"As Nets president Rod Thorn explained on a conference call with season-ticket holders the reasons Vince Carter was traded, he talked about what the team could do next year.

"We're going to be far enough under the salary cap if we so choose to [we can] sign two max-out type players," Thorn said.

As of this writing, the Nets should be roughly $27 million under the cap next summer when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer could be free agents. But does anyone really believe the Nets will sign two maximum contracts next summer?

This is no knock on Thorn, one of the NBA's best and shrewdest executives. He's going to do everything he can to make the Nets competitive again, be it this summer or next.

This is about the Nets' financial state and all the money-saving moves they've made recently.

Over the past year, they've cut their work force by one-third. Furlough Fridays have been in effect since shortly after the season ended. The Brooklyn arena project has cost millions and millions and there is no resolution yet. Then there are the ongoing rumors that Bruce Ratner is looking to sell the team."