NACHBAR TO NETS
The New Jersey Nets acquired forward Bostjan Nachbar from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for center Marc Jackson and forward Linton Johnson.
What does it give the New Orleans Pelicans
A couple of solid bench veterans for a surprising playoff push. Less than a year ago the Hornets were dumping veterans in an attempt to overhaul and rebuild with talented youth, but now they're suddenly a contender in the West and are loading up for a run. Nachbar has talent but wasn't part of the Hornets' regular rotation, especially with the emergence of David West. Jackson will help out more than Johnson, but both players are veterans who bring reserve scoring punch to the front line. This deal adds a little payroll, but neither player has a long-term deal and neither is very expensive.
What does it give the New Jersey Nets
A still-young player who has the potential to be a regular starter in the NBA, and a little more salary cap space for next season. Nachbar is ready for bigger minutes than the minimal bench burn he gets with the Hornets, as he proved with an impressive preseason. As the 15th-overall pick of the 2002 draft he certainly has talent, and might be a bigger version of Utah's Matt Harpring. This deal also shaves about $2.8 Million off their payroll for the 2006-07 season. If Nachbar can step in at power forward the way Nenad Krstic did for them at center last year, the Nets may have one of the NBA's top starting fives down the stretch.
Fantasy impact
