ducks
06-27-2004, 06:09 PM
Nets cleaning house for a yard sale
Sunday, June 27, 2004
By ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI
SPORTS COLUMNIST
www.bergen.com/page.php?q...FlZUVFeXk2 (http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr...2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)
The Nets are on the brink of a massive yard sale in East Rutherford, a day rapidly approaching when president Rod Thorn is reduced to sitting behind a little card table, slapping discount tags on stars Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, on spare parts Kerry Kittles and Rodney Rogers, two chewed-up Nerf footballs, and a Lite-Brite. They're close to calling it a day on the commitment to contend, gutting out the garage and dragging all the valuables curbside.
The bill on Thorn's marvelous basketball acumen has come due, the fast times in Continental Arena screeching to a disheartening, but predictable end. Someone had to pay for this fast-breaking fun these past three seasons, and if it can't be a modest Jersey fan base, it sure won't be Bruce Ratner, who cares about nothing but getting that big, beautiful building in Brooklyn and bleeding the cash out of it.
Kidd has $90 million still owed him, Martin wants his max-out money, and Richard Jefferson waits on deck. When the Nets need to assemble a few final parts around a core of contending talent, Ratner is getting sworn into office with an unmistakable agenda: No sleep until Brooklyn, and no spending for success until that time.
Ratner isn't riding a white horse into a seat of power for the love of the game, but the development score of a lifetime across the Hudson River. Essentially, Thorn is done making moves with winning as the priority. He's cutting the inventory, slashing overhead, and tearing down what he worked so beautifully to construct out of the ruins. Nobody likes it. Nobody wants to see it. Yet, nobody can't say that they didn't see it coming.
Jersey is a horrible proposition as a lame duck home, empty seats and empty revenue streams at Continental Arena leaving no one in his right mind willing to absorb these annual tens of millions of dollars in losses. The Nets will draw maybe 11,000 a night with their stars on staff next season, and probably a little less without them.
Empty seats and limited luxury suites made the Nets current crises state an inevitable ending, but with Ratner taking charge, it probably wouldn't have mattered. He has no particular love for basketball; no hunger to chase a championship. The Nets happened to be the property a real estate mogul needed for a massive development windfall in Brooklyn. This was just the investment needed to construct an arena and make himself ridiculously richer once all the amenities start paying him out.
Kidd had a weekend golf date with Thorn that assuredly took on a different tone than the one this time a year ago, when past ownership and the top basketball executive were desperately trying to sell his star on the franchise's championship vision. Those familiar with Kidd's thinking say he's unnerved by the organization's retreat, but expect that it won't be long until he's embracing a trade to a preferred destination. With knee surgery on its way, and the uncertainty how it will impact a talent predicated on running, there couldn't be a worse time to try and move him.
To no one's surprise, Thorn has discussed Kidd's availability around the NBA. What's his use to Ratner, anyway? He'll be on his downside by the time that proposed move to Brooklyn happens. Thorn offered Martin to Denver for Nene, a chance to let the Nuggets pay Martin his max money in exchange for a developing power player still two years from restricted free agency. Jefferson is untouchable for now, but everything is negotiable with the Nets.
Whatever Thorn said to protect his new owner on the selling of the No. 22 overall draft pick to Portland last week, consider them the words of a loyal executive. This was Thorn covering for his boss, because no basketball executive proposes to sell a pick that high - even in a lousy draft. Maybe Thorn would've traded it for a No. 1 next year, but take back $3 million, save on a guaranteed salary, and understand that probably still wouldn't be enough to re-sign Martin? Sorry, but nobody does that voluntarily.
Ownership had been considering a contract extension for Thorn, but why would he do it unless he just wants to get one more big score before retirement? And that's not Thorn - he wants too badly to win. At worse, he wants a chance to compete. And that's going to be gone soon, if it isn't already. Rest assured, ownership will try to take Lawrence Frank at his word that he'll accept whatever they're offering to pay him as coach. With the coup his agent, Andy Miller, pulled off for Sebastian Telfair, Frank should've kept his eagerness to himself and let his childhood buddy out of Englewood work him a deal.
By the time this franchise leaves for Brooklyn, all the faces will be different. From Thorn to Kidd, Martin to Frank, it's hard to believe many of them will stay the course once this franchise starts a rapid descent. This is business, and it was unavoidable, but it doesn't hurt any less around the organization. The bills are due, the party's over, and the Nets are on the brink of becoming the Nets again.
So come on down just off Route 17, browse the yard, and take a high-priced ballplayer off the Nets payroll. Who knows? Maybe they'll even throw in a Holly Hobbie oven and a boxed set of lawn darts. If nothing else, Thorn might sit for a spell and reflect with you on how much fun those three years were, how much happened against all odds, and how sad it is to see it all on the cusp of getting torn down again.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
By ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI
SPORTS COLUMNIST
www.bergen.com/page.php?q...FlZUVFeXk2 (http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr...2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)
The Nets are on the brink of a massive yard sale in East Rutherford, a day rapidly approaching when president Rod Thorn is reduced to sitting behind a little card table, slapping discount tags on stars Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, on spare parts Kerry Kittles and Rodney Rogers, two chewed-up Nerf footballs, and a Lite-Brite. They're close to calling it a day on the commitment to contend, gutting out the garage and dragging all the valuables curbside.
The bill on Thorn's marvelous basketball acumen has come due, the fast times in Continental Arena screeching to a disheartening, but predictable end. Someone had to pay for this fast-breaking fun these past three seasons, and if it can't be a modest Jersey fan base, it sure won't be Bruce Ratner, who cares about nothing but getting that big, beautiful building in Brooklyn and bleeding the cash out of it.
Kidd has $90 million still owed him, Martin wants his max-out money, and Richard Jefferson waits on deck. When the Nets need to assemble a few final parts around a core of contending talent, Ratner is getting sworn into office with an unmistakable agenda: No sleep until Brooklyn, and no spending for success until that time.
Ratner isn't riding a white horse into a seat of power for the love of the game, but the development score of a lifetime across the Hudson River. Essentially, Thorn is done making moves with winning as the priority. He's cutting the inventory, slashing overhead, and tearing down what he worked so beautifully to construct out of the ruins. Nobody likes it. Nobody wants to see it. Yet, nobody can't say that they didn't see it coming.
Jersey is a horrible proposition as a lame duck home, empty seats and empty revenue streams at Continental Arena leaving no one in his right mind willing to absorb these annual tens of millions of dollars in losses. The Nets will draw maybe 11,000 a night with their stars on staff next season, and probably a little less without them.
Empty seats and limited luxury suites made the Nets current crises state an inevitable ending, but with Ratner taking charge, it probably wouldn't have mattered. He has no particular love for basketball; no hunger to chase a championship. The Nets happened to be the property a real estate mogul needed for a massive development windfall in Brooklyn. This was just the investment needed to construct an arena and make himself ridiculously richer once all the amenities start paying him out.
Kidd had a weekend golf date with Thorn that assuredly took on a different tone than the one this time a year ago, when past ownership and the top basketball executive were desperately trying to sell his star on the franchise's championship vision. Those familiar with Kidd's thinking say he's unnerved by the organization's retreat, but expect that it won't be long until he's embracing a trade to a preferred destination. With knee surgery on its way, and the uncertainty how it will impact a talent predicated on running, there couldn't be a worse time to try and move him.
To no one's surprise, Thorn has discussed Kidd's availability around the NBA. What's his use to Ratner, anyway? He'll be on his downside by the time that proposed move to Brooklyn happens. Thorn offered Martin to Denver for Nene, a chance to let the Nuggets pay Martin his max money in exchange for a developing power player still two years from restricted free agency. Jefferson is untouchable for now, but everything is negotiable with the Nets.
Whatever Thorn said to protect his new owner on the selling of the No. 22 overall draft pick to Portland last week, consider them the words of a loyal executive. This was Thorn covering for his boss, because no basketball executive proposes to sell a pick that high - even in a lousy draft. Maybe Thorn would've traded it for a No. 1 next year, but take back $3 million, save on a guaranteed salary, and understand that probably still wouldn't be enough to re-sign Martin? Sorry, but nobody does that voluntarily.
Ownership had been considering a contract extension for Thorn, but why would he do it unless he just wants to get one more big score before retirement? And that's not Thorn - he wants too badly to win. At worse, he wants a chance to compete. And that's going to be gone soon, if it isn't already. Rest assured, ownership will try to take Lawrence Frank at his word that he'll accept whatever they're offering to pay him as coach. With the coup his agent, Andy Miller, pulled off for Sebastian Telfair, Frank should've kept his eagerness to himself and let his childhood buddy out of Englewood work him a deal.
By the time this franchise leaves for Brooklyn, all the faces will be different. From Thorn to Kidd, Martin to Frank, it's hard to believe many of them will stay the course once this franchise starts a rapid descent. This is business, and it was unavoidable, but it doesn't hurt any less around the organization. The bills are due, the party's over, and the Nets are on the brink of becoming the Nets again.
So come on down just off Route 17, browse the yard, and take a high-priced ballplayer off the Nets payroll. Who knows? Maybe they'll even throw in a Holly Hobbie oven and a boxed set of lawn darts. If nothing else, Thorn might sit for a spell and reflect with you on how much fun those three years were, how much happened against all odds, and how sad it is to see it all on the cusp of getting torn down again.