NBA

Nets’ Williams sees Lopez as a future All-Star

The Nets continue to chase after a perennial All-Star center, Dwight Howard, to play alongside Deron Williams, their perennial All-Star point guard. But what if the Nets already have one in the makings on their roster in Brook Lopez?

“Brook could be a perennial All-Star if he puts his mind to it,” Williams told reporters Monday.

Lopez, still just 23, has steadily increased his scoring average in each of his first three years in the league, and finished last season as the Nets’ leading scorer at 20.4 points per game. Toward the end of last season, the 7-footer from Stanford showed he has the potential to do even more, averaging 25.8 points in eight games in April to end the season. But in order for him to develop into an elite player, it’s the rest of his game that needs to improve.

NETS 2011-12 SCHEDULE

“He just needs to be more mature,” coach Avery Johnson said after yesterday’s practice, the second of this year’s training camp. “He’s maturing, and his rebounding needs to improve.”

One thing that should help Lopez is getting a chance to play a full season alongside arguably the league’s best point guard in Williams — assuming he isn’t shipped to Orlando in a deal for Howard.

“Even in the few games we got to play together last year, I thought we clicked,” Lopez said. “He has the ability to come in and play with anyone because he does such a good job of running the club.”

* A report from CBSSports.com said PF/C Nene, the Nets’ top free agent target, was close to making a decision on their offer, which is expected to be somewhere around four years and $65 million.

Nene’s decision, however, could be in a holding pattern while the Lakers, Rockets and Hornets continue to try and put together a deal to send Chris Paul to the Lakers. Pau Gasol would go to the Rockets and several assets would be sent to New Orleans after commissioner David Stern vetoed the first deal the teams were able to put together. The Rockets were expected to make a big push for Nene if the original trade had been completed.