The last time the New Jersey Nets won a playoff series, their second-leading scorer was Darryl Dawkins. Yes, that Darryl Dawkins. And since the Nets haven't had many big men better than Chocolate Thunder in the 16 years since, well, maybe this describes why the franchise has arguably had less to celebrate the last two decades than any NBA team this side of Clipperland.

	Stephon Marbury has the drive to be a star, but can he also be a leader?

However, if you're a Nets fan, you had to put all the negativity and bad memories aside when you saw the look on the face of Nets owner Lewis Katz at the draft lottery. Kenyon Martin was coming to town. In the great history of Nets draft picks since the last playoff series win -- and we're talking Ed O'Bannon, Yinka Dare and Dennis Hopson here -- only Derrick Coleman came with tremendous skills and size. Martin should be a star.

With that we give you our 17th offseason team spotlight, the New Jersey Nets. As always, we have our opinions, which are below, but we also appreciate yours. Click to the right of the page to see what ESPN.com users were thinking.

Why the Nets were 31-51: Last season was a miserable one for the Nets. Jayson Williams, the team's best rebounder and best personality, didn't play one game, and now his career is over. Williams suffered a fracture of the right tibia and severe right knee damage on April Fools Day, 1999. He kept saying he'd make it back and just when he was ready to do just that for a playoff run -- poof! -- he broke his left foot. Call it Nets luck.

Without Williams, and despite having two big scorers in Stephon Marbury and Keith Van Horn, the Nets were the biggest disaster in the NBA early on, losing 15 of their first 18 games. Marbury was scoring like wild, but it didn't matter.

The Nets did get better, as Kerry Kittles returned from injury, Jamie Feick did yeoman's work rebounding the ball and Johnny Newman provided decent scoring off the bench. In fact, the playoffs were actually a possibility for this team after a four-game winning streak (beating Portland, Orlando and Milwaukee twice) in mid-March. Of course, the Nets made sure to end all hope by losing their final 11 games.

Marbury had an All-Star caliber season, averaging a career-high 22.2 points while still finding time to dish out 8.4 assists. He averaged better than 24 points in November, January and February, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Marbury among the league leaders in scoring sometime soon. Van Horn's numbers were fine (19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds), but still left many wondering whether he was a power forward or small forward, and whether he was going to be a star or just a very good player.

The Nets had no inside presence, unless you count Feick, an undersized center who likes to do the dirty work but is limited offensively, or Jim McIlvaine, who likes to foul, can block a shot and might be the most limited offensive player ever. Gheorghe Muresan averaged more points a game than McIlvaine.

Feick made Nets management look wonderfully smart while he averaged more than 12 rebounds per game in 33 minutes through two months. Alas, he couldn't keep it up and finished the year averaging nine. Martin and free agent Aaron Williams are here to keep Feick and McIlvaine's minutes light.

	Current projected top 6
	PG	Stephon Marbury
	SG	Kendall Gill
	SF	Keith Van Horn
	PF	Kenyon Martin
	C	Jim McIlvaine
	6th	Johnny Newman

Team MVP: Marbury got out of Minnesota and found he was no longer on a playoff team. But his game improved. Now let's see him improve on a playoff team. Team LVP: You get the feeling we're not big fans of McIlvaine? Who is? Let's put it this way: Big Mac has had two straight injury-plagued years, and when he has played he has averaged about three rebounds per disappointing night. In fact, for a few months he averaged more fouls per game than boards. Good news, Nets fans: He's signed for another few years. Surprise! That Don Casey made it thought the entire year? OK, Marbury's numbers were a surprise, Newman managing to score double figures in only 21 minutes was nice, and Muresan returning to the NBA made grown-ups and children of all ages smile. It meant they wouldn't have to see My Giant II. Up and comer: He's the first pick in the draft, he'd better be good. The New York media doesn't give the Nets equal time to the Knicks, but Martin might make people take notice right away.

What they need: The Nets have new big men, a new president and coach and as a result, there's new hope. What they really need is new health. The Jayson Williams era is over, but the Kerry Kittles one isn't. He had major knee surgery and could be out for the entire season. As a result, the Nets made a play for a few shooting guards (Ron Mercer), hoping the league would feel sorry for them and let them spend the money they were giving to Jayson Williams and Kittles to other players. But the league said no. As a result, Gill was brought back.

Byron Scott is the new coach, and while he has no experience, everyone seems to be pretty excited. Not that we're comparing, but the last time the Nets faithful was this happy was when John Calipari came to town promising deep playoff runs. Rod Thorn, who does have experience in a front office, and in fact is credited with drafting Michael Jordan, is now running things. He is respected league-wide.

Martin holds the key to everything. He's not a center at this level, being only 6-8, but he's wide and should be an instant contributor on both ends. He blocked more than three shots a game last season and figures to play power forward, with Van Horn better suited for the three spot. Normally, an NBA team that has three All-Star caliber players would be a lock for the postseason. Marbury and Van Horn are still not even 25 yet. So yes, we're essentially saying the pressure is on.

The Nets don't have any glaring needs with this starting lineup, as there is youth and the potential for 20 points each night at three spots, a quality defender and passer in Gill at the two and 12 fouls to give at center with McIlvaine and Feick. The Nets will likely opt to play former Wizard Aaron Williams in the frontcourt more minutes than the natural centers. He can rebound and score a little, though he'd better since he was signed for the next six years. Williams, if you're counting at home, is now on team No. 7 in a six-year career.

What the plan is: To have some continuity for once? People in Nets land have said this before, but the plan is to just play the game, stay out of the infirmary and not have to make wholesale changes again. The Nets figure they are two deep at each position, with the spunky Sherman Douglas behind Marbury, Lucious Harris and possibly Scott Burrell backing up Gill and at forward, Newman, Williams and second-year project Evan Eschmeyer. Who knows, the way Eschmeyer played at times, he could play a lot at center. Rookie Soumaila Samake will probably be stashed somewhere for the season unless Feick or McIlvaine are dealt.

Marbury took some heat for not being the best team player at times, and for being an Iverson-like drain in the clubhouse, but part of that likely had to do with the fact the Nets weren't winning. Marbury has a great career ahead of him, and this is the year the team needs him to be a leader as well.

Direction heading: When you add the best player coming out of college, you have no choice. You'd better be heading up. The Nets have new people making the decisions and a new franchise player. Anything short of a winning record will be a disappointment.