Nets Trade Rumors

"The Nets are still on their way to Brooklyn. That was the message Nets owner Bruce Ratner had Thursday regarding speculation that his team may instead end up in Newark. According to a report in the Star-Ledger of Newark, Devils owner Jeffrey Vanderbeek and Newark Mayor Cory Booker are trying to gather investors to buy the Nets and move them to the Prudential Center, the new arena the Devils moved into last fall. "

"Addressing a variety of topics in a season-ending meeting with reporters at the team's practice facility, Thorn did not reveal exact details of his plan to get the Nets back on track after they missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years. But he did suggest that Carter will be back despite calls from some to trade the star guard, who signed a four-year, $62 million contract last summer. He also said he would not be surprised if Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris and Nenad Krstic are back again, too."

"So change will be forthcoming, but Thorn stressed it doesn't mean a complete, total overhaul. He said he would be "comfortable" if the four main offensive pieces - Carter, Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris and Nenad Krstic - returned en masse."

"The Nets have been reluctant to pursue restricted free agents because their teams can match any offer, but they could get lucky. Atlanta's Josh Smith and Luol Deng would fit the Nets' needs."

"Package deal: Unless the Nets get impact players in the draft or someone gets hurt, their three rookie picks won't play. Package a pick or two and maybe a future No. 1 with Richard Jefferson and see what it gets."

"The Nets are headed into an offseason with more change looming than in any recent year. There will be draft picks at 10 (likely), 21 and 40. Bostjan Nachbar and DeSagana Diop are unrestricted free agents, and Nenad Krstic is restricted, so the Nets can match. All want to return. "

"The lone dissenter was Boki Nachbar, who is probably no better than 50-50 to return, because some eager shopper might throw more money at the free agent than the Nets are willing to spend."

"The Nets will be looking to make significant changes. But one of those changes won't involve the coach, as team president Rod Thorn has repeatedly endorsed Lawrence Frank."

"The Nets will have to decide this summer whether Krstic, a restricted free agent, is still a key player. They also have decisions to make on two unrestricted free agents, Bostjan Nachbar and DeSagana Diop."

" Barring divine intervention, Larry Krystkowiak, Marc Iavaroni and Jim Boylan are days away from dismissal by the Bucks, Grizzlies and Bulls, respectively. Two others on Uneasy Street, Lawrence Frank and Sam Vincent, recently received votes of confidence - from Nets president Rod Thorn and Bobcats owner Bob Johnson, respectively. "

"But at least two players, two of the young frontcourt guys, have questions of their own. Nenad Krstic headed for restricted free agency, wonders if he'll be back - which is his preference. And rookie forward Sean Williams just wants to know where he stands and what the Nets think of him."

"Still, Jefferson is an asset, and would inspire significant interest in trade talks. Teams from Phoenix to Toronto would love to have him. He can be moved to Utah for Andrei Kirilenko (and perhaps Paul Millsap) with one phone call. He can probably be moved to L.A. for Lamar Odom if the Lakers conclude that a 6-10 small forward isn't necessary with two 7-footers in the starting lineup."

"The futures of Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson are in question as well as those of several other members of a Nets team that fell far short of expectations and will miss the playoffs for the first time in seven years."

"There are four free agents on the Nets as they enter a very busy offseason -- Nenad Krstic, Boki Nachbar, DeSagana Diop and Darrell Armstrong -- and as he begins to ponder the possibilities, the boss claims he hasn't a clue as to which one(s) will wear the same uniform next year."

"Team president Rod Thorn confirmed the Nets want to keep Kiki Vandeweghe beyond July 1, when his deal expires."

"Though contract negotiations are far from completed, Bronx-born Donnie Walsh is headed to the Garden at season's end to become Knicks president and end the disastrous Isiah Thomas Era... If senior VP Glen Grunwald isn't retained, Walsh is expected to bring in a right-hand man to run the draft, with SI.com reporting Denver GM Mark Warkentien as a strong candidate. Warkentien drafted Zach Randolph in Portland and has a good relationship with him. Kiki Vandeweghe could join that mix, along with Detroit personnel men John Hammond and George David, and San Antonio's Dennis Lindsey all highly regarded."

"With Walsh out of the picture, Dolan has plenty of names to choose from. Jerry West, who according to sources has not been contacted by the Knicks, remains a strong possibility. Jerry Colangelo wants the job and Nets assistant GM Kiki Vandeweghe is also in the mix. Dolan may even take a look at Nets president Rod Thorn and Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld."

"The Nets are pushing to lock up Kiki Vandeweghe contractually, it was learned. Vandeweghe was hired as a special assistant to team president Rod Thorn and was initially brought on only through the draft."

"As of yesterday, the Knicks still haven't requested permission to speak with Kiki Vandeweghe about their GM vacancy. As to whether he expects that to happen, Thorn replied, "I honestly don't know. I don't know what they want to do over there.""

"Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh met Friday with his team's co-owners, Herbert and Melvin Simon, to work out a deal that could keep Walsh in Indiana and prevent him from replacing Isiah Thomas in New York. The Simon brothers would prefer to keep Walsh and have him reassume control over personnel decisions from Pacers president Larry Bird... Other candidates include Nets assistant GM Kiki Vandeweghe, former Knick players Greg Anthony and Mark Jackson, former Sixers GM Billy King, Nuggets VP of basketball operations Mark Warkentien and perhaps even former Knicks president Ernie Grunfeld, who is with Washington."

"So it's no wonder that the Nets could only keep up with the fast-paced Nuggets for part of one quarter before being outrun, 125-114, at the Meadowlands. The loss knocked the Nets a half-game behind the idle Hawks in the race for the final playoff spot in the East."

"Assistant coach Bill Cartwright could be up for the newly vacated head coaching position at the University of San Francisco, and Frank gave him a huge endorsement. "I haven't talked to Bill about it at all, but they would be getting one hell of a freaking coach if they ever went down that path," Frank said."

"The Knicks have had preliminary talks with Indiana Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh about him replacing Isiah Thomas as team president, the Daily News has learned... The Knicks also reached out to Nets assistant GM Kiki Vandeweghe last month. And there is a possibility that the team could contact other candidates, including former Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo, 76ers GM Billy King, former Knick Mark Jackson and ESPN analyst Greg Anthony."

"Meeting with Walsh may have been Dolan's first interview with a select few of the NBA's relevant leaders, or he may have been last. Who knows, Nets' adviser Kiki Vandeweghe may have been first, as has been reported. Maybe Dolan flew out to Phoenix to see Jerry Colangelo. Or out to L.A. to visit with Jerry West. Or to Portland to convene with Steve Patterson. Or to Cleveland to get to know Wayne Embry. "

"Though he has denied it, Kiki Vandeweghe is said to be lobbying to become the Knicks' president if Isiah Thomas is replaced. Brooklyn native Mullin is hugely popular in New York after his career at St. John's, and the Nets remain in the process of planning a move to Brooklyn, so they could come calling as well."

"No Net was more relieved when the trade deadline passed than Bostjan Nachbar. His name kept coming up because his contract is expiring and the Nets' sixth man didn't want to go anywhere. The same goes for this summer when Nachbar can test the market."

"The Nets need to improve in many areas, but Rod Thorn stressed the importance of finding shooters in the off-season. It's not hard to see why. Before facing Cleveland on Wednesday, the Nets ranked next-to-last in the NBA in points per game, field goal shooting and three-point accuracy. "

"My staph infection, not to be confused with my E coli workforce, bravely sat through Spurs 93 @ Nets 83 Sunday night, and left ponderously perplexed about how Lawrence Frank manages to keep avoiding the trap door."

"The Knicks are done, but Allan Houston isn't. Houston, cut by the Knicks in preseason, said he's hoping to be invited to another camp next October, but not with the Knicks. Houston revealed in a Post interview he's been invited to work out for one team this summer - possibly the Nets, in the market for an outside shooter in the offseason. "

"Nets executive Kiki Vandeweghe said yesterday a report he had a discussion with Knicks brass about their potential presidency vacancy is erroneous, adding, "The whole thing is totally false.""

"The Knicks have had preliminary discussions with Kiki Vandeweghe about replacing Isiah Thomas in the front office, but possibly allowing Thomas to continue as head coach, a person with knowledge of the talks told the Daily News."

"Kiki Vandeweghe, currently the special assistant to Nets team president Rod Thorn, gets linked to the Knicks and any potential front office opening for obvious reasons - he grew up a Knicks fan and was a second generation Knick. But contrary to a published report, Vandeweghe said he did not attend or sit with Madison Square Garden president Steve Mills at a recent movie screening. "

"Madison Square Garden president Steve Mills attended Monday's screening with Kiki Vandeweghe, who is working with the Nets as a special assistant to team president Rod Thorn. That Mills asked Vandeweghe to be his guest wouldn't be noteworthy expect for the fact that Vandeweghe, who joined the Nets in December, signed only a six-month contract, which would make him a free agent around draft day this June, by which time the Knicks would want to have Thomas' replacement in place."

"I don't see the Bulls in that sweepstakes with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Bulls have a lot of house straightening to do, and if LeBron goes (and you can see with the way the Cavs are spending they fear he will), he's going to New York ( Brooklyn with the Nets). One intriguing possibility is Phoenix."

"One Internet report claimed the Nets and Nuggets were talking Jamaal Magloire and Bostjan Nachbar for Nene. Given Nene's medical condition (testicular cancer), any deal would be high risk. One source squashed it."

"There have been rumors that the Nets have been trying to talk the Pacers into taking Carter in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal, but Indiana hasn't budged. A report on ESPN.com last night also said that the Nets, Knicks and Heat have had discussions about a three-way deal that would send Carter to the Knicks, Eddy Curry to Miami and the expiring contracts of Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to New Jersey. "

"Any trade conversation involving the Pacers begins with Jermaine O'Neal... The Pacers are making and listening to calls about him -- again -- but they have yet to find a deal they like. They've recently spoken with Golden State, New Jersey and Sacramento."

"The Nuggets and Knicks have discussed a multi-player deal with Randolph, but it's not expected to happen. Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien drafted Randolph in 2001 (19th overall) when he ran Portland's scouting department. Linas Kleiza is an up-and-coming young big man the Knicks have interest in, but Randolph's stock is not high enough to land him... Thomas wants a solid player and Ron Artest and Vince Carter have been on their radar for months."

"Jason Kidd was a no-show at Nets practice Monday, but he was still officially a member of the team. Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright were excused by Coach Lawrence Frank, who said it made sense to hold them out of practice considering the possibility that all three or a combination of the three could be traded."

"The Jason Kidd Era in New Jersey should end today. And they really mean it this time. Just don't confuse it with last week, when it really looked like the Kidd Era was going to end but didn't. Or this weekend, when it looked like it was over and wasn't. But with the last glitch apparently cleared, the deal should be finalized today. "

"It looks as if the Jason Kidd era finally will end Tuesday for the Nets. After having one trade proposal fall through and another come close to suffering the same fate, the Nets and Mavericks nailed down an agreement Monday night that should have the future Hall of Fame point guard in a Dallas uniform by tonight. "

"The trade sending New Jersey's Jason Kidd to the Mavericks for Devin Harris and others is on schedule to be reviewed Tuesday by NBA executives, who must approve the deal. But there is one potential snag – the league must be convinced of Keith Van Horn's willingness to resume his playing career. "

"Devin Harris boarded a flight at 7:05 this morning. Destination: New Jersey, as the new point guard for the Nets."

"Meanwhile, the Nets will continue to wheel until Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline. Sources throughout the league say Kiki Vandeweghe is generating a heated rush of discussions involving Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Miller and Nene... With Kidd apparently spoken for, the player drawing the most attention from promising title contenders is Philly's Andre Miller. Nuggets, Cavaliers and Rockets are sincere suitors - Celtics feel they're first in line for Sam Cassell - but not serious enough to offer more than expiring contracts and a first-round pick in the 20s."

"While Kidd helped lead the Eastern Conference to a 134-128 victory on the New Orleans Arena court, his fate was being decided in the stands above. The Nets and the Mavericks were busily reconstructing a trade that would send Kidd to Dallas. All indications were that a deal was close, although Kidd would not allow himself to get excited just yet."

"But once again, the Nets and Mavericks are imminently close to completing a deal that sends Jason Kidd to Dallas. They have an agreement in principle but still need league approval after some creative re-arranging. The deal is expected to be forwarded to the league today."

"The on-again, off-again trade with Jason Kidd is back on. The Nets and Mavericks, who saw their deal of last week fall apart, have reached a new agreement that could be sealed Monday, sources confirmed Sunday night. "

"For the second time in less than a week, the Dallas Mavericks are on the verge of bringing point guard Jason Kidd back to Dallas. This time, the deal appears to be free of any sticking points. "

"Shortly before being introduced as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, Jason Kidd's return to the Mavericks for a run at the Western Conference championship was finally being sealed. After protracted negotiations and some bizarre twists that had foiled the original deal to send Kidd to Dallas, the Mavs and New Jersey Nets reached a new agreement in principle Sunday evening, according to a front-office league source."

"Nets president Rod Thorn said he's not very optimistic the Jason Kidd deal to Dallas will happen and said he's working "on other things.""