J.R. Smith could get look in barren market

Free agency officially began at 12:01 a.m. today but teams cannot sign anyone for eight days. That doesn’t mean the Nets haven’t been busy reaching out to players they’d like to sign. The pickings are slim. The majority of the most attractive free agents are restricted. Among that group, Denver’s J.R. Smith is the most realistic possibility for the Nets. Not only is he the kind of player they need, one who can score from a variety of spots on the floor and take some of the burden off of Vince Carter, but he’s also from New Jersey, which could give the Nets an inside track. The Nets also have three of their own free agents to deal with - Nenad Krstic, Bostjan Nachbar and DeSagana Diop. Krstic is restricted and the Nets have already made him a $2.7 million qualifying offer. There is a strong possibility that if the Nets do sign the offensively talented 7-footer, they will turn around and trade him since the team already has an abundance of bodies in the frontcourt.  ... (link)