NJ Nets: Final 2011 Report Cards for Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and the Team

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The New Jersey Nets had a much improved season from their dreadful 2009-2010 campaign, but the team still missed the playoffs by 13 games.

There were some bright spots this year that the team will hope to build on for the upcoming season and as it prepares for its move to Brooklyn.

A full season of a healthy Deron Williams should lead to the Nets competing for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

Here are the final report cards for this year’s Nets players.

Note: Only players who played in at least 25 games were considered for this list.

Stephen Graham, D+

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Stephen Graham has bounced around the league his entire NBA career, and this offseason will probably continue that trend.

The Nets brought in Graham as a defensive specialist, and for a time, he was just that.

However, Graham was forced into a starting role when Anthony Morrow went down early with an injury. He struggled in this role, which wound up making him the forgotten man on the bench once Morrow returned.

Graham likely won’t be back next season, unless the Nets feel he can still provide some defensive help off the bench.

Ben Uzoh, C-

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Ben Uzoh enjoyed some success in his first NBA season, but that was overshadowed but rookie mistakes.

Uzoh wound up in the D-League at one point to refine his game.

He did provide a spark of energy off the bench at times, but he still needs a lot of work.

He was often times lost in the shuffle at point guard behind Deron Williams and Jordan Farmar.

He could be trade bait this offseason, but the Nets may consider hanging onto him as a player they can develop into a productive bench player.

Johan Petro, C-

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Johan Petro was brought in to provide depth behind Brook Lopez.

However, Petro didn’t exactly do the job he was supposed to do.

He struggled defensively due to his lack of mobility, and seemed to develop a knack for getting into foul trouble. Committing these fouls forced Avery Johnson to put Lopez back in the game when he was not fully rested.

Petro at times exhibited a deadly mid-range jumper, but he sometimes fell too much in love with his shot rather than dishing to his teammates for a better look.

The Nets may opt to add a better big man option than Petro this offseason.

Travis Outlaw, C

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Travis Outlaw signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Nets to take over at small forward.

Despite being a reserve player for the Portland Trail Blazers, Outlaw was given a lucrative deal.

He struggled in a starter’s role, making the deal seem like a bust.

However, Outlaw thrived in a bench role once the Nets traded for Deron Williams.

He went through stretches of dominance from three-point land, though he sometimes took way too long to get off a shot.

Since there likely won’t be any takers for his large contract, Outlaw should be a Net next season. If the team commits to him as a reserve, he can be a valuable asset.

Damion James, C+

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Damion James was the Nets second first-round pick after New Jersey acquired the rights to the No. 24 overall pick from the Atlanta Hawks.

James had some good games as both a starter and reserve player this season.

However, injuries limited James to just 25 games.

The Nets will likely look for another option at small forward, whether through free agency, trades or the draft.

James will likely be around next year, but he will have to show he can stay healthy before the Nets place their faith in him.

Sasha Vujacic, B

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Sasha Vujacic was only averaging 4.9 minutes per game before the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to the New Jersey Nets in a three-team deal including Terrence Williams and Joe Smith.

Vujacic immediately became a fan-favorite in New Jersey due to his accurate, quick-release shot.

He averaged 11.4 points in 28.5 minutes per game.

“The Machine,” as Nets announcer Ian Eagle aptly called Vujacic, is a free agent this summer, but New Jersey would be wise to re-sign him.

He may draw attention from other teams, but his versatility and instant offense would be a great asset off the bench.

Jordan Farmar, B

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Jordan Farmar was a nice addition to this team to back up Devin Harris. He showed he can start as well when Harris went down with an injury.

He shot extremely well from downtown, and did a good job assisting buckets from his teammates.

When the Nets acquired Deron Williams, Farmar showed he can fill in effectively at both shooting guard and point guard.

His versatility will be important to the Nets next season, especially since he is one of the few players on the roster with any postseason experience.

Anthony Morrow, B+

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Despite some injury troubles, Anthony Morrow had a very good year for the Nets.

His three-point shooting was among the best in the game, and he even passed Steve Kerr for the best ever three-point shooting percentage.

Morrow was productive as both a starter and reserve player, and averaged 13.2 points per game.

His grade was elevated by his clutch shooting ability. Avery Johnson would often put the ball in Morrow’s hand with the game on the line late.

Morrow will likely be a major contributor to the Nets next season, preferably in a bench role.

Deron Williams, B+

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Though he’s not a free agent until summer 2012, Deron Williams was traded from the Utah Jazz to the New Jersey Nets in late February.

The Nets came out of nowhere to make this deal, and Williams instantly changed the face of the franchise.

However, Williams had been dealing with a wrist injury before the trade, which he aggravated during his time with the Nets.

After just 12 games, the Nets shut down Williams for the season so he can be ready for next year.

While he did not average as many points per game in a Nets uniform, Williams averaged 12.8 assists per game.

He should be a Net for at least the start of next season, and hopefully he can be the player that leads a competitive team to Brooklyn. He will need to be convinced, however, that the Brooklyn Nets can bring home a few NBA championships.

Good luck Mikhail Prokhorov!

Brook Lopez, A-

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Brook Lopez continued his progress of becoming one of the top centers in the game.

He averaged 20.4 points per game, and showed his range with a good outside jumper.

Since he could rely on Kris Humphries to crash the boards, Lopez’s rebounding numbers were slightly down, averaging only six per game. That’s low for a 7’0” player, so he will have to work on being a force down low.

Lopez also took strides in being a leader of the team. He was named a co-captain with Devin Harris, and was the team’s sole captain once Harris was traded to the Utah Jazz.

If the Nets can hang onto Deron Williams, Lopez should continue to get better.

Kris Humphries, A

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Kris Humphries finally figured it out after six years of mediocre play.

He would have been this year’s Comeback Player of the Year had it not been for Kevin Love and his 53 consecutive double-doubles.

Humphries was one of only a handful of players to average a double-double for the season, with 10.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

In addition to his emphatic dunks, he was also a force defensively with his shut-down blocks.

Though he’s a free agent, there is little chance the Nets let him slip away.

Humphries recently got engaged to Kim Kardashian, so he really has a lot going for him after his great season.