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The Nets completed their awaited trade with the Mavericks today, sending Eduardo Najera to Dallas for Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams. Now watch the 3-34 Nets’ fortunes turn.

It's another fringe transaction that doesn’t really affect anything but their bottom line and future flexibility. It’s about getting younger and more assets without infringing upon their cash for free agents this summer. Last week, the Nets bought out Rafer Alston and got Chris Quinn, a 2012 second round pick and cash from the Heat.

Najera is a better player than Humphries, but he just wasn’t the right fit with the Nets. He would have been better suited for some of the teams that featured Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, a veteran that could have helped them defensively against good teams

The Nets had one of their longer practices since the new regime took over. Kiki Vandeweghe said it was his first real practice with the Nets.

You certainly could look at it that way, since he had just about everyone take part except for Chris Douglas-Roberts, whose sprained right ankle kept him hobbled, and Eduardo Najera. Yi Jianlian was out there and Jarvis Hayes, too.

Slowly but surely, it seems the Nets are getting their regular players back. You can’t be entirely sure because it seems every time someone is about to return, someone else gets hurt.

But barring more setbacks or injuries, you’re looking at the possibility -– possibility -– that the Nets will have 15 players available for Saturday’s game against the Rockets or maybe Dec. 28 against Oklahoma