The Nets aren’t playing around this summer. They have moved some players to make room to spend on free agents or trades. Jay-Z and the rest of the Nets’ ownership are flying to Akron, Ohio to try to convince LeBron James to play in New Jersey. Even if the Nets lose out on “The King” look for them to be throwing a lot of cash around this summer. Look for the Nets to leave no stone unturned this summer. If the Nets lose out on James look for them to maybe try to put together a deal for Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets as he has recently been placed on the trading block. If the Nets can’t get either of those guys look for them to go after guys like D-Wade, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, David Lee and Carlos Boozer. If the Nets get to Plan C they will be disappointed.

The Nets have traded 22-year old power forward Yi Jianlian to the Washington Wizards for 29-year old SG/SF Quinton Ross. Yi played in 52 games (51 starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 31.8 minutes, 12.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. In two years with the Nets, Yi played in 113 games (103 starts) in which he averaged 27.2 minutes, 10.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Quinton Ross played in 52 games (7 starts) for the Wizards & Mavericks last season and he averaged 10.8 minutes, 1.8 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 422 games (165 starts) in his six years in the NBA and he has averaged 19.2 minutes, 4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. The Nets don’t expect much out of Ross. They made this trade to clear up cap space for free agency as on the surface they got ripped off.

The Nets have waived 30-year old PG/SG Keyon Dooling. Dooling played in 53 games (8 starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 18.3 minutes, 6.9 points, 1.0 rebound and 2.5 assists per game. He played in 130 games (26 starts) in his two years with the Nets in which he averaged 23.6 minutes, 8.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Dooling is a decent backup guard and he should have no problem finding a new job for the 2010-11 season.

The Nets have acquired 22-year old forward Damion James (#24 overall) from the Hawks in return for guard Jordan Crawford (#27 overall) and center Tibor Pleiss (#31 overall). The Hawks then sold Pleiss to the Thunder. Damion James played in 34 games (all starts) at Texas last season and he averaged 18.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He finished his career at Texas having played in 140 games (all starts) in which he averaged 13.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocked shots per game. I really like this trade for the Nets as James is a very polished forward who will be able to work big minutes early in his career.

The Nets have selected 18-year old power forward Derrick Favors with the 3rd overall pick of the NBA Draft. He is a big guy at 6′10″, 246 pounds so he could get a lot bigger. Favors played in 36 games (35 starts) at Georgia Tech last season and he averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.1 blocked shots per game. Teaming Favors with center Brook Lopez give the Nets an outstanding set of young big men to build the franchise around. I look for the Nets to try to move Yi Jianlian in this draft as they don’t likely want anyone blocking Favors on the roster.