[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Increasingly loud hints that the New Jersey Nets intend to select Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson with the third overall pick were initially dismissed as a potential smokescreen New Jersey orchestrated to convince Minnesota — which likes Johnson at No. 4 — to surrender an asset to the Nets for the right to trade up to No. 3.

Not so any longer.

A new theory circulating pegs Johnson as one of the first dominos in the free-agent frenzy that will officially commence July 1.

Multiple teams have passed along their belief to ESPN.com that the Nets have serious interest in Johnson at No. 3 largely because they believe it will help them land Utah’s Carlos Boozer in free agency.

New Jersey’s main position of emphasis once the free-agent market opens July 1 is power forward, with the Nets possessing an estimated $27 million in salary-cap space and with Brook Lopez and Devin Harris entrenched at center and point guard.

The connection between Johnson and Boozer? They’re both represented by the same agent: Rob Pelinka.

The selection of Johnson would be a strong tip-off, sources say, that New Jersey will be chasing Boozer hardest when free agency commences, ahead of potential targets such as Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire.

ESPN.com’s Chad Ford indeed has New Jersey selecting Johnson with the third overall pick in his latest mock draft.

One source close to the situation, however, insisted Wednesday that Boozer has strong interest in the Nets independent of where Johnson lands in the draft.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/16962/boozerwesley-johnson-package-deal-to-nets

[JazzinSLCParticipant]

Here in Utah. He isn’t a guy I would throw max or near max money at. He’s EXTREMELY injury prone, and a liability most of the time defensively (though Lopez will be able to mask that a bit). As a Jazz fan, I won’t be too upset to have Boozer leave, and head to the Eastern Conference.

[Anton123Participant]

Wow, what a team
PG Harris
SG Lee or Williams
SF Johnson or Williams
PF Boozer
C Lopez
Bench: Yi and some free agents and draft picks

If this works out New Jersey doesn’t even need to sign any big name free agents, just good role players on the bench

[NYCrealdealParticipant]

boozer is not worth same money as lebron
only player worth max imo are
lebron
kobe
wade
durant
melo
none else
but players like JJ amare booz will get it

[NYCrealdealParticipant]

boozer is not worth same money as lebron
only player worth max imo are
lebron
kobe
wade
durant
melo
none else
but players like JJ amare booz will get it

[JazzinSLCParticipant]

And play with one of the best point guards in the game, and he couldn’t come close to bringing the Jazz a title. Why pay a guy near max money that you know from experience is going to end up falling short of getting you your ultimate goal?
If he stays healthy, he would put up all-star caliber numbers for the Nets though.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The Nets will be crazy if they pass up on Favors or Cousins for Johnson. In my opinion, Johnson is a better rebounding Rasual Butler.

[knicksfan7Participant]

I don’t get why the Nets don’t draft Monroe over Favors.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

The Nets will get Monroe and not go fishing for Boozer…They’ll sign a guy like D.Lee for 10 Million and maybe give up Yi and those 2nd round picks to the Knicks to keep them under tha cap and go hard for Wade or LBJ….they need to sign Wade…i think he would allow Harris ,T.Will and Monroe to chance to run the offense more than LBJ and his iso game…that can have team mates standing outside waiting for him to pass…They don’t need that they need a slasher and mid range sniper like Wade that can take over late and will the team to victory…he brings the same defense IMO and would play better of a young core like Harris,T.Will,Lopez,Monroe,…They need to aim for D.Lee and Monroe for the PF/C roles…and go hard after D.Wade….

[Author]

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