PHILADELPHIA — Yes, it can get worse for the Nets.
It got worse yesterday when the Nets announced forward Damion James is lost for the remainder of the season.
James underwent surgery on his right foot at Indiana University Health Hospital in Indianapolis to repair aggravation to a previous fracture in his fifth metatarsal. Dr. David Porter performed the procedure, which included replacing a screw originally inserted after James broke his foot in December last season.
An MRI exam on MarShon Brooks, who did not play Monday in Chicago because of soreness in his left Achilles tendon, was negative.
Brooks will be a game-time decision for tonight’s game against the Sixers.
The Nets also have a decision to make today on James and his third-year option. Early indications were they would not pick up his option — that could change — and James then would be an unrestricted free agent.
The deadline on extending Brook Lopez also is today but general manager Billy King said last week an extension of Lopez’ contract was unlikely. Think: preserve cap space, broken foot, etc. James’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, is confident things will work out for his client.
“They’re kicking things around,” Bartelstein said, adding he believes the Nets “want him back … but they’re looking to preserve cap space and flexibility. The first thing for Damion is just to get the surgery behind him and get healthy.”
Lopez, who hasn’t played, and James, who played seven games, are two big pieces missing from the Nets’ envisioned 2011-12 picture. That picture has been a jumble with nine different starting lineups already.
“We lost training camp. We got new pieces. We’ve been learning on the fly,” said DeShawn Stevenson, one of the late additions, along with Shawne and Shelden Williams, Mehmet Okur and Larry Owens.
“I see us jelling before the All-Star break. We’ve had a tough schedule so we just have to keep our heads up. We’re trying to make the best of it, but it’s hard.”
No arguments there. Look at the latest ceiling-falls-on-their-noggins episode. In Chicago, the Nets were set for the third game in a three- in-three nights set, a tough enough task without the opponent being the best-in-the-business Bulls.
Coach Avery Johnson was downright perky that he would have the same lineup for a fifth straight game.
So Brooks was scratched just before game time. Owens, the D-League call-up who virtually wore a “Hi, I’m: LARRY” nametag, played 29 minutes. Shawne Williams, played 20 as the search for a small forward continues (if you’re 6-6 or taller, send in your résumè).
They have started James, Stevenson and Brooks at small forward — the last two are guards but necessity dictates weird alignments. And the Nets are going slowly with Stevenson who has had knee issues. And now James is done for this year.
“It’s an unusual year with unusual circumstances,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know the unusual circumstances would have our name in it quite so much. … So we’ll just have to keep going.”
As hard as that may be.