 4 seed in the East. Do you feel that's accurate?

Sent via Morse code

[RPF]

I would hope that the roster we put together can compete but now its time to do it on the court not on paper.

[JNR]

GWR: With so many talented players and only one basketball to go around, the obvious question is which player is going to step up to lead this team. Have you seen anything in training camp to suggest which player is ready to be the leader?

[RPF]

GWR: With so many talented players and only one basketball to go around, the obvious question is which player is going to step up to lead this team. Have you seen anything in training camp to suggest which player is ready to be the leader?

We have someone in mind but we prefer not to put it out there in the press to add pressure on them.

[IamQuailman]

How does it feel to have such solid foundation at 2 of the positions that are the most difficult to fill with stars in this league (PG and C)?