The Nets had a meet-and-greet today for some of the players they acquired in the Vince Carter trade. It probably won't be their last such event this summer.
 
"I don't think we're done yet," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "I think you'll see us do some other things before next season rolls around."
 
Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie came over from the Carter-Ryan Anderson trade. The Nets also added rookie Terrence Williams on the same day.
 
No, the Nets are not championship caliber. They're not even playoff caliber, but they have time before the regular season starts to change that.
 
The free-agent negotiation period begins July 1. Players can be signed July 8. The Nets don't have the money to make a big splash this summer. So, they're more likely to wait and see what's left after teams with money open their checkbooks.
 
The Nets probably will make more noise in the trade market. They have 15 guaranteed contracts so they're going to have to trade or cut people to make any moves and with money the way it is, think trade.
 
Here's a summer primer:
 
What The Nets Have
1. Money: They're over the cap, but can use their mid-level exception, which should be between $5 million and $6 million when the new cap is announced. Thorn generally doesn't use the full midlevel on one player, but he's been known to split it like last season when some went to Eduardo Najera and some to Chris Douglas-Roberts.
 
2. Expiring contracts: Potentially valuable trade chips are the seven contracts that will expire after the upcoming season. It's eight if you include Yi Jianlian's 2010-11 team option that you have to believe the Nets will pick up if he's here, still.
 
3. Trade exceptions: The Nets have three for $3.7 million, $1.26 million and $1.2 million. They can't be combined. The first is almost like having another midlevel when you consider Thorn doesn't use full midlevels. The $1.26 million exception, acquired for Marcus Williams, expires July 22. The Nets used one last year to sign Keyon Dooling.
 
What the Nets need
1. Power forward: Thorn said recently that Yi is the man at power forward, but if the Nets can get one they will. A healthy Najera will help the Nets, but they wouldn't mind insurance there also.
 
2. Small forward: The Nets have nine players that can play on the wing, but could use a proven scoring swingman. Right now it's Hayes, Williams, Bobby Simmons and Trenton Hassell.
 
3. Center: Not a starter. Brook Lopez is one of two or three untouchables on the team -- we're figuring the newly acquired Lee and Williams, too. But the Nets could use help back there. Josh Boone and Sean Williams aren't a part of the future and neither is injury-prone newcomer Battie.
 
Who's available?
1. Power forwards: Carlos Boozer, David Lee and Paul Millsap likely will cost too much. The Nets should make a push for free agent Brandon Bass -- it will be hard to outbid his current team, the Mavericks. Other possibilities are Chris Wilcox, Mikki Moore and Channing Frye.
 
2. Small forwards: Figure Hedo Turkoglu, Shawn Marion and Lamar Odom are out of their price range. Trevor Ariza would be a nice addition, but many teams will pursue him and he's expected to return to the Lakers. More realistic swingman names are Rodney Carney, Ime Udoka, Keith Bogans and Von Wafer.
 
3. Centers: The Clippers are trying to shed some big men and Marcus Camby, whose salary is up after the season and has history with Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe, could be a good short-term option. Free agent Zaza Pachulia is more than serviceable.
 
Closing thought
You can't rule out a big deal, especially if the Nets can get an All-Star quality big man for Devin Harris or some expiring pacts. They're long shots, but they should try for Amare Stoudemire, if the deal with the Warriors falls through, or Al Jefferson.
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Beware of Draft Day 2010 Devin Harris. It might be your turn.
 
First it was Richard Jefferson last year and then it was Vince Carter Thursday night. The Nets have moved a cornerstone player in each of the last two drafts. Each time they seemed to go backwards, yet they were looking ahead.
 
It's all about 2010. It has been and it will continue to be until 2010 comes and then we'll see if all the money the Nets saved really allows them to be players when some of the biggest fish will jump into free-agent waters next summer.
 
The Nets will have money, but numerous questions remain, such as A) Will they be allowed to spend it?; B) Will they be Brooklyn-bound, Newark-bound or leaving this time zone?; C) Will Bruce Ratner still own the team; and D) Will players want to play here?
 
Time will tell, but for now the Nets think they had a good Draft Day for the second straight year regardless of what you think.
 
They lost Carter, their best player, and Ryan Anderson. They got back Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie, and they drafted Terrence Williams out of Louisville.
Last year, they sent out Jefferson, got back Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons and drafted Brook Lopez, Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts.
 
Which day was better or worse is too early to tell? But something tells me the Nets will miss Carter more than they miss Jefferson. Still, Carter wasn't going to lead the Nets to the NBA title, so they felt it was time to go in another direction, build around some young players and cut somewhere around $17.5 million off their payroll next summer.
 
"From our standpoint, it certainly puts us in a tremendous position cap-wise going forward," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "And we think we got a terrific young player in the process."

That young player is Lee, who the Nets passed on, ironically, in favor of Anderson last year.
 
Thorn admitted the Nets are not better today, but he thinks they have a chance to better than people think. The Nets weren't a playoff team before and nothing here says they will be one in 2009-10.
 
They said goodbye to probably their best scorer in NBA history and got an unproven shooting guard, an above-average point guard and an injury-riddled big man. They also got a versatile player in Williams, who plays three positions and defends three positions. But he's a rookie so he, too, is unproven.
 
In other words, this upcoming season will be a lot like last season.
 
You're going to watch with intrigue to see how these guys mesh and if they play hard and win games early you're going to like the direction of the team. Then if they falter, you're g oing to want the coach fired, some of the players traded, Yi taken out of the lineup, and so on.
 
A few things that you can count on is the Nets are going to try and run more and maybe they will trap more with a lineup that could feature Harris, Lee and Williams. They can be exciting that way because they have versatility and guys who are interchangeable. But they also have to and will establish Lopez much more.
 
We're going to see if Lopez and Harris are for real, too. The Nets lost 21 points, about five assists and so many double-teams that helped the two young players get easier looks.
 
That's why there is going to be so much wait-and-see with these Nets, just like last year.
 
The young guys have to buy in early the way Carter made sure they did last year. They have to commit to defense the way the Nets wouldn't last year and they have to play together and with a tremendous chip because no one is expecting anything from them.
 
One more thing, they're going to have find someone to make plays in the fourth quarter. Carter always did it, and his presence allowed Harris and Lopez to make plays. He will be missed there, too.
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The NBA Draft Lottery went just like the Nets' season. Despite their best intentions, they just couldn't beat the odds.

So, the Nets will pick 11th in next month's draft, as expected. But, they hope to have the same luck they had in last year's draft when a big center they never expected to be there fell to them at No. 10 -- Brook Lopez.
 
It's not often you have that type of good fortune two years in a row, but the Nets can hope. The truth is this is not a deep draft. There's power forward Blake Griffin and basically everyone else.

Sure, Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio has been mentioned at No. 2 and UConn's 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet at three. But, both have big question marks and after them there are questions about who's going to be a player and who's not.
 
For that reason, the Nets aren't all broken up about not jumping into the top three. They don't think there's much difference between three, four, five and 11.

Don't get me wrong. They would have loved the No. 1 pick, of course. The Nets' frontcourt would be set for the next 10-12 years, if Griffin and Lopez reach their potential.
 
They will call the Clippers to see if there is any package the Clippers would accept, perhaps even including Devin Harris to make it enticing, for the No. 1 pick.
 
If the Nets wound up two or three they would have discussed whether to go with Thabeet or Arizona power forward Jordan Hill or Arizona State swingman James Harden. Who knows if either falls and how far?
 
But, if the Nets stay at 11, any number of players that they like probably will be available to them, whether it's a point guard -- this draft has plenty of them -- a wing player or a power forward.
 
Think these names right now but things could change in the next month: Point guards Jonny Flynn of Syracuse, Ty Lawson of UNC and Jeff Teague of Wake Forest, Wake small forward James Johnson, Louisville swingman Terence Williams and undersized Pitt power forward DeJuan Blair.
 
Point guard, wing player and power forward are the Nets' three biggest needs.
 
They want a third point guard for insurance reasons. They would like a small forward that can score consistently. Bobby Simmons and Trenton Hassell didn't stand out last year and a power forward that isn't good for 1-for-6, four points and three rebounds every night (Yi Jianlian was a big disappointment).
 
The Nets won't find all three in this draft and likely will have to make trades to fill some of their needs, but they should have options.

"We definitely feel there will be some player picked at 11 or even lower than 11 that will be a really good player in the NBA," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "That's the way it is every year. We just have to get the right guy."
 
That's it. The Nets need to make sure they get the right guy this time.
 
Last year, they had arguably the best draft in the league when they took Lopez, Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts. They basically got three top 25 picks even though Douglas-Roberts went at No. 40.
 
The Nets have to have similar success this summer because you just don't know what else they will be able to do in this economic climate, with their own financial issues and with many teams not looking to take back salary.
 
"I think it's very important that you pick judiciously and you get somebody who can help you particularly when you pick as high as we are," Thorn said.
 
This could be the only addition the Nets make this summer. It's not likely because Thorn badly wants the Nets to be a playoff team, but it is possible.
 
The Nets are in a cost-cutting mode, like most teams. They're not going to want to add too much salary, so look for trades rather than signings. But, they need a willing partner, and who knows if they'll have to throw in the No. 11 pick to make Sean Williams or Simmons or Hassell or Josh Boone more attractive.
 
But, if they keep the pick, the Nets have to make sure they get the right guy, someone who makes the rotation. They have to have similar success as last year when the lottery didn't go as they hoped but the draft sure did.

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).

Nets president Rod Thorn said he had been formulating his opinion for about a week. Ultimately, the reason he decided to give Lawrence Frank a chance to finish out his contract as coach is because he believes in him.
 
"In my mind, he's a good coach," Thorn said this morning. "If you get rid of a good coach you've got to get a good coach. In my mind he's a good coach. He's done a good job here.
 
"This past year we weren't expected to do very well. We ended up doing better than most people expected us to do. Our younger players got better for the most part. My feeling is we're on the right road."
 
And with that ended more than a week of speculation and conjecture of what Thorn would do, who would replace Frank and whether the players still are listening to him. Now it's on to making sure the Nets improve on the basketball floor so Frank can keep his job.
 
Bringing back Frank for next season may not be a popular decision with the fans, but it makes sense on so many levels.
 
First of all, Nets' ownership lost more than $25 million according to Sports Business Journal last year. The team has had a few rounds of layoffs and is sharing a summer league team with the Sixers to split the expenses.
 
All of that said, eating Frank's $4.5 million salary wouldn't be smart.
 
Secondly, the Nets didn't underachieve like some teams. They may have overachieved - although it's hard to say 34 wins is a good thing - when you consider what they were predicted to do this past season.
 
Additionally, Devin Harris improved. Brook Lopez was better than expected. The same can be said for Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes and Ryan Anderson.
 
Frank certainly had more positives than negatives this past season. The biggest minus was the Nets' record, but he basically had a pass for that when in preseason Thorn and GM Kiki Vandeweghe said the development of the players were what mattered.
 
Some in the organization were unhappy that the plan shifted when the Nets were in the playoff race and they played veterans because they were trying to win games. But the players - except for Yi Jianlian - got better or played better than anticipated. Besides, playing to win is the most important thing. You want to teach the players how to win and what it takes. That should always be the plan. It will be next year when Frank knows he has to win to keep his job.
 
Even if he does, there's no guarantee the Nets will extend him or give him a new deal after the season. So much depends on what happens this summer, who comes in via the draft, free agency and trades, and how the young players continue to develop.

There are other factors, too, like whether the Nets are on track for Brooklyn, whether Bruce Ratner still owns the team and if there is a marquee coach available next summer that could make a big difference.
 
As for 2009-10, Thorn isn't concerned about having a coach in the final year of his contract on the bench. He thinks the players will listen to Frank and continue to play hard for him. They did for most of this past season, but at times they could have and should have given a little more. Had they given more effort defensively and executed better down the stretch of games they might have been in the playoffs now, might have been playing the roles of the Bulls or Sixers, who are giving the Celtics and Magic fits, respectively.
 
You can blame some of those things on the coach, of course. But the players also share in that. They have to work a little harder defensively, have to be smarter with the ball late in games or take better shots.
 
These are the things the Nets will have to do better next season because they're healthy and because they will hear the same voice and likely will play a similar style. Maybe the Nets will go to Lopez more - at least they should. But all of that will depend upon what personnel changes the Nets make.
 
That's what Thorn has to turn his attention to now that he has decided his coach will be back and that his voice still is being heard.
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)

Rod Thorn needs a little more time to make his decision. Picking the right coach to get the most out of the team isn't something that's taken lightly, and Thorn just wants to make sure Lawrence Frank remains that guy.

The knee-jerk reaction is if Thorn has to think about it than Frank isn't the right guy for this team. But, Thorn never has been a knee-jerk kind of person. He's just trying to be thorough to make sure he's positive.

You can make arguments for and against Frank's return.

For instance, Frank did a good job last year and Thorn was happy with the development of the young players, so he deserves another shot. Yet, if Frank is just a one-year stop-gap that won't last past next season, why not commit to someone else? (Beside money, of course.)

These are things Thorn is considering, as well as: "Is the voice still pertinent?" That's a quote that continues to resonate with me. If Thorn really is concerned about that it's a problem for the coach.

That said, here are the scenarios regarding Frank as we see them:

Bring back Frank as a lame-duck coach
This remains the more likely scenario because of the money situation and Frank did a good job last season. Still, bringing back a coach on an expiring contract is never good because the first five-game losing streak and questions will arise about his job status. The players also will know the situation coming in or will be reminded about it by the media. To Frank's credit, he rarely gets distracted, so he will handle it like a pro and just focus on doing his job. The question is will the players respond to him in this situation?

Bring back Frank and give him an extension
Not happening. If there is any question in Thorn's mind about Frank it doesn't make sense to extend him. But, consider this: What happens if the Nets make few moves this offseason and bring back essentially the same team, the players play all-out, are above .500 and make the playoffs? Is Frank given an extension or another contract or let go after reaching the playoffs? What if they change the roster and expectations are high and Frank meets those expectations, then what?

Hire an established coach
Unless you can get Eddie Jordan, who will command a big deal but may be willing to back-load it because he's still owed money from Washington, it's tough for ownership to agree to pay two guys big money. We say this because the Nets aren't the Knicks, Mavericks or Blazers -- teams that can and will spend freely and throw fiscal responsibility out the window. Nets' owners are losing millions upon millions so eating Frank's $4.5 million and hiring someone at a salary starting at $4 million, let's say, is going to be tough to approve. Other guys out there include successful, hard-driving coaches such as Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Fratello and Avery Johnson. Will they be willing to take little money up front -- relatively speaking -- and also follow the All-Access ways of the Nets where sponsors fly with the team, etc.?

Go the assistant route
The Nets like their assistants but probably wouldn't promote their younger ones at this point, although they wouldn't have to pay them that much. If they hire an assistant from the outside, it would cost them less than an established coach. But, other than Boston's Tom Thibodeau there aren't that many hot assistants this year. He's a Van Gundy disciple and stresses defense, which the Nets need, but would he be a fan of All-Access? On a side note, it should be All-About Winning and not All-Access.

Try the former player
It worked for the Nets with Byron Scott, at least for a little while before the players tuned him out. If the voice is the concern, bringing in a former player whom understands players a little better is an option. Don't expect Mark Jackson to be a candidate, however.
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Rod Thorn came in the room with his voice hoarse and cracking. The immediate joke was it came from shouting down some people at the big management/ownership meeting last night when Lawrence Frank was discussed.

Perhaps it was fitting that Thorn barely had a voice when he openly wondered whether his coach still had one.

The overriding theme in Thorn's end-of-season wrap with the media was are the players still listening to Frank. Sure, there are other reasons Thorn didn't come out and say Frank would be his coach next season, but the voice seemed to be the biggest reason why he couldn't say he would.

"I wouldn't say it's my primary concern, but it is one of them," Thorn said. "You just look at the whole thing. Have we gone as far as we can go with the way we are going, or if we have a new voice can it give us an infusion to go higher basically is what I'm looking at."

As the nearly 30-minute sit-down with Thorn ended there were more questions than answers. Among them:

What's it going to take for you to decide?
"Just trying to look at our team, trying to look at where we're trying to go, trying to look at all the aspects of it and trying to figure out what's best for our team."

What are you weighing?
"Is the voice still pertinent? Do I think the team will reach whatever its limitations are? Are we still headed in the right direction? Those types of things."

When will you decide?
"In a timely fashion. There is no set date, but I think a timely fashion is always appropriate."

You realize people will interpret that Frank is out?
"I realize I'm probably being naïve, but I don't think people should interpret it any way. It's just an organization trying to do its due diligence, trying to think where it is, where it's going, without any decision being made yet."

How much does the delay have to do with a particular candidate?
"None."

Thorn handled it like the pro that he is. Nets' fans should know one thing: Thorn always tries to make the right decision based on the circumstances.

You may not like some of his trades or signings but sometimes his hands were tied because of ownership constraints and other situations.

In this case, it's totally his call. Money plays a factor because you're dealing with about $4.5 million salary for Frank next season, which is a lot for any business. Especially one losing money, laying off employees, and deciding to have a joint summer-league team with the Sixers to save expenses.

But, if Frank stays it shouldn't be because of money. It should be because he deserves to be the coach. If you look at this season alone, Frank deserves to be back and Thorn knows that much.

Thorn isn't just looking at this season, though. He's looking at the last few, how the Nets played down the stretch of the season when they surprisingly were still in the playoff race and playing it forward, trying to figure out whether Frank will get more of out this group next season.

During the interview, Thorn received a lozenge that made his voice a little better. The strength of the coach's voice remains a question in Thorn's mind.

The season ended Wednesday. The players have had their exit interviews. The Nets will have meetings early next week to discuss numerous things, including the future of coach Lawrence Frank.
 
Here's a look at the future of all the Nets gathered from a combination of sources, educated opinion, speculation and conversations with my 2 ½-year-old son.
 
Lawrence Frank: The Nets' NBA leader in wins achieved most of what management wanted, except for developing Yi Jianlian. But, we don't blame Frank for that. Yi got hurt and you know the rest of the story. Frank did a good job. But, the questions Rod Thorn will ask himself is can someone get more out of this team, are the players still listening, can he come back with one year left on his deal and expect the players to run through walls for him. The owner endorsed Frank if that means anything.
Odds of returning: 50 percent
 
Brook Lopez: The Rookie of the Year candidate hasn't scratched the surface of his potential. The Nets see the center as a franchise centerpiece, especially if he continues to develop.
Odds of returning: 99.9 percent
 
Jarvis Hayes: The Nets will pick up the $2 million option on his contract for next season and gladly call him their sixth man again.
Odds of returning: 90 percent
 
Devin Harris: The first-time All-Star was great most of the season but didn't commit to defense. The Nets like what they see from Jason Kidd's replacement and won't move the person they dealt their franchise player for unless they have a shot at Blake Griffin or another potential franchise-type of player.
Odds of returning: 85 percent
 
Keyon Dooling: The ball moved better with him, and he's the kind of instant energy player every team loves and the Nets of recent years have lacked. He should be back.
Odds of returning: 80 percent
 
Vince Carter: You're not going to find many players who can produce the way he can and who makes his teammates better like he does. Money will be a factor both ways. The Nets would like to shed some payroll, but it's going to be tough to find teams that will take back his $33.6 million salary over the next two years.
Odds of returning: 75 percent
 
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Showed great potential at the end of the season that made some question why the rookie swingman didn't play sooner. The Nets would like to see how he progresses. He's already one of their most competitive guys, a trait they wish more had.
Odds of returning: 75 percent
 
Ryan Anderson: The Nets like him and what he can become, but other teams like Anderson too. He could sweeten any potential trade.
Odds of returning: 70 percent
 
Yi Jianlian: The Nets already gave up too soon on a 20-something 7-footer (Nenad Krstic) in part of because of Yi. That was a mistake. But, they should make some calls. Not sure what the interest level is. The Nets would like an upgrade at power forward.
Odds of returning: 65 percent
 
Eduardo Najera: The Nets' oldest player played only 27 games due to injury. Teams could be scared away by his age, 33, his health and his contract (three years, $8.5 million).
Odds of returning: 60 percent
 
Bobby Simmons: Improved as the season went on and is entering the final year of his deal at $11.24 million. It's a lot for a role player, but he could value if not now then by the trade deadline. The Nets would like an upgrade at small forward.
Odds of returning: 60 percent
 
Trenton Hassell: Won't opt out of the $4.35 million due him next season because he won't sniff close to that if he does. It's a lot of money for a role player, but better than Simmons' deal and he's a better defender. It's the type of contract that could be used to make a deal work.
Odds of returning: 50 percent
 
Josh Boone: Serviceable big man has a manageable contract -- $2 million next season; qualifying offer slightly less than $3 million the year after. He should have value but needs a fire lit under him.
Odds of returning: 25 percent
 
Sean Williams: Everyone knows he's a terrific athlete and shot blocker, but his off-court troubles spoiled what could have been an I'll-show-you season. If the Nets can't move him, they always could buy him out.
Odds of returning: 20 percent
 
Maurice Ager: The only free agent on the roster can begin looking for a job, if he wants.
Odds of returning: 0 percent
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Rod Thorn, Kiki Vandeweghe and Lawrence Frank sat together with each Nets' player and performed the annual exit interviews where they discussed what they did well, what they need to work on and some type of summer plan.
 
If I was running the Nets, here's what I would say to each player and the coach in that setting:
 
Vince Carter: Get some rest because you're still a high-level player and we want you to be fresh next season and continue to be an exemplary leader. You helped our young players so much this season. Thank you. You will hear your name in trade rumors, but unless you get a call from us don't worry about it.
 
Devin Harris: Great season, but we're going to expect more next year. Defensively, you have to raise your game because since you've been here you have not lived up to your rep of being a good on-ball defender. You have to realize we need you to do more than score for us to win. You have to defend better, set up your teammates more and take care of the ball late in games.
 
Brook Lopez: You grew up more than any player, and we think you're only going to get better. Get stronger up top, but lower body, also. Here's some tape on Tim Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Watch them and go watch some playoff games. Pick up things from them and we'll start working on it in a month or so because eventually you're going to be our go-to player.
 
Ryan Anderson: You showed great maturity and professionalism to go from out of the rotation to starting to out to starting, and were productive. We like the way you go to the boards. We're going to try and work on your lateral quickness and defense. Here is some tape and some things for you to try, and we'll see you in back in the gym in a month or so.
 
Keyon Dooling: After you clean up your hip get a little rest because you logged more minutes than ever before and depending on what we do next season you could have an increased role. But, we liked the energy, leadership and professionalism you brought to each game and welcome that next season.
 
Jarvis Hayes: I wouldn't worry about your $2 million option. You're safe. We've been waiting for a good shooter and capable perimeter defender for years and we have that now. Let your thumb heal, spend some time with your new son, and come back thinking Sixth Man Award candidate.
 
Chris Douglas-Roberts: We love your competitive nature. We need more players who hate losing like you do and will do whatever it takes to win. Keep working on your ball-handling, shooting and defense because you will have an expanded role next season.
 
Yi Jianlian: You weren't the same player after returning from your broken right pinkie. You can't hesitate when you shoot and you can't lose confidence. When you're not hitting shots you still can rebound and defend. You need to improve everywhere and the only way is by playing. So, when you're not with your national team, get in a gym and play pick-up games, go to Vegas and play, come here and play. You just need to play.
 
Josh Boone: We thought Brook taking your starting job would have inspired you to work harder and improve. It didn't. Same with Sean Williams taking your back-up role for a stretch. We need to figure out what's going to light a fire under you, if anything, because you have potential. You should be instant energy the moment you get in the game.
 
Bobby Simmons: We appreciate your professionalism and willingness to play out of position at power forward. We're going to continue to look to upgrade the small forward spot. Come into camp in better shape because we need you to be better defensively.
 
Trenton Hassell: We appreciate your professionalism and defense. If only you could consistently knock down shots because you were open so often. Next year, if you're here, we'll probably use you more in a specialist capacity, as in when we need to shut down people. But, work on your jump shot so we can give you the ball more often.
 
Eduardo Najera: Eddie, is it? Nice to see you. It's been awhile. We could have used your defense, energy and toughness. Come back healthy, and we'll see if you can help us next season.
 
Sean Williams: We're running out of patience and you're running out of time. You could help us if only you keep your head in the game and on your job. We're not sure you will. Prove us wrong, if you're still here.
 
Maurice Ager: Thanks for being a good practice player. Do you know any Spanish or Italian? How about the U.S. to Euro conversion rate? You may want to become familiar with those things.
 
Lawrence Frank: I never tell you who to play, but I wouldn't have gone with Yi or Hassell as long as you did. And it's not your fault for Yi. Anyway, you did a good job with this group. But you should sit down a little more and not scream all the time for guys to "Go," and other things. Let them play, especially when you have mostly veterans on the floor. The veterans will appreciate that and probably respond better.
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).

NEW YORK -- The Nets ended their season at Madison Square Garden last night with a 102-73 loss to the Knicks -- without Vince Carter and Devin Harris -- and now begin what should be another busy offseason.
 
Will coach Lawrence Frank be back? Will Carter? What's Yi Jianlian's future -- a bust or a contributor? Who will they draft? Will they trade their pick? Will they make any big deals?
 
The quick answers to all of this are maybe, probably, we'll see, the best available player, perhaps and they'll try. The real answers will come soon enough. Before we look ahead, here's a look back at 2008-09:
 
MVP

Carter beats out Harris because he was healthier, came to play every night and led this team to the last game. Carter embraced his role as captain. He led by example, played hurt and helped give the young guys a role model to follow.
 
5 Biggest Surprises
 
1. Brook Lopez: You don't normally find a potential franchise center with the No. 10 pick
 
2. The Nets: With eight new faces they stayed in the playoff race longer than expected
 
3. Devin Harris: Went from essentially a complementary player in Dallas to an All-Star here
 
4. Ryan Anderson: Scored more points than eight players taken ahead of him
 
5. Keyon Dooling: We knew he was good, but had a career year and was instant energy
 
5 Biggest Disappointments
 
1. Yi Jianlian: Just when he looked like he got it, he broke his pinky and went backward
 
2. Home Play: Nets were 19-22 at Izod Center and lost 13 games by at least 10 points
 
3. Eduardo Najera: Nets may have been better defensively and overall if he wasn't hurt all season
 
4. No Moves: Management tried, but never found a third point guard or upgraded the roster in-season
 
 
5. Josh Boone: Didn't improve and Lopez's emergence didn't inspire him to raise his game
 
5 Games to Remember
 
1. Nets 129, Raptors 127 (OT), Nov. 21, Air Canada Centre
Harris was in the back sick, returned and had a great second half, but this game was about Carter's game-tying three in regulation and his alley-oop dunk to win in OT.
 
2. Nets 98, Sixers 96, Feb. 23, Izod Center
Harris' halfcourt heave with Andre Iguodala draped all over him was shot of the year; the kind that made you think the Nets were going to be a Cinderella playoff team - guess not.
 
3. Nets 121, Mavs 97, Dec. 19, IZOD Center
In Jason Kidd's return, an inspired Harris had 41 points and 13 assists against his old team, leading the fans to chants of "Thank you, Cuban," to Mavs' owner Mark.
 
4. Nets 117, Suns 109, Nov. 30, U.S. Airways Center
Harris' 47 points helped the Nets cap a 3-1 trip and end a 14-game drought in the desert. Harris became an All-Star on this trip.
 
5. Nets 114, Nuggets 70, Feb. 7, IZOD Center
Denver never saw this one coming. Who did? This was an all-out annihilation of one of the NBA's best teams.
 
 
5 Games to Forget
 
1. Bucks 107, Nets 78, March 30, IZOD Center
They should have asked for some stamps because they mailed this one in one day after a no-show in Minnesota.
 
2. Celtics 105, Nets 86, Jan. 17, IZOD Center
Young fans had to watch this matinee massacre and their favorite players, Harris and Carter, benched for the second half.
 
3. Wizards 108, Nets 88, Dec. 2, IZOD Center
Coming off a 3-1 West trip, the Nets left their legs and us-against-everyone mentality in another time zone.
 
4. Clippers 107, Nets 105, March 15, Staples Center
Everyone remembers the foul up three and Steve Novak's game-winner, but the Nets played with no urgency while still in the playoff race.
 
5. Golden State 116, Nets 112, March 11, Oracle Arena
Nets led this game by 14 and were outscored in the second half, 63-45. It was a bad omen to start the 0-4 trip that ultimately sealed their playoff fate.
 
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)

Bruce Ratner made his voice heard last night and since he's the one who signs off on everything, it seems Nets coach Lawrence Frank is safe.

But, Nets president Rod Thorn and other members of management will meet after the season to decide whether to keep Frank or let him go. A ringing endorsement from the principal owner certainly helps, though.

"I think the coach has done a good job this year," Ratner said last night. "Obviously, our record is not where we'd like it to be, but the coach has done a good job. I like the coach.

"I haven't talked to Rod, so we'll discuss generally all our plans for next year, but I'd have to say we're truly supportive of the coach. He's a very good coach."

Frank's future has been a major topic for the last few weeks and will be for at least one more.

The Nets' season ends tomorrow. Exit interviews and clean-up day will be Thursday, and then, at some point next week Thorn will have his season-ending meeting with the media. It's probably then that Thorn will give his decision, unless he makes it sooner. There is plenty to consider.

Arguments for Frank's return

1. He did his job
The mission statement before the season was to develop the young players -- primarily Devin Harris, Brook Lopez and Yi Jianlian. Two out of three ain't bad. Yi was on the right track before he broke his right pinkie and when he returned he wasn't nearly the same player before he got hurt. Yet, Frank stuck with him longer than he should because of that mission statement.

2. The players and team improved
Harris, Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Keyon Dooling and Jarvis Hayes played better than expected, helping the Nets disprove some preseason predictions. Most of them had the Nets finishing with 20-something wins and 14th or dead-last 15th in the East. The Nets stayed in the playoff race until April and matched last season's win total with a lesser team.

3. Money talks
Frank makes $4.4 million next season, which, according to a Sports Business Journal report, is about one-seventh of how much Ratner's group lost for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31. That's a lot of money to eat, and then, you have to pay a new coach. Unless you get one on the cheap, you're paying two men about $9 million to do one job.

Arguments against Frank's return
 
1. Lame-duck status
I hate the expression, but it's true. If the coach is in the final year of his deal players know he's probably not going to be around as long as them. How motivated will they be to play for him? This isn't just Frank. It's any coach in this situation. The first three-, four- or five-game losing streak, and he's really on the hot seat.

2. Is anyone listening?
The players played hard until the end, but are they doing it for themselves or for their coach? Some of them didn't like being called quitters. You have to wonder if someone else can get more out of these players, especially considering his status. Frank isn't beloved by everyone in the locker room -- and certainly not in the organization. Sometimes things just run their course.

3. The fans
Everyone in the organization is fully aware of some of the fans' dislike for Frank, many of them season-ticket holders. (There aren't nearly as many as other teams have). It's been reported that the business side wants a more marketable coach. Yes, they would love a dynamic personality, but how many of them are out there? They would rather have more wins and better performances at home. It's easier to sell that, but in this economic climate and in that building, how many people are buying?

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).