Note: Sportsnet.ca will unveil a team preview every day from Oct. 1-30 counting down in reverse order where we believe the teams will finish.
The Nets check in at No. 13:
2011-12 record: 22-44 (Division: 5th Atlantic; Conference: 12th Eastern).
Key additions
Reggie Evans (Acquired from Clippers); Donte Greene (Signed from Kings); Joe Johnson (Acquired from Hawks); Jerry Stackhouse (Signed from Hawks); Mirza Teletovic (Signed from Caja Laboral; Spain); C.J. Watson (Signed from Bulls).
Key subtractions
Jordan Farmar (Traded to Hawks); Gerald Green (Signed by Pacers); Anthony Morrow (Traded to Hawks); Johan Petro (Traded to Hawks); DeShawn Stevenson (Traded to Hawks); Jordan Williams (Traded to Hawks).
Key player: Deron Williams
There are many who question whether Deron Williams has lost a step. No one questions his offensive abilities but is he a good enough defender to be placed into the ‘superstar’ category?
Outlook
The Nets have a new arena, new uniforms and a new hometown but will the move to Brooklyn turn this franchise around?
Over the years, the Nets have occasionally been a playoff team but just as often they floundered in mediocrity.
A season ago this team was battered by injuries but that hardly excuses a team that had as much talent as the Nets did from finishing in 12th in the Eastern Conference.
Deron Williams presence alone should be enough to make the team a playoff contender although it remains to be seen if he is as good of a player as his press clippings make him out to be.
Desperate to make a splash this offseason prior to heading into Knicks territory, the Nets acquired Gerald Wallace from Portland at the trade deadline in March and followed that with a deal to add Joe Johnson from the Hawks in July.
Both players will increase the talent level on the roster but come with bloated contracts which could make further additions difficult.
On the plus side Brook Lopez also returns from injury. He and Kris Humphries were re-signed this summer to provide some muscle on the inside. Undersized Reggie Evans was brought over from the Clippers to help off the bench as well.
Mirza Teletovic, widely considered to be one of the top players in Europe last season, comes aboard and will provide depth along the wing although he may be a tad soft for the NBA.
All-in-all, the Nets are a pretty deep team and should make a breakthrough this season. How high they climb will depend on if they can make a few stops on their own end of the floor. They are strong offensively but questions abound over the Nets abilities to make stops.
Prediction:
43-39 (Division: 3rd Atlantic, Conference: 6th Eastern).
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