Roster battles, rookies and newcomers

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The Nets will open the 2023-24 season with a new feel following the Big 3 era in Brooklyn.

Here’s a look at the storylines and players to follow with training camp set to begin.

Best battle

Point guard. Expect Spencer Dinwiddie and a reportedly healthy Ben Simmons to fight it out for the lead guard spot, potentially the only legitimate starting job up for grabs.

If Simmons prevails, Dinwiddie has shown he can slide off the ball, as he did in Dallas playing alongside Luca Doncic, but can he shoot well enough for that?

Should that happen, the competition moves into the frontcourt with Cam Johnson vs. Dorian Finney-Smith at power forward.

Most intriguing rookie

Dariq Whitehead. He’s working his way back from a revision operation with bone grafting for a fifth metatarsal Jones fracture June 7. The Newark native was a projected lottery pick before his initial injury, so his progress will bear watching. Despite Nets specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley saying the 19-year-old would be ready for the start of camp, GM Sean Marks has been non-committal and preached patience.

Story to watch develop

Simmons’ health. Last season was frustrating for he and the Nets, including a six-game stretch in which he averaged 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists — only to get re-injured three days later. After logging just 42 appearances the past two seasons combined, the Nets need the only All-Star on their roster to get healthy. Camp results don’t matter, but how Simmons looks does.

Coach’s toughest challenge

Conniving enough offense, particularly enough shooting. The Nets didn’t just lose superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but shooters Joe Harris, Seth Curry, Yuta Watanabe and Patty Mills.

They feel good about Johnson and Mikal Bridges, but they’ll need Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith to shoot better. They hope offseason finger surgery will help the latter, and more precise floor spacing to compensate for the lost gravity.

Most intriguing newcomer

Dennis Smith Jr. The Nets added four veterans on minimum deals (not including Exhibit 9 Harry Giles III), and the early returns from other players who’ve seen him in offseason workouts — always more reliable than leaks and unnamed sources — have been positive.

Nic Claxton said: “He’ll turn a lot of heads this year. He’s looked really sharp so far,” especially on the defensive end of the court.

Most notable absence

Durant. Obviously Irving, Steve Nash and Harris are glaring as well, but Durant is going to top just about any list he’s on.

A year ago the Nets had staved off his offseason trade request and came to camp with legitimate championship expectations built on his shoulders. Without him in Brooklyn, everything is different.

Biggest comeback

Simmons. Stop us if you see a trend developing here. Simmons hasn’t played a game since Feb. 15 — the final game before the All-Star break — and officially got shut down for the season in March with a nerve impingement.

Though Marks and Jacque Vaughn made multiple visits to Miami during Simmons’ rehab, camp will be the first opportunity for all of his teammates and coaches to see him going full-speed.

Don’t be surprised if …

The words shooting and rebounding come up. The Nets actually box out well, but the defensive glass has been an issue for years, and their switching scheme almost guarantees it will be again. But with his first opportunity of a full camp, can Vaughn tweak the scheme to mitigate the damage on the defensive glass? And if they can’t rebound enough to get easy looks in transition, can they shoot well enough against set halfcourt defenses?

THE ROSTER

Darius Bazley (Age: 23 Forward 6-9, 216)

Springy young forward on a non-guaranteed deal fighting the likes of Trendon Watford for a role.

Mikal Bridges (Age: 27 Guard/Forward 6-6, 205)

Averaged 26.1 points after arriving in the Kevin Durant trade and was Team USA’s highest-rated player in the World Cup.

Armoni Brooks (Age: 25 Guard 6-3, 205)

The solidly built guard has one of their three two-way spots.

Nic Claxton (Age: 24 Center 6-11, 226)

After packing on 11 pounds, the shot-blocking rim-runner is an All-Defense candidate looking for a big season and commensurate raise.

Noah Clowney (Age: 19 Forward 6-9, 220)

First-rounder has a lot of Claxton-esque traits, but could spend a lot of time in the G-League despite a summer of adding muscle.

Spencer Dinwiddie (Age: 30 Guard 6-5, 212)

Will compete for the starting point guard spot or slide over off the ball.

Dorian Finney-Smith (Age: 30 Forward 6-7, 222)

Can guard forwards considerably bigger, and the Nets hope offseason finger surgery helps his 3-point shooting.

Harry Giles (Age: 25 Forward/Center 6-11, 240)

A low-risk Exhibit 9 flier for GM Sean Marks.

Cam Johnson (Age: 27 Forward 6-8, 210)

Sweet-shooting forward has hit 42.5 and 40.4 percent from deep the past two years, and will need to be the designated deadeye.

Dariq Whitehead (Age: 19 Forward 6-6, 220)

Rookie may not be ready for camp, but was a projected lottery pick before a foot injury. Nets won’t rush him.

Royce O’Neale (Age: 30 Forward 6-6, 220)

A former starter bumped to the sixth man role after last season’s trades, he is the prototypical 3-and-D glue guy.

Day’Ron Sharpe (Age: 21 Center 6-1, 260)

With the Nets the second-worst rebounding team in the NBA, Jacque Vaughn has vowed to give the big rebounder a chance.

Ben Simmons (Age: 27 Guard/Forward 6-10, 240)

The only All-Star on the roster, getting him back to health from back surgery is priority No. 1.

Dennis Smith Jr. (Age: 25 Guard 6-3, 205)

His Knicks stay ended poorly, but can the defensive-minded guard turn a solid summer into a better New York encore?

Cam Thomas (Age: 21 Guard 6-4, 215)

His three straight 40-point games proved he can score. Now, can he do everything else well enough to get in the rotation?

Lonnie Walker IV (Age: 24 Guard 6-4, 210)

He showed with the Lakers he has a clutch gene. Can he be consistent?

Trendon Watford (Age: 22 Forward 6-9, 241)

Strong-bodied, inside-out scorer on a partially guaranteed deal vying with the likes of Bazley.

Jalen Wilson (Age: 22 Forward 6-6, 230)

The rookie second-round pick — a serial winner at Kansas — is on a two-way deal. He has to show he can shoot.

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