The Nets have traded 32-year old SG Vince Carter and 21-year old forward Ryan Anderson to the Magic for 32-year old point guard Rafer Alston, 33-year old center Tony Battie and 23-year old SG/SF Courtney Lee. Carter was the face of the Nets the last couple of seasons. He played in 80 games (all starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 36.8 minutes, 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Anderson played in 66 games (30 starts) for the Nets as a rookie last season and he averaged 19.9 minutes, 7.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. This move amounts to little more than a salary dump for the Nets who will be looking to make a play for LeBron James or Dwyane Wade in free agency next summer.
If the Nets move Devin Harris to shooting guard than Rafer Alston would be the likely starting point guard for the Nets this upcoming season. Alston played in 77 games (76 starts) for the Rockets and Magic last season and he averaged 31.8 minutes, 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Alston has now played in 619 games (414 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 29.0 minutes, 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Tony Battie will likely be nothing more than a backup center this season for the Nets. Battie played in 77 games (3 starts) for the Magic last season and he averaged 15.6 minutes, 4.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Battie has now played in 757 games (418 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 22.2 minutes, 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Courtney Lee is the big key for the Nets as he could start for them possibly at small forward or shooting guard. Lee played in 77 games (42 starts) as a rookie for the Magic last season and he averaged 25.2 minutes, 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.