A big season awaits the Nets, many of their players, coaches and executives, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a good one.

The Nets could be under new ownership by year's end, preparing for a temporary - or permanent? - move to Newark, and just about everyone not named Brook Lopez is fighting to keep their jobs.

Rod Thorn, Kiki Vandeweghe, Lawrence Frank, his assistants and seven players have expiring contracts. One more can be bought out for 500,000 and another has a team option.

Everyone is intrigued by what potential owner Mikhail Prokhorov will do, where the Nets will play next year and beyond and what they will do in the free-agent sweepstakes in the summer of 2010. But there is a season to be played first and here's a primer:

Starters
Devin Harris: Can get to hole on anyone, but can't seem to get out of the trainer's room. The Nets need their best player healthy to lead them through this potentially difficult season. But they also need him to commit to containing the dribble when he's out there.

Courtney Lee: Vince Carter's replacement could flourish with more responsibility than he had in Orlando in Nets' up-and-down game. Should be one of the Nets' top three scorers and is good enough defensively to check opponent's best perimeter player.

Brook Lopez: Should break Nets' record for average points by a center - held by Mike Gminski (16.9). The Nets will run their halfcourt offense through him and should go to him early and often. A future double-double guy, perhaps the future is now.

Yi Jianlian: The Nets' wild card, X-factor or whatever you want to call him because if he plays well this team could do better than expected. But you don't know what to expect for him. He could have as many 7-for-12 games as 2-for-10.

Chris Douglas Roberts: Itching to prove he should have been a first-round pick last year and he can play in the NBA. Uber-competitive, CDR had a great camp and preseason and if it carries over could compete for Most Improved Player honors.

The Bench
Terrence Williams: Rookie plays with fire and passion. He's versatile enough to play three positions and guard three spots and can be a game-changer because of all of his assets. His defense and athleticism will be keys to the Nets' transition game.

Jarvis Hayes: Leg injury kept steady veteran forward from having the camp/preseason he wanted, but if healthy probably will continue to be reliable multi-position player and scorer off the bench. Could miss Carter setting him up for open shots, though.

Rafer Alston: Important piece from Carter trade - a quality point guard and gives the Nets insurance with Harris injury prone and Keyon Dooling out until late November at best. Can run a team, but the question is will he be happy in his role in a contract year?

Josh Boone: Another Net playing for a contract. They're looking for consistent effort and production from the sometimes-lackluster Boone, who could be a high-rebound guy and is a good pick-and-roll big man.
 
Eduardo Najera: Could start out as the backup power forward because he can muck up games with his energy and defense, if he's healthy. Big if.

Bobby Simmons: Based on Najera's track record here, Simmons, a natural small forward, could start out as and/or become the top reserve power forward. He's a better shooter and more durable lately.

Keyon Dooling: Expect a controversy when he returns because the defensive-minded, heady, playmaker is going to play and someone won't. But it will take some time to get back to normal. This type of hip injury isn't common in the NBA.

Tony Battie: Veteran big man played on some good teams and should provide stability up front. He's been banged up so much in camp; probably won't be regular rotation guy.

Trenton Hassell: A defensive specialist and offensive liability. He could be used when the Nets need his defense at multiple positions.

Sean Williams: Like many Nets, this will be it for him in New Jersey. Hasn't proven to be reliable, so he'll play if the Nets need energy, defense or if some guys are injured.

Strengths
1. Speed: In Harris, Lee, Terrence Williams and Douglas-Roberts, the Nets have guys who can get up the floor in a hurry. Those four could play at same time with Lopez.

2.  Versatility: The Nets have many interchangeable parts or "wing" players as they like to call them. It could lead to some interesting lineups.

3. Youth: Seven of the Nets' top nine guys are 26 and under and five have fewer than three years experience. They should be hungry and looking to prove themselves.

4. Status: Seven Nets - although not all rotation guys - are playing for contracts and others trying to make names for themselves, so there could be some career years.

5. Harris/Lopez: Could turn into a formidable pick-and-roll tandem and are two solid pieces to build around.

Weaknesses
1. Inexperience: With all these young guys having big roles you don't know what to expect other than some growing pains.

2. No star: With all due respect to Harris you win in this league with superstars and the Nets have none

3. Power forward: Yi is up and down, but is the best of the either injured or out-of-position bunch the Nets have now that Ryan Anderson is in Orlando

4. New ground: Without Carter, many of the young guys will get different/more defensive attention and it's too early to know how they will respond.

5. The Future: So much is about next year that if players stop listening to lame-duck Frank, or become too stat driven or are unhappy with their roles, it could turn bad.

Prediction
It could be a long season but the youth, speed and unknown could lead to an exciting or even surprising one if the kids grow up quickly. But this isn't a playoff team as is. It's more like a 26-to-30 win squad.

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