The Nets couldn't get a break this season unless, of course, it was their own bones and ligaments.
But all the bad luck and bad basketball could be worth it if they somehow win the Anthony Davis lottery. What started as a longshot to land this year's top pick has become a real possibility correlating with the Nets' late-season nosedive. Losses beget Ping Pong balls, and a greater chance to sign the center from Kentucky. The Nets owned the fourth-worst record in the league before snapping a five-game losing streak in a 102-89 victory over the lowly Bobcats, a game between bottom feeders that saw Deron Williams pick up his fourth technical foul in the last four games.
The Nets (16-34) traded their 2012 first-round pick to the Trailblazers for Gerald Wallace, but protected it through the top-3 picks. With injuries and long losing streaks mounting, the Nets have looked increasingly unmotivated and resigned to losing - an offense more understandable considering their lame-duck status in New Jersey, the lack of support at the Prudential Center and the constant focus on Brooklyn.
Thirty-five years in New Jersey is coming to a fitting, anonymous end. A victory over the Bobcats (7-38) only seemed more important because of the superimposed crowd noise.
Not that the Nets haven't been thinking about backup plans to striking gold in the draft lottery. According to multiple sources, the Nets - who will have roughly $8 million to work with this summer after renouncing the rights to Kris Humphries -- are targeting power forwards Kevin Garnett (restricted) and Ersan Ilyasova (unrestricted) in free agency.
Ryan Anderson (restricted) is the other top power forward available - and would certainly be a welcomed upgrade -- but the Nets want a stronger rebounder to play alongside Brook Lopez.
Garnett, 36, who is reportedly contemplating retirement, is averaging 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. Ilyasova, who scored 29 points with 25 rebounds against the Nets in February, is averaging 12.4 points and 8.7 rebounds in his fourth season with the Bucks.
Despite his efforts to put on a happy face, Williams has struggled with the late-season insignificance. He was ejected in Wednesday's loss to the Wizards - his second ejection of both his season and career - and was upset Saturday after getting elbowed in the face by Corey Maggette in the third quarter. Williams, who scored 57 points in his previous game against the Bobcats, picked up the technical after arguing with the referee over the non-call.
He finished with 19 points and a season-high 14 assists, while Humphries added 20 points and 16 rebounds.
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