The Brooklyn Nets without Billy King, what could have been
In July 2010, the New Jersey Nets hired Billy King to be their general manager and to help build a championship team heading into Brooklyn. However, it seems as though King did the exact opposite.
He traded away young players and draft picks for underachieving stars, some of which were already at the end of their careers.
But what if that didn’t happen? What if Billy King was never hired as general manager? What if the Nets had all of those draft picks? Let’s take a look at the more notable trades King made and who the Nets would have on their team if it weren’t for the former GM.
It all began in February 2011 when King made a splash by acquiring Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz. In the deal, the Nets gave up Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two future first round picks. Williams is no longer on the team. Favors is a solid big man in Utah. The two future picks were Enes Kanter (3rd overall pick in the 2011 draft) and Gorgui Dieng (acquired by the Nets from a trade with the Golden State Warriors in 2008 when they were trying to get rid of guard Marcus Williams).
King was not done that day in February. He also traded Troy Murphy and a 2012 second round pick to the Warriors. In return, the Nets received Brandon Wright and Dan Gadzuric. Sounds like a minor deal right? Wrong! The Nets’ second round pick in 2012 was the 35th overall pick. The Golden State Warriors picked none other than Draymond Green, who is arguably one of the most well-rounded forwards in the NBA today.
Next in King’s terrible tenure came the trade for Gerald Wallace. In this deal, The Nets gave Portland Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a top three protected first round pick. That pick only dropped to the 6th and the Blazers chose guard Damian Lillard.
It doesn’t end there and it won’t for a few years. The Nets traded for Joe Johnson a few months later. While the picks haven’t turned out to be anyone significant, the Hawks were able to improve their draft position a number of times thanks to King.
We must also mention the insane trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. They were two players who were clearly past their prime. Why would a team give so many draft picks for them? With the first Nets pick that they got, they picked up James Young. That’s only the beginning and the Nets still owe them picks in 2016, 2018 and a swap in 2017.
The Nets would have had the opportunity to draft Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Enes Kanter, with a plethora of future picks to build around the young core of Derrick Favors and Brook Lopez. Instead, the Nets are left with a bleak future with no first-round picks til 2019.
Thanks, Billy King!