The Nets have six free agents coming into this off-season. I think the Nets need to go all out to re-sign power forward Kris Humphries. The Nets need a rebounding power forward if they are going to keep the softer than a roll of Charmin center Brook Lopez. Guard Ben Uzoh and Forward Brandan Wright are both restricted free agents and the Nets probably would like to bring them both back. SG Sasha Vujacic is going to be a tough call. At the right price, the Nets might want to bring back Vujacic. C Dan Gadzuric and SG/SF Mario West are likely heading out of town in 2011-12.

26-year old point guard Deron Williams (wrist surgery) and 25-year old power forward Kris Humphries (ankle injury) are both done for the season for the Nets. Williams played in 12 games (all starts) for the Nets this year and he averaged 38.0 minutes, 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 12.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He played in 65 games (all starts) for the Nets & Jazz overall this year and he averaged 37.9 minutes, 20.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Williams’ wrist injury hampered his shooting with the Nets and I look for him to have a monster season in 2011-12 for the Nets. Kris Humphries played in 74 games (44 starts) for the Nets this year and he averaged 27.9 minutes, 10.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He had a true breakout season for the Nets and they hope that it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The Nets have decided to shut down 29-year old SG/SF Quinton Ross down for the rest of the season due to a herniated disk in his back. Ross played in 36 games (4 starts) for the Nets this year and he averaged 9.8 minutes, 1.6 points. 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. The Nets won’t miss him at all the rest of the year.

24-year old PG/SG Sundiata Gaines will miss the rest of the season (actually 6-8 weeks) due to a fractured right hip. Gaines played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Nets so far this year and he is averaging 14.6 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. This is a bad break for Gaines as he was in line to get a lot of P.T. the rest of the year for the Nets.

The New Jersey Nets have acquired 26-year old point guard Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz for 27-year old point guard Devin Harris, 19-year old power forward Derrick Favors, 2 first round picks and cash considerations. Deron Williams wore out his welcome in Utah as he was one of the main reasons that Jerry Sloan hung up his whistle in Salt Lake City. He will try to rehab his image while improving the New Jersey Nets the rest of the year. Williams played in 53 games (all starts) for the Jazz this season and he averaged 37.9 minutes, 21.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has now played in 439 games (406 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 35.6 minutes, 17.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Nets expect Williams to improve the offense and hopefully they can convince him to stick around for a few years.

Devin Harris played in 54 games (all starts) for the Nets this season and he averaged 31.9 minutes, 15.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He should do well in Utah, but he’s nowhere near the player that Deron Williams is. Rookie Derrick Favors played in 56 games (23 starts) for the Nets this season and he averaged 19.5 minutes, 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Nets’ head coach Avery Johnson seems to think that Favors was going to take a while before he turned into a good player. He is now the Utah Jazz’ problem.

I absolutely love this deal for the Nets as they have finally landed a superstar after getting shut out for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer and Carmelo Anthony. Now it’s up to the Nets to convince Williams to stick around for the long haul.