The Nets made about a dozen inquiries, but no offers, Wednesday as free agent season opened. With 15 guaranteed contracts and no desire to add salary, Rod Thorn wants to try for a sign-and-trade first, rather than a straight signing, writes Dave D’Alessandro. Among the players who interest the Nets: Linas Kleiza, Matt Barnes, Chris Wilcox, Drew Gooden, Channing Frye and Hakim Warrick.

Third Quarter Collapse, the Magic fansite, evaluates Tony Battie’s season this way: “He earned $5.746 million, but produced at a less-than-stellar rate.” That doesn’t mean he’s not a valuable backup: “Battie’s job with Orlando was to spread the floor with his reasonably accurate mid-range jumper; initiate offense from the high post; give opposing big-men grief defensively; and rebound”, all of which he did “capably”.

Bruce Ratner was not amused when preliminary drawings of Barclays Center, looking very much like an airplane hangar, were leaked to the Times. Since then, says Crain’s, he has spent a considerable amount of time assuring state and city officials the final product will look nothing like those drawings. Moreover, he has promised city officials that the overall Atlantic Yards project will feature “world class” design.

Al Iannazzone throws cold water on the Nets’ claim they can sign two star free agents next summer. Iannazzone notes that while the Nets may have $27 to $30 million in cap space, the franchise is losing enormous amounts of money, doesn’t know where it will be playing in 2011-2012 and has a roster that while young and promising isn’t likely to win a lot of games. “Who’s going to want to come here?” he asks.

Only the bankrupt owners of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes are ranked lower than Bruce Ratner in ESPN’s listings of all 122 professional sports teams. The Nets are dead last in “community involvement” and 111th overall. The “stadium experience” at the IZOD comes in 119th. Lawrence Frank ranks 108th in coaching, the players 88th. The only somewhat favorable number: a Nets game ranks 65th in affordability.

Brook Lopez will fly to Orlando for the Summer League, which opens Monday afternoon with a game against Indiana, but it’s still uncertain he’ll play. A Nets website report on the combined Sixer-Net team notes “Lopez will travel and possibly play, though he’s not listed on the official roster.” Lopez has been working out at the Nets’ practice facility and will be in Las Vegas later in July for Team USA’s mini-camp.

The Nets are a long way from announcing their preseason schedule officially, but fragmentary reports indicate the team will play the Knicks October 4 in Albany, the Celtics October 13 at the Prudential Center in Newark and the Knicks October 21, also at “The Rock”. The October 4 date at Albany’s Times-Union Center may be the team’s preseason opener.

Well, one of the three players coming from Orlando is VERY happy to be here. Rafer Alston, who won his streetballing nickname “Skip to My Lou” on Queens asphalt, was in emotional overdrive. He told the media he appreciates the Nets’ heritage and will take care of any residual shock Courtney Lee is feeling. Working with Devin Harris, Alston says, will be easy. “Our job is to get the team to achieve.” Okay then.

The Chinese Basketball Association didn’t require Yi Jianlian to play in “friendly” games this week against Australia. He’s training in New Jersey after working out in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He even got in some New York City streetball Tuesday! The chance to work with Yi is a rare opportunity for the Nets, who’ve learned they’ll have to share the 7-footer with his homeland for as long as he’s with them.

Even though the State Appeals Court has given them a reprieve, the Empire State Development Corp. has told the 35 or so residents in the Barclays Center “footprint” that eminent domain proceedings will begin soon and they should prepare to move. However, until the Court rules, sometime in the fall, no proceedings can move forward. The letter was sent out the same day the court agreed to take the appeal.