The Nets will likely have three new starters around 22-year old Brook Lopez and starting point guard Devin Harris. Lopez really improved big time in his second year in the NBA. Lopez played in 82 games (all starts) for the Nets last season and he averaged 36.9 minutes, 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game. Lopez has now played in 164 games (157 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he has averaged 33.7 minutes, 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. I look for Lopez to be even better this season now that he has more help on hand and that should be scary for the opposition this year.

24-year old Johan Petro will back up Lopez this year. Petro played in 36 games (16 starts) for the Nuggets last year and he averaged 12.1 minutes, 3.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Petro has now played in 306 games (120 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 16.7 minutes, 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE NETS CENTERS IN 2010-11: A

The Nets acquired 30-year old power forward Troy Murphy in a big deal over the summer and he will be the starting power forward in 2010-11. Murphy played in 72 games (69 starts) for the Pacers last season and he averaged 32.6 minutes, 14.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Murphy has now played in 621 games (477 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 29.4 minutes, 12.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Murphy is not only a great rebounder but he has hit 39.4% of his shots from three point range so far in his NBA career.

19-year old rookie Derrick Favors is pretty raw but he has a gigantic upside. Favors played in 36 games in his only year at Georgia Tech and he averaged 27.5 minutes, 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.1 blocked shots per game. I’m thinking that the Nets are going to bring Favors along slowly this year.

25-year old Kris Humphries really played pretty solid basketball last season. He played in 69 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks & Nets last season and he averaged 17.7 minutes, 7.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Humphries has now played in 357 games (8 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 12.8 minutes, 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. I can see Humphries getting 15-20 minutes per game this year for the Nets.

35-year old Joe Smith is running out of gas. He played in 64 games (1 start) for the Hawks last season and he averaged 9.3 minutes, 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Smith has now played in 1,014 games (616 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 26.6 minutes, 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS OF THE NETS IN 2010-11: B+

The Nets signed 25-year old Travis Outlaw to a nice deal over the summer to become the new starting small forward. Outlaw played in 34 games (6 starts) for the Blazers & Clippers in which he averaged 21.5 minutes, 9.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He has now played in 400 games (32 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 21.6 minutes, 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Outlaw is a decent long range shooter hitting 36.3% from three point range and he will likely get some open shots due to the size the Nets have inside this year. It will be interesting to see how well Outlaw handles his first starting job in the NBA.

23-year old rookie Damion James will likely be the top back up to Outlaw at small forward. James played in 34 games for the Texas Longhorns last season and he averaged 30.3 minutes, 18.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. James played in 142 games in his four years at Texas and he averaged 29.3 minutes, 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He has a nice upside and he could wind up being the starting small forward down the road for the Nets.

28-year old Stephen Graham will likely be #3 in line at small forward for the Nets this year. He played in 70 games (8 starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 11.5 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Graham has now played in 180 games (15 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 10.9 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. I don’t see him getting a lot of P.T. for the Nets this year.

29-year old Quinton Ross is a defensive first small forward. Ross played in 52 games (7 starts) for the Mavericks & Wizards last season and he averaged 10.8 minutes, 1.8 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 422 games (165 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 19.2 minutes, 4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. I see Ross sitting at the end of the bench for the Nets this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE NETS SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: c

25-year old Anthony Morrow is duking it out with 23-year old Terrence Williams for the starting job at shooting guard for the Nets in 2010-11. I would have to think that Morrow will win the job because of his pinpoint shooting. Morrow played in 69 games (37 starts) for the Warriors last season and he averaged 29.2 minutes, 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Morrow has now played in 136 games (54 starts) in his first two years in the NBA as he has averaged 26.0 minutes, 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Morrow is very efficient offensively as he is a outstanding shooter from anywhere on the basketball court. Morrow has connected on 47.2% on his shots from the floor, 46% from three point range and 87.9% from three point range.

23-year old Terrence Williams was up and down as a rookie for the Nets last season. He played in 78 games (9 starts) last year for the Nets and he averaged 22.6 minutes, 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. His shooting was way off as a rookie as he only shot 40.1% from the floor and 31% from three point range last season. If his shooting doesn’t improve this year I see him getting most of his P.T. at small forward this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE NETS SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: C+

27-year old Devin Harris didn’t play up to his ability last season. It will be interesting to see if Avery Johnson can coach Harris back up. Harris played in 64 games (61 starts) for the Nets last year and he averaged 34.7 minutes, 16.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has now played in 409 games (275 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 27.5 minutes, 13.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. With improved players around him I look for Harris to rebound this year for the Nets.

23-year old Jordan Farmar will be Harris’ back-up in 2010-11. Farmar played in 82 games (0 starts) for the Lakers last year and he averaged 18.0 minutes, 7.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He has now played in 301 games (2 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.1 minutes, 6.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Farmar is absolutely no threat to Harris’ starting job.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE NETS POINT GUARDS IN 2010-11: B