By John McMullen, NBA Editor

(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets officially became the Brooklyn Nets back on April 30.

Relevancy quickly followed with CNBC reporting that on that day alone, the Brooklyn Nets sold more team merchandise than the New Jersey Nets did in the entirety of the 2011-12 season.

"Fans see the Brooklyn Nets as being cool and different, just like Brooklyn is," Nets CEO Brett Yormark told the cable channel. "We're very pleased with our sales numbers, and to this point none of it is player related."

Player related will be the key, however, and the Nets are certainly hoping that kind of excitement will convince star point guard Deron Williams, an unrestricted free agent, to spurn his hometown of Dallas and stay with the Nets.

Williams buying in could also be the key to landing All-Star center Dwight Howard in a trade.

The Nets currently only have four players under contract and don't have a first round pick so it's all about financial flexibility for general manager Billy King.

Players Under Contract: G/F: MarShon Brooks; G: Anthony Morrow; C: Johan Petro; C: Jordan Williams

Free Agents: G: Jordan Farmar (unrestricted, player option); G: Sundiata Gaines (restricted); G/F: Gerald Green; F: Kris Humphries; F: Damion James G: Armon Johnson (restricted); C: Brook Lopez (restricted); F: DeShawn Stevenson; F: Gerald Wallace (unrestricted, player option); G: Deron Williams (unrestricted, player option); C-F: Shelden Williams

Recent Draft History: 2011: JaJuan Johnson (27), Jordan Williams (36) 2010: Derrick Favors (3), Jordan Crawford (27), Tibor Pleiss (31) 2009: Terrence Williams (11) 2008: Brook Lopez (10), Ryan Anderson (21), Chris Douglas-Roberts (40) 2007: Sean Williams (17)

Draft picks: 2nd round (57th overall)

06/25 19:46:36 ET