Brooklyn Nets: Times Are Changing For the Franchise

2008

Apr 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Nets let both Kidd and Jefferson go in trades during the year. In return for Kidd, the Nets brought in the likes of Devin Harris, Keith Van Horn, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, $3 million, and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010 from Dallas. For Jefferson, the Nets received Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons from the Bucks.

Next season, they shipped Carter and Ryan Anderson to the Orlando Magic for Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee and Tony Battie.

In 2010, Thorn resigned and the team moved to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Billy King replaced Thorn and Avery Johnson was hired as the head coach.

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With the third overall selection, Derrick Favors, showing positive glimpses as a rookie, the Nets were heavily involved in trade rumors for then-Denver Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony. They eventually lost out to cross-state rivals New York Knicks for Anthony. Despite that, the Nets swung a surprise deal for another star player, Deron Williams, of the Utah Jazz.

With the move to Brooklyn in 2012 and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard demanding a trade to the Nets, it seemed like the stars were aligning for the Nets to vault back to the top of the Eastern Conference. However, Howard was traded to the Lakers, and the Nets settled on a deal that netted them Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks.

The Nets were consistent playoff teams throughout these years and the couple that followed, but once again, they failed to make it back to the NBA Finals.

Next: 2016