MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: This has to be broken down by halves. For the first half of the season, Devin Harris was a revelation. Given freedom he never knew in Dallas, Harris led the Nets to playoff position. But Harris stumbled in January, then fought injuries. So Vince Carter continued the leadership he showed all season and helped keep the Nets in the playoff hunt up to the final week and a day.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Yi Jianlian takes this category, hands down. The season was supposed to be about developing the young players of which Yi was a big part. He was starting to show the promise that made him the No. 6 pick by Milwaukee in 2007. He had back-to-back 20-point games. Next, he had 16 by the third quarter Jan. 9 when he broke his right pinkie. He returned after the All-Star Game and was a bust, losing his starting job and his rotation spot. FREE AGENT FOCUS: Maurice Ager is the Nets' lone unrestricted free agent. He will not be back. Trenton Hassell could opt out of his $4.3 million deal. He won't. The Nets hope to be players on the free agent market, not for the elite types, but for second-tier defenders and rebounders.
PLAYER NEWS:
--G Devin Harris, a close second-place finisher to Danny Granger for the NBA's Most Improved Award, posted career highs in points (21.3), rebounds (3.3) and assists (6.9). And Harris said the key now is to certify all the improvement wasn't a fluke. What's he looking for now?
"Consistency," Harris said. "That's got to be the main thing. Is it going to be a one-time deal or can you level off and make it back every year?"
--F Yi Jianlian, who frequently admitted to feeling fatigue in the NBA regular season after an Olympic summer, said that "for sure" he will play for China's National Team in the Asian Championships. China already is without Yao Ming, who broke his foot in the NBA playoffs. After training with the Nets, "I will be back and join the national team," said Yi, who had no set date to report for the Asian Championships, scheduled for Aug. 6-16. Said Nets team president Rod Thorn, "Yi is not doing anything we didn't expect."
--F Jarvis Hayes was one of the better offseason signings the Nets made in recent years. He got a one-year guarantee ($1.9 million) with the second year at team option ($2.06). The Nets have until June 30 to renew, and every indication is they will. They typically wait until the 11th hour. And Hayes expects and wants to be back.
"I think I'll be back," Hayes said. "At least, I hope so."
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Eduardo Najera underwent successful sports hernia surgery Mar. 13, ending his season. He has begun his offseason rehab.
--G Keyon Dooling underwent successful arthroscopic surgery May 4 to remove loose particles from his right hip. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season.
