SLAM DUNKS: G Jason Kidd (13.3 ppg, 8.4 apg, 7.3 rpg, 1.88 spg) will turn 34 this season but still makes this team go. He remains all about winning and is the trigger man for the best perimeter trio in the league, which includes G Vince Carter (24.2, 5.8 rpg, 4.3 apg) and F Richard Jefferson (19.5, 6.8, 3.8). Both are high-flying athletic wings that are unstoppable in transition and can take over games when necessary. ... C Nenad Krstic (13.5, 6.4, .510 FG) has a nice balance to his offense and helps spread the floor with his perimeter shooting. He is a good fit with F Jason Collins (3.6, 4.8), who doesn't do much on the offensive end but is one of the league's better post defenders and understands his role. ... F Clifford Robinson (6.9, 3.3) is back for his 18th season. Robinson still makes the 3-pointer and can play the pivot in a pinch with his post defense. ... Moore (3.3, 2.8) and Ilic should help deepen what was a shallow frontcourt a season ago.

AIRBALLS: The offseason moves appeared to add depth. But did they really? Boone is out until December and Williams is a point guard, the position with the biggest learning curve for a rookie. House (9.8) can score and play both guard spots but is not a good decision-maker at the point and too small to defend shooting guards. And G-F Antoine Wright (1.8) didn't play enough as a rookie to expect any significant contributions this season. ... What this team really needed to add in the offseason was a thug as its third big man to help protect Krstic, allow Collins better use of his fouls and keep the running game going by hitting the boards. ... When the Nets cannot run, the offense bogs down and too often settles for perimeter shots. Carter and Kidd were the biggest culprits, combining to attempt 762 3-pointers. GUESSWORK: Who is the backup point guard? Williams has the skill set and the best upside but has to make the transition to the NBA. House is a 2-guard trapped in a point's body. Veteran G Jeff McInnis (5.3, 1.9 apg) fell out of Frank's rotation last season and likely will be waived or moved. The Nets even brought in G Jay Williams for a look-see. None of these guys appear to be able to get Kidd's minutes down to around 34 per game.

THINKING CAP: Carter makes $15.1 million this season and at season's end could opt out of his contract, which has a $16.3 million player option for 2007-08. He turns 30 in January and may be looking for another max contract, which puts the Nets on the spot. They would love to have his on-court acrobatics as a selling point as they prepare for their move to Brooklyn at the end of the decade, but do they really want to invest $100 million over five years in a hypersensitive personality who doesn't play much defense and is taking his game farther from the basket with each passing season?

D-LEAGUE CANDIDATE: G Hassan Adams

THE COACH SAYS: "We obviously felt very, very good about our core. I think if you look at our starting group from an effectiveness standpoint, it was one of the top three to five starting units, depending on what your grade system is. We really like the core, plus we really like the things that Cliff Robinson contributed to our team."