Nets GM Billy King took a look ahead to the offseason today, discussing the next steps for his team with a number of beat reporters. Here are the highlights, courtesy of Andy Vasquez of the Bergen Record, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, and Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger (all links via Twitter):
- Bondy tweets that King wanted to sign Gerald Green to a long-term contract but could only offer him the veteran's minimum.
- Earlier this morning, Bondy said he thought Deron Williams was leaning toward re-signing in Brooklyn. King also says he feels "pretty good" about the point guard returning to the Nets. The GM identified Williams, Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Gerald Green as core pieces.
- The Nets don't expect Wallace to opt into the final year of his contract, and intend to sign him to a multiyear deal. Wallace, who said last week that he doesn't want to play on a one-year deal, has to make his decision official by June 15th, so the team could either extend him or negotiate a new deal in free agency.
- King doesn't know how many of the club's 11 potential free agents will be re-signed, but says the Nets have plenty of cap space and the potential to create even more.
- The goal is to "win now," says the GM.
- King will travel to Istanbul next week to meet with Bojan Bogdanovic. The Nets' 31st overall pick in last year's draft has another year remaining on his contract overseas.