By Danny Goldin
June 26, 2009 1:07pm CDT

The Nets opened last season as a playoff contender in the East but waned to mediocrity in the second half of the year. Still, you have to love the promising trio they bring to the table with a proven veteran superstar in Vince Carter and two of the league's best emerging young ballers at point guard and center in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez. The rest of the roster is mediocre, but those three alone, if healthy, should be able to win a decent number of games in the East.

Cap Situation: $59.19 million committed to 13 players. League salary cap estimated at $58 million for 2009-2010 season.

Returning Players: Vince Carter, Bobby Simmons, Devin Harris, Keyon Dooling, Eduardo Najera, Yi Jianlian, Brook Lopez, Sean Williams, Ryan Anderson, Josh Boone, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Trenton Hassell (early termination option), Jarvis Hayes (team option)

Free Agents: Maurice Ager

5 Burning Questions

1) Are either Carter or Yi on their way out of New Jersey?

Trade rumors have been surfacing in more than a few places regarding these two men. Nets' general manager Rod Thorn has actually come out and said that anyone other than Lopez would be available for the right price, although you have to assume they'll hold on to Harris unless they really receive an offer they can't refuse. While Carter has certainly been discussed quite a bit, I find it hard to believe that he'd be on the move. The Nets can be a competitive team in the East with their current roster setup, as they were over the first half of last season, and Carter's 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and perimeter shooting are simply too hard to replace. Yi would be a more likely piece to move. He did not win the graces of the Nets' staff last season due to poor defense, rebounding and passing skills, but he does remain a relatively attractive trade commodity with nice potential, given his fine combination of size and shooting touch, not to mention the economic side of things with the great Chinese market that he brings along with him.

2) Can Harris and/or Lopez make the jump toward joining the elite at their position?

Both players are already pretty darn close, and hard work this offseason could catapult each into perennial All-Stars for years to come. Harris, who made his first All-Star team last year, was one of Danny Granger's top competitors for Most Improved Player of the Year after adding six points to his scoring average in his first full season in New Jersey. Devin is one of the quickest players in the league and gets to the line at will, as he was top-five in the NBA in both free throws attempted and made. Unfortunately, that can result in bumps and bruises for the slight-statured Wisconsin-alum, but as long as he can stay healthy and improve his three-point range this offseason, it's safe to say Harris will be mentioned amongst the game's top point guards. Lopez is not far from the discussion of top centers, either. The seven-footer showed wonderful progression throughout his rookie season, finishing with great per-game averages of 13 points, eight rebounds and nearly two blocks, not to mention fine percentages by shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 79.3 percent from the free throw line. He's not yet at the superstar level of Dwight Howard or Yao Ming, but Lopez could easily contend for the All-NBA third team at center, without much competition in a declining Shaquille O'Neal and an injury-prone Andrew Bogut, to name a few.

3) Who can the Nets add in free agency?

While this may not be the most exciting answer for the fans in New Jersey, probably not too much. The Nets don't necessarily have to make any big moves to be competitive in the East with a Big Three in Carter, Harris and Lopez, and they're already right at the threshold of the salary cap with money committed to a bunch of players. Given that they'll add another player through the draft, the Nets' management may remain mostly stagnant when he comes to activity in the free agent market. Rod Thorn has already stated that the Nets could opt to carry a player less than the 15-player roster can hold, given the current economy that we all live in. The current state of the team also puts the Nets in position to compete in the loaded free agent class of 2010.

4) Who will the Nets be eying in the draft?

The Nets are weak at both forward positions, so it will almost surely be a three or a four that they opt for in the draft on Thursday. The four most likely candidates appear to be one of the two Louisville forwards, Terrence Williams or Earl Clark, Duke's Gerald Henderson, and Wake Forest's James Johnson. If the pick was either Clark, a local product, or Johnson, the Nets would be getting nice size and guys that can play either forward position, though each would most likely be used at power forward and could potentially start right away ahead of Yi or Ryan Anderson. Williams and Henderson are both combo guard-forwards that would add nice versatility to the Nets' lineup. Either man would push Bobby Simmons, despite the ridiculous eight-figures that he'll be making this season, for the starting gig at the three.

5) What do the Nets have to do to bring in LeBron James next offseason?

The Nets have made their desires to land King James no secret, especially given co-owner Jay-Z's close relationship with LeBron, and they do appear to be one of the top potential destinations for James once he becomes a free agent following the 2009-10 season. The Nets will have the money to lure LeBron, as nearly everyone outside their Big Three will be coming off the books, most significantly Simmons and the big money he has been getting since his last deal. Still, a few things will have to happen before James makes New Jersey his new kingdom. First, the Nets will have to prove that they can be a competitive team. James would have a fine cast of players to work with in Carter, Harris and Lopez, but those three have to prove that they can be at least competitive in the East to show LeBron that they could be legit title contenders with his addition. The other aspect is out of New Jersey's hands, as they have to hope that the Shaq experiment in Cleveland ends up flopping. You have to assume LeBron would stay put with the Cavs if they can win a title before he hits the market.

Ideal Situation: There aren't a whole lot of moves that the Nets need to make, or will make, this summer. Expect them to mostly stand pat, with the possible exception of a Jianlian deal. The hope will be that the addition of the 11th overall pick to what is already a strong nucleus with Carter, Harris and Lopez, they can be a legit playoff contender in the East. Basically, the Nets will look to get whatever positive signs they can out of their roster this year and pretty much tread water before Simmons and company come off the books and the make their free agent splash next summer.

Resulting Depth Chart
PG: Devin Harris / Keyon Dooling
SG: Vince Carter / Chris Douglas-Roberts / Trenton Hassell
SF: Bobby Simmons / Terrence Williams / Jarvis Hayes
PF: Ryan Anderson / Yi Jianlian / Eduardo Najera / Sean Williams
C: Brook Lopez / Josh Boone

Strengths: Star power, perimeter shooting, 2010 cap room
Weaknesses: Rebounding, starting forwards, injury-prone, not enough to contend