The Nets sought, unsuccessfully, to move a player or to make a 2-for-1 deal to keep a third point guard. They returned from their European trek with 15 guaranteed contracts -- and that did not include a possible third point. ANALYZING STARTERS:
G Devin Harris was the primary piece received in last year's trade of Jason Kidd. He's also the guy that the Nets' new dribble drive attack offense is centered around. His speed, quickness and penetration are vital to success while his defense needs to show improvement over last season.
G Vince Carter remains a primary scorer, an underrated passer. He'll see double and triple teaming on a nightly basis and will do so under the microscope. Some predict Carter will balk if the Nets falter but he has said all the right things and promises to lead by example.
F Bobby Simmons was the "other" guy the Nets got with Yi Jianlian in the trade of Richard Jefferson. He will be key. He is the leading candidate to emerge as the No. 3 scorer behind Carter and Harris and hopes to return to the form he showed before injuries hit.
F Yi Jianlian is the likely starter at the four. The Nets are placing much of their rebuilding hopes on his developing 7-0 frame. He is a huge question mark -- there is not much of a body of work to judge yet as he enters his second year -- but the upside is equally huge.
C Josh Boone showed last season he can bring double-doubles in bunches. He was second in the league in that category among second-year players. He needs defensive improvement and must add some range to his game. He was shut down in preseason after experiencing a rapid heartbeat but was examined and cleared to resume practice.
ANALYZING KEY RESERVES:
G Keyon Dooling will back both guard spots; he's a long-armed, tough-minded defender who is ultra competitive.
C Brook Lopez will go through the rookie growing pains and the call is for more aggressiveness inside to complement a nice shooting touch.
F Ryan Anderson was the Nets' second pick in the first round and the hope is he emerges as a shooting big in the drive-and-kick approach.
F Eduardo Najera is another size and character guy added for toughness and defense.
F Jarvis Hayes has three-point skills to benefit from guard penetrations and kicks.
F Stromile Swift brings more athleticism -- and an expiring contract -- to the power forward spot.
F Sean Williams had a superb camp with his athleticism but it must translate into games; he's their best shot-blocker, a skill that's been lacking.
G/F Chris Douglas-Roberts is unorthodox but brings a real scoring flair.
F Trenton Hassell is a strong, defensive-minded reserve who needs more offensive consistency
MEDICAL WATCH:
By the end of preseason, the Nets were waiting on four of their top 10 rotation players to leave the infirmary.
F Eduardo Najera was bothered much of preseason with a sprained left wrist that healed, then was re-injured. He missed the first six preseason games, was iffy for the seventh.
F Jarvis Hayes suffered a strained left hamstring early in camp. He then began running and was set for practice when he had a bad reaction to a flu shot. He missed the first six preseason games.
G Keyon Dooling suffered a sprained left ankle before camp and missed two games, then played two before being hit by an upper respiratory infection that knocked him out of two more games.
C Josh Boone received a big scare on Oct. 17. He felt his heart beating rapidly and was sent for immediate tests. Additional testing uncovered nothing worrisome and he was cleared to resume practice the week of Oct. 26.
