Editor's note: This is the 12th of PBN's 2009-10 season previews, in which we analyze all 30 teams.

NEW JERSEY NETS (34-48)

How it ended: The Nets were just three games under .500 in early February but caved in to injuries and youth over the final two months, losing 21 of their last 31. Get used to that.

Coach: Lawrence Frank is a tireless worker but is on a short leash with one year left on his contract, his assistants forced to take pay cuts, and a massive renovation under way. If he lasts the entire season, it will be because the Nets don't want to pay two coaches at once.

Arrivals: G Courtney Lee, G Rafer Alston, F-C Tony Battie, F Terrence Williams

Departures: G Vince Carter, G Maurice Ager

Projected starters: F Bobby Simmons, F Yi Jianlian, C Brook Lopez, G Devin Harris, G Courtney Lee

Position battles: This is a lost season, so the Nets should give Williams every chance possible to win the starting small forward spot. It will be interesting to see if Keyon Dooling simply slides to backup shooting guard or is given a chance to win the minutes behind Harris from Alston. Josh Boone and Sean Williams traded the backup big forward position last season and now have a healthy Eduardo Najera to contend with as well. Boone and Battie also will vie for the minutes behind Lopez.

Chemistry experiment: With last season's injuries and all of the new faces, there's a lot to sort out. The Nets have to determine what they have in Yi, who has to be a significant part of the offense. Simmons, Battie, Alston, Trenton Hassell and Jarvis Hayes are all veterans who become free agents next summer and probably aren't part of the long-term plan. If they are not playing, they will be asking to be traded.

Best case: The Nets establish Yi and Williams as pieces that can grow with young cornerstones Harris, Lee and Lopez, who already is a top-10 center. The uncertainties surrounding ownership and the new arena in Brooklyn are resolved. Enough promise is shown to lure a big-name free agent with all the cap room that has been stockpiled.

Worst case: A plunge into the depths of 60-plus losses and the unresolved issues regarding a possible sale of the team and the new arena scare off free agents and knock the Nets back to awful irrelevance, a status they are far too familiar with as a franchise.

Prediction: The Nets are the worst team in the Atlantic Division and maybe the Eastern Conference, too. They have no chance of making the playoffs and will spend the season doing spin control to remain viable as a free agent landing pad next summer.

Chris Bernucca has covered the NBA since 1996 and is a regular contributor to Pro Basketball News. You can disagree with him at cbernucca@comcast.net.

COMMENTS