Are the Nets Playoff-Bound if They Draft Wesley Johnson 3rd and Acquire Free Agent Carlos Boozer?

Here’s a bit of a blockbuster 36 hours before the NBA draft – the Nets may not have been bluffing about taking Wesley Johnson 3rd tomorrow night. Last night, New Jersey dealt Chris Douglas-Roberts to the Bucks for a 2nd round pick, clearing a bit of a logjam at the SG/SF spot. Then, this morning, the big news hit – New Jersey’s plan could be to draft Johnson 3rd and then get the power forward they covet – Utah’s Carlos Boozer – July 1 when free agency begins. The potential combo carries a bit more weight because both Johnson and Boozer share the same agent. Is this the ultimate ruse by New Jersey to get Minnesota to trade up a spot?

It is either a devious master plan to force Minnesota to make a trade, or New Jersey thinks that it will be set for the next few years with a rotation of Devin Harris, Wesley Johnson, Terrance Williams, Carlos Boozer and Brook Lopez. In the East, that isn’t a bad lineup. If you take the best Harris years from Dallas, the upside of Johnson and Williams, Boozer in his prime, and Lopez as an emerging star, that’s a 45-win team with a mediocre bench (Lee, Jianlian, Boone). There’s still a lot to be determined in the East – will the Knicks add Bosh, will D Wade be on the move, LeBron and the Cavs, and the Celtics have to make a decision about Allen and Pierce – so it is possible New Jersey could field a playoff team with Johnson and Boozer. The only certainty in the East as of today is Orlando in the Top 2.

[One thing to remember with Boozer and his agent, Rob Pelinka – they screwed over the Cavs badly in 2004.]

There could be panic in Minnesota today. You don’t want to get into another situation where you draft someone who doesn’t want to be there, again (ie DeMarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe). But the other problem is that Minnesota is set at PF with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. So they have no use for Derrick Favors 4th. Which leaves … whom? There isn’t another shooting guard or small forward rated this high. Paul George is a nice player with upside, but he’d be a massive reach 4th. Which leaves Minnesota screwed.

Here’s a scenario: New Jersey says, “you want Johnson? Give us Kevin Love and No. 4 and we’ll give you [enter spare parts here – Yi Jianlian and Courtney Lee?] and the 3rd pick.” Minnesota would much rather move Al Jefferson and his hefty contract than the young, cheap Love. David Kahn, you’re on the clock.

[photo: Getty]