The New Jersey Nets have lost 24-year old small forward Damion James for the second year in a row due to foot surgery. James played in 7 games (all starts) for the Nets this year and he averaged 24.7 minutes, 4.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He has now played in 32 games (16 starts) in his first two years for the Nets and he has averaged 18.0 minutes, 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. It’s unclear as to whether or not James will get a third year with the Nets due to his foot.

The Nets have lost 23-year old center Brook Lopez indefinitely due to a stress fracture in his right foot which required surgery to correct. Lopez will miss at least 1 month, and possibly the whole 2011-12 season. Lopez played in 82 games (all starts) for the Nets last year and he averaged 35.2 minutes, 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. 25-year old Johan Petro will likely take over as the Nets’ starting pitcher until Lopez is ready to return to action. Petro played in 77 games (1 start) for the Nets last year and he averaged 11.6 minutes, 3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. The Nets are in big, big trouble without Lopez.

The Nets picked 21-year old, 6′10″, 260 pound, PF/C Jordan Williams with the #36 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Williams played in 33 games for Maryland last year and he averaged 32.5 minutes, 16.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. He played in 66 games in his two years in college and he averaged 28.6 minutes, 13.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Williams gives the Nets a solid looking big man to develop. I really like this pick for the Nets as Williams probably should have already been gone by this pick.

The Timberwolves took 22-year old, 6′7″, 218 pound shooting guard Bojan Bogdanovic with the 31st overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Nets then sent the T-Wolves some cold, hard cash for the rights to Bogdanovic. Bogdanovich played in 44 games in three leagues in Europe last year and he averaged 35.1 minutes, 19.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has played in 192 games in the last five years in Europe and he has averaged 26.0 minutes, 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 steals per game. The Nets might need to wait a little bit for Bogdanovich but he looks like a talented guy.

The New Jersey Nets sent the Celtics the 27th overall pick and a 2014 second round pick for the right to move up two spots and select 22-year old shooting guard MarShon Brooks. The 6′5″, 200 pound Brooks is a flat out scorer and he’s going to challenge Anthony Morrow for the starting shooting guard slot in 2011-12 for the Nets. Brooks played in 32 games for Providence last year and he averaged 36.5 minutes, 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists. 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Brooks played in 114 games in his four years in college and he averaged 25.1 minutes, 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. I like this pick a lot for the Nets as Brooks can really put the ball in the basket.