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.

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.