1996
The departures of Coleman and Anderson would lead to the addition of John Calipari. Coach Cal was brought in to help the Nets hit the reset button on their team.
That summer, the Nets were awarded with the seventh overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. Often thought as one of the most loaded draft pools in NBA history, the draft class featured future All-Stars like Allen Iverson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Antoine Walker, Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakovic, Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
The Nets had interest in Bryant, but the story goes that Bryant wanted nothing to do with New Jersey. New Jersey ended up selecting Kerry Kittles with their pick who would have a very solid eight-year NBA career. They then added Sam Cassell in a trade in 1996-97. The team also brought in Keith Van Horn and Lucious Harris in a draft-day trade.
In 1997, the Nets rebranded themselves with new colors and a new logo as well.
The 1997-98 season saw them reach the playoffs on the final day of the season after winning 43 games, but they were swept by the eventual champion, the Chicago Bulls, in three games.
Any momentum that Coach Cal had built during his first three seasons with the team was lost during the 1998-99 lockout. The Nets started the shortened 50-game season by going 3-15. They traded away Cassell and brought in a disgruntled Marbury from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Calipari was let go after the team lost another two games putting their record at an abysmal 3-17. It was once again time for a change in the Meadowlands.
Next: 2000