To know how bad the Nets had it just 23 months ago, one must remember this: Jim McIlvaine and Evan Eschmeyer were their centers. But that wasn't all of it. The future of Kerry Kittles, who sat out the 2000-01 season with a mangled right knee, was unclear. Their solid rookie, Kenyon Martin, broke his leg again. And, of course, Stephon Marbury couldn't stand Keith Van Horn.

Weighing these personnel factors, Rod Thorn went into the 2001 NBA Draft looking for bodies, which is what any general manager of a 26-victory team desires. And you can't get that with one pick, which was all Thorn had just a week before the June 27 drawing, unless you are imaginative.

"In no particular order, we wanted a center, a small forward, and a two-guard," Thorn said. "And we didn't feel strongly about anyone at No. 7, or think anyone would be good enough to have (instant impact). We already knew we'd get Jason Kidd (in a prearranged trade) after the cap changed. So our feeling was we had to get a better base, and that Jason would make us better."

The Nets' future turned with a single phone call from Houston Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson in the late afternoon of June 22, 2001. Dawson, who had three first-round selections, had charted how the top six would fall, and he and Thorn agreed Eddie Griffin of Seton Hall could get snatched up by Golden State at No. 5. That would be fine with Thorn: It would leave Jason Richardson, a coveted shooting guard, available to be taken by the Nets.