BY AL IANNAZZONE

Special to YESNetwork.com

The All-Star break is over. The Nets returned to practice today in Charlotte, where they open the “second half” of their season and against a team they have beaten this season.

The biggest Nets’ stories after the break and before the season ends are what happens with Rod Thorn, Kiki Vandeweghe, the Russian billionaire’s takeover, the trade deadline and whether they break they record for fewest wins or most losses – however you want to look at it.

After the season, it will be who’s their next coach, next general manager, where they end up in the lottery, what they do in the draft, what trades they make and what free agents they can get.

But the near future is easier to talk about and predict.

By now you probably know Thorn is in Vancouver to meet with Mikhail Prokhorov, a good sign the Nets’ president gets a new contract and his deal extended. Vandeweghe’s status is up in the air for the rest of this season, but it’s not expected he will return next year.

Prokhorov should take over the Nets within the next six or seven weeks. The trade deadline is Thursday, and the Nets will try to do something to shake things up but may not be successful.

As for the record, the 4-48 Nets need six wins to avoid complete humiliation. Five wins means their shame is shared, and four wins means they are the absolute worst team in NBA history.

Side note: no matter what the Nets’ record is, if they don’t win the Lottery and a chance to draft John Wall –- which would change the fate of the franchise –- the weighted system probably needs to change. This team needs serious help.

The Nets say they want no part of the record –- they said the same thing in November and yet they started 0-18 and now own the mark for the worst start ever. If they really want no part of it, they will do something about it, like win six of their remaining 30 games.

Believe it or not, it is possible, but the Nets are going to need Devin Harris to stay healthy and help will this team to wins like he did last season. That’s one of the things missing from the Nets this season.

Looking over their schedule, it’s tough, but not impossible.

The breakdown is: they have 30 games and 17 are at home; nine are against West teams, four of which are at home; 13 are against teams below .500 at the break and six are at home.

The Nets play the Bobcats, Raptors, Grizzlies, Sixers, Wizards, Heat and Bulls twice each. The Raptors’ pair are in Izod, with the rest a home and away split.

Now, before any trades are made for any of the opponents and assuming good health by the Nets (not likely), we see them winning as many as seven of their remaining games. They could only win four, but we’re going as many as seven, maybe eight.

By our guesstimates, the Nets will win one each against the Sixers, Wizards and Grizzlies. We know the Grizzlies are having a good year, but give the Nets one win against them. They were this-close to beating the Sixers a couple of times this season as well as the Wizards just two weeks ago.

The Nets could win home games against Sacramento and Detroit and at least one road game at New York, Indiana or Milwaukee, if Brook Lopez quiets Andrew Bogut and the perimeter players don’t allow so many threes.

There also is going to be one game this season the Nets aren’t expected to get. There has to be. We don’t think it will be against the Cavs, Magic, Hawks Spurs, or Suns or at the Mavs, Thunder or Rockets at the end of a long trip.

We’re looking at one of the games against the Raptors and Heat as the surprise victory. At this point, though, all victories are surprises.

***
Vandeweghe is on the advisory board of The Courts of Dreams Foundation, which restores and maintains basketball courts for children in New York City neighborhoods.

One opened in the Bronx last summer and 3 ½ more are in progress in Washington Heights and Upper Manhattan.

On Sunday, the 2nd Annual Courts of Dreams Family Day will take place at Horace Mann School (Prettyman Gymnasium) in the Bronx from 3-5 p.m., and will feature Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari, John Starks and other NBA guests.

The event, which will include an on-court clinic, Q&A, pizza and special raffle prizes, is for children ages 4-18 and their families.

Tickets range from $150-$500 and can be purchased by calling (212) 832-2910. All money raised will go toward court restoration.  For more, visit: www.pinnaclehoops.com

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