(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets officially became the Brooklyn Nets
back on April 30.
Relevancy quickly followed with CNBC reporting that on that day alone, the
Brooklyn Nets sold more team merchandise than the New Jersey Nets did in the
entirety of the 2011-12 season.
"Fans see the Brooklyn Nets as being cool and different, just like Brooklyn
is," Nets CEO Brett Yorkman told the cable channel. "We're very pleased with
our sales numbers, and to this point none of it is player related."
Player related will be the key, however, and the Nets are certainly hoping
that kind of excitement will convince star point guard Deron Williams, an
unrestricted free agent, to spurn his hometown of Dallas and stay with the
Nets.
Williams buying in could also be the key to landing All-Star center Dwight
Howard in a trade.
The Nets currently only have four players under contract and don't have a
first round pick so it's all about financial flexibility for general manager
Billy King.
Players Under Contract: G/F: MarShon Brooks; G: Anthony Morrow; C: Johan
Petro; C: Jordan Williams
Free Agents: G: Jordan Farmar (unrestricted, player option); G: Sundiata
Gaines (restricted); G/F: Gerald Green; F: Kris Humphries; F: Damion James
G: Armon Johnson (restricted); C: Brook Lopez (restricted); F: DeShawn
Stevenson; F: Gerald Wallace (unrestricted, player option); G: Deron Williams
(unrestricted, player option); C-F: Shelden Williams
Recent Draft History:
2011: JaJuan Johnson (27), Jordan Williams (36)
2010: Derrick Favors (3), Jordan Crawford (27), Tibor Pleiss (31)
2009: Terrence Williams (11)
2008: Brook Lopez (10), Ryan Anderson (21), Chris Douglas-Roberts (40)
2007: Sean Williams (17)
Draft picks: 2nd round (57th overall)
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