A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.Â
New Jersey Nets
The Nets have been trading themselves into oblivion since Kenyon Martin to Denver and things have continued to go that direction with the ousting of Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson.  With a strong focus on relocation to Brooklyn before 2011, the Nets have trimmed the roster and are going with one two punch Vince Carter and Yi Jianlian.  Could this be a huge mistake?  Well ask anybody from Toronto that has seen what happens when you hand your franchise to VC and they will tell you no. Â
Projected Starters: PG – Devin Harris / SG – Vince Carter / SF – Bobby Simmons  / PF - Yi Jianlian / C –  Brook Lopez
Additions: Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons, Keyon Dooling, Eduardo Najera, Jarvis Hayes, Eddie Gill, Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts
Losses:Â Richard Jefferson, Marcus Williams, Bostjan Nachbar, Nenad Krstic, DeSagana Diop, Darrell Armstrong
Projected Wins:Â 40+
Team Theme Song:Â Â Artifacts -Â Wrong Side of the Tracks
The Nets are now on the other side of the Jason Kidd era and when you hand the keys to Vince Carter you are on the wrong side of the tracks officially.Â
Overall
The Nets will be okay this year and probably nothing more than that.  Vince Carter will probably dunk on Alonzo Mourning, get injured and the word “potential” will be used several times when discussing his name.  Devin Harris will emerge as a go to guy (unless Stuart Tanner gets signed)  and Yi Jianlian is going to try to find his NBA niche. However, with so much focus on the Nets move to Brooklyn and soon to be free-agent LeBron James, does anybody even care about this team right now?
If I’m a Nets fan, I say wake me up when we reach Brooklyn.
