| The Nets were eliminated in the second round of the | | | | essentially a contract year - he can opt out of his |
| playoffs last season. It was the second straight | | | | contract at season's end. Whether or not that will |
| season they were bounced by Miami. A 14-game | | | | motivate him remains to be seen. If the Nets struggle |
| winning streak late in the season carried them to the | | | | during the first half of the season, GM Rod Thorn |
| Atlantic Division crown. | | | | could opt to trade Carter. His 24.2 points per game led |
| Lawrence Frank, the youngest NBA head coach, leads | | | | the team in 2005. |
| a team that ranked 24th in scoring and 6th in points | | | | Richard Jefferson, at small forward, is another key to |
| allowed. Frank must get more out of his bench this | | | | the Nets season. The Nets lost by 5, 12 and 33 points |
| season if the Nets are to contend for the Eastern | | | | last season when Jefferson sat out 3 games with a |
| Conference title. | | | | back injury. Jefferson gave way to Carter offensively |
| Point guard Jason Kidd, last season's team leader in | | | | last season, but remained one of the best defensive |
| assists (8.4) and rebounds (7.3), will again lead the Nets | | | | players in the league at his position. |
| as they seek to up the tempo. Kidd will serve as | | | | Power forward Nenad Krstic showed marked |
| mentor for rookie Marcus Williams, which should help | | | | improvement last season. His post moves improved, |
| Williams develop into a solid NBA player. Kidd is still | | | | but he needs to improve his rebounding if he's going to |
| among the elite point guards in the NBA and should | | | | switch to playing center. That means getting stronger. |
| have another solid season. | | | | His progress will be a key to the Nets' success in |
| At shooting guard, Vince Carter returns in what is | | | | 2006. |