ROSTER
F/C Andray Blatche: Has come to training camp with a new attitude and much slimmer physique after being amnestied by the Wizards this summer.
SG Keith Bogans: Will provide veteran presence, strong defense and 3-point shooting off the bench. Could become a rotation fixture.
SG MarShon Brooks: Everyone knows he can score. But on a team with plenty of offense, will need to play ‘D’ to keep a rotation spot.
SF Josh Childress: After losing his confidence in Phoenix and eventually being amnestied this summer, Childress hopes to get back to playing defense and aggressively hitting the glass.
PF Reggie Evans: Has one elite skill — he’s one of the league’s best rebounders. He likely will become a fan favorite for his hard-nosed style of play.
PF Kris Humphries: He may not get the same billing as the rest of the starting five, but Humphries has averaged double-digit points and rebounds each of the past two seasons.
SG Joe Johnson: The six-time All-Star, whom the Nets traded for in early July, pairs with Deron Williams to form arguably the NBA’s best backcourt.
C Brook Lopez: After missing all but five games last season with a pair of foot injuries, Lopez is motivated to prove he deserved the four-year, $60 million contract he signed in July.
F Tornike Shengelia: Was expected to spend this year in Europe, but the second-round pick earned a roster spot with an impressive showing for the Nets’ Orlando Summer League team.
SG Jerry Stackhouse: The veteran was brought in to provide an experienced presence in the locker room, not to try to replicate his high-scoring ways from earlier in his career.
PG Tyshawn Taylor: Another second-round pick, Taylor is long and athletic, and could develop into a quality backup option behind Williams.
F Mirza Teletovic: Was signed to a three-year, $9.4 million contract this summer because of the Bosnian’s excellent 3-point shooting ability, but he can also get to the basket.
F Gerald Wallace: If anything is certain, it’s that Wallace will become a fan favorite for his relentless hustle and energy at both ends of the floor.
G C.J. Watson: Has emerged as a key contributor after a very strong training camp. He will be the first guard off the bench and will play with both Williams and Johnson.
PG Deron Williams: Now that he is signed to a max deal and surrounded with talent, it’s the star point guard’s job to lead the Nets to the playoffs.
AVERY JOHNSON’S 3 TOUGHEST DECISIONS
1. Figuring out the defense
The Nets are going to score and score a lot. But if they are going to make any real noise in the Eastern Conference this season, Avery Johnson is going to have to turn a team with several suspect defenders into a strong defensive unit.
2. Settling on a rotation
Nets general manager Billy King had a busy offseason, bringing in nine new players. Now it’s up to Johnson to try to figure out the best way to use all of the pieces at his disposal.
3. Getting Brook Lopez to rebound
Lopez is as talented a scoring big man as there is in the NBA. But Johnson has to find a way to get his center to get back to the rebounding numbers he posted his first two years in the league, when he averaged over eight boards a game.
FIVE BIG DATES TO WATCH
Nov. 1 vs. Knicks: Hurricane Sandy did not delay tomorrow’s game, and the Nets remain set to open their new Barclays Center home against their crosstown rivals on national television. It’s a game years in the making.
Jan. 16 at Hawks: Joe Johnson, a star in Atlanta for the past seven seasons, makes his return and should expect a standing ovation.
Feb. 5 vs. Lakers: Dwight Howard, who spent much of the past year hoping he would become a Net, will get his first look at Barclays Center when he and the Lakers come to town.
March 1 vs. Dallas: The first meeting of the year between the Mavericks and Nets. Perhaps Mark Cuban and Mikhail Prokhorov will sit together?
March 20 at Dallas: After passing up the chance to play for his hometown Mavericks this summer, we will see what kind of reaction Deron Williams gets in Dallas.
BY THE NUMBERS
$300 million
Roughly the amount of future dollars the Nets committed to current and future salaries this summer to overhaul the roster.
3
Players on this year’s roster who played at least 20 games for the Nets last season (Deron Williams, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks).
4
Number of times the Nets won at least two games in a row last season.
10
Home games owner Mikhail Prokhorov has committed to attending this season, including the first three.
6
Number of Nets on the roster at the end of last season who currently are not in the NBA.