Netswant K-Mart?

[ducks]

New York Daily News -
Nets know K-Mart
is no bargain
BY OHM YOUNGMISUK
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Monday, May 22nd, 2006

Of all the famous faces that appeared at American Airlines Arena during the Nets-Heat playoff games, one stood out of the crowd.

Kenyon Martin sat behind the Nets' bench during Games 1 and 2 and his unannounced visit came as a surprise to his old teammates. Was Martin in South Beach for pleasure or business, or both?

Was he trying to remind the Nets of what they miss so much and what they can possibly have again?

Two Nets sources said the team has and will continue to discuss whether obtaining Martin this summer is realistic and feasible.

Martin, suspended by the Nuggets for yelling at George Karl during the playoffs, has five years and $70 million remaining on his contract. He will be available. The Nets didn't want to pay that kind of money to Martin two summers ago, but the Nuggets may be desperate enough now to cut ties with the power forward, depending on who replaces recently departed GM Kiki Vandeweghe.

Martin is just one of many names the Nets will look at this summer to improve a team that has been unable to get by Miami for two straight seasons.

Nets president Rod Thorn says he does not want to trade Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson or Nenad Krstic unless a superstar comes back in return. He would like to reload through free agency and the draft, but this year's free-agency crop is Shawn Bradley-like thin. Trade options are out there but all come at a hefty price:

# KEVIN GARNETT: The Nets, like every other team in the league, will call GM Kevin McHale to see if the power forward is available. Minnesota ownership says it does not want to deal Garnett. But the Timberwolves are not a serious contender in the West and Garnett's patience has to be wearing thin. Even if Garnett were to become available, he would cost the Nets Carter or Jefferson with Krstic and possibly two No. 1 picks. Such a deal, according to team sources, is not a no-brainer for the Nets.

# KENYON MARTIN: Could the Nets somehow land Martin without giving up one of their Big Three in some sort of three-way deal? The odds are slim. Martin will make $11.8 million next season and the Nets have Kidd, Carter and Jefferson on the books for max money or close to it. The Nets, who are trying to spend wisely, also worry about Martin's surgically repaired knee. However, the Nets will take a hard look and Thorn is a risk-taker (see Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Chris Childs).

# AL HARRINGTON: The New Jersey product surely would love to play at home but the free-agent power forward is expected to command more than the $5 million mid-level exception, which is all the Nets have to offer.

# DREW GOODEN, CHRIS WILCOX and MELVIN ELY: The Nets would take any one of these three power forwards but they are all restricted free agents. After waiting nearly all of last summer for unrestricted free agent Shareef Abdur-Rahim to decide on the Nets and then back out on the deal, the Nets may not want to wait again.

# REGGIE EVANS: Another Denver power forward the Nets covet. This one, though, is a free agent and much cheaper than Martin. The Nets would love to add this rugged rebounder to their core but only at half of the mid-level.

# KEITH VAN HORN: Martin isn't around anymore to criticize Van Horn for not showing up. Van Horn still may be looking for big bucks.

# NAZR MOHAMMED: A big body with championship experience who can rebound and score inside. However, this former Knick center may want the entire mid-level.

# JOEL PRYZBILLA: The Nets love big bodies from Portland but this one is expected to fetch most if not all of the mid-level. Anything less and the Nets will be all over this active 7-footer center who can block shots.

# STROMILE SWIFT: Swift was a disappointment in Houston and the Nets had him second on their wish list last summer behind Abdur-Rahim. If Jeff Van Gundy wants to dump the 6-9 power forward, he can do it in New Jersey.

# TIM THOMAS: Thomas wanted to join the Nets earlier this season but the Bulls redirected him to Phoenix as part of his buyout. The ex-Knick power forward has been a great fit in Phoenix and his price has risen with his playoff performance. Still, playing at home is always tempting for this Jersey produc

[themvp]

Wow. Nets are for real.

[Rip-Hamilton32]

lol..there were rumars earlier this season about sheed and milicic/arroyo for garnette, i could see jerfferson being traded but neither kidd or carter