EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eduardo Najera and Jarvis Hayes are bringing more than points, rebounds and experience to the New Jersey Nets.

The free agents who formally signed contracts today are bringing the intangibles the Nets lacked last season in missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons — work ethic, a desire to play defense and the character that one of the NBA's youngest teams is going to need in its first full year without Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson.

"I made a long career out of playing the game the right way and playing hard," said Najera, who was lured away from Denver with a front-loaded four-year, $12 million deal. "Defensively, I'm old school. I believe defense is what wins games."

The Nuggets didn't play much defense in Najera's four years in Denver, and it showed when the Lakers swept them in the first round of the playoffs.

Najera, who averaged almost six points and 4.3 rebounds in 78 games last season, said his decision to sign with the Nets was that he wanted to play in a system that will stress defense. He also intends to show the Nets how.

"I'm going to be as physical as I can and I'm going to push the rookies," Najera said during an availability at the team's training facility. "I'm sure they'll probably hate me during training camp, but that's preparation you need for the season."

The 32-year-old native of Mexico will be entering his 10th NBA season. He had contract talks with Dallas, Denver, New Orleans, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, but he concentrated on the Nets after speaking with coach Lawrence Frank, president Rod Thorn and general manager Kiki Vandeweghe.

"We've got young talented players," Najera said of a roster that features Vince Carter and Devin Harris and also includes eight players with three or less years of experience. "You see other teams, like New Orleans, they turned it around real fast. All they needed was a young talented guy that came in and led the way."

Hayes, who will be entering his sixth season, believes being on the Nets will give him a greater opportunity to play than he had last season in Detroit.

A small forward, he averaged 6.7 points and 2.2 rebounds playing in all 82 regular-season games with the Pistons.

With Jefferson traded to Milwaukee on draft day, the small forward position is wide open.

Hayes, who was the 10th pick in the 2003 draft, also feels he has something to prove. He missed almost two seasons with a cracked kneecap that finally feels 100 percent again.

"I think we have an opportunity to win," said Hayes, who signed a two-year, $4 million contract that is only partially guaranteed the second year. "Winning, it trumps any personal goals or anything like that. The opportunity to win is one that stood out, but also the opportunity to play more."

Playing with the Pistons last season also taught the 26-year-old Hayes about work ethic, desire and attitude.

"Hopefully my first couple of days of camp I can rub off on some of the younger guys that haven't had the type of success that I had last year with Detroit," Hayes said. "Kind of rub off and tell them it's hard work getting to where we are. I guess that's leadership in a way because I guess I'm one of the elder statesmen."

In looking at the free-agent market this year, Frank said the Nets evaluated players not only by position but also by character, competitiveness and passion for the game.

"We want to get back to a team that the fans can be proud of," Frank said, adding he wants an egoless team that gives 100 percent all the time.

"We have a clear direction where we are headed," he added. "We are going to be a very, very good team. We are going to compete every single day and give ourselves the flexibility a couple of years down the road to make that next jump, and that's the plan."

With the trades of Kidd and Jefferson and the young roster, the Nets should be well positioned for the 2010 free agent market that has the potential to include LeBron James.