<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">August 1, 2004 -- Mission Impossible: Go ahead, Nets, repair a disastrous offseason that has cost starters Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles while leaving Jason Kidd furious and hoping for a trade. That is the Nets' sorry situation, so this week, they hope to take some remedial steps by signing two free agents, forward Eric Williams and guard Ron Mercer, while starting serious discussions with Richard Jefferson about a contract extension. Sources said the Nets are prepared to offer Jefferson a max contract to avoid another Martin fiasco. Teams can talk about extensions starting today. "We're preparing to talk in the next few days," said Nets GM Ed Stefanski, who declined to discuss any particulars. "We intend to talk to both RJ and Jason Collins, and we'll go from there." Collins also can become a restricted free agent next summer and may have to wait, as did Martin, depending on what the Nets offer and what his camp seeks. Extending Jefferson for six years and $84 million may be one way to placate Kidd, who returned from vacation for a stormy meeting with prospective owner Bruce Ratner and CEO Rod Thorn Friday. Kidd stopped short of demanding a trade but made it clear he does not want to be in New Jersey under present conditions. "He's very upset, obviously," one source said. "He doesn't feel good about what's happened and if they can't show him they'll be competitive, he wants out and might demand a trade. This is not what he signed on for." Another source echoed the sentiments about Kidd's anger and said the All-Star agreed to a cooling off period and a wait-and-see approach. Complicating matters is Kidd's health: he's coming off microfracture knee surgery,l so his value is ridiculously low. When the Nets shopped Kidd hoping to keep Martin, teams immediately expressed concerns about the knee. What the Nets get for Kidd now might make it seem like they swindled the Nuggets and Clippers in those Martin and Kittles disasters that were mandated by Ratner. The Brooklyn developer apparently has listened to some investors who advised Napoleon invading Russia was a good idea. They have stayed in the shadows and Ratner has been blistered. Hey, he's out front. To try to compensate, the Nets likely will land Williams, a 6-8 forward who defends and can hit a three, plus Mercer, who was released by the Spurs last season. Williams would get a three-year deal worth $11.5 million while Mercer would get two years for $3.3M. </div> I seriously dont understnad this nets orginization. First they say that they had to let martin go because he wanted a max deal the team couldnot get far withhim on it and he wasent worth it. Now they are prepared to offer the max deal to Jefferson a player who is no were near the level of martin yet. What are they tring to do seriously? Are they cutting cap room or do they just not want martin to be a net. If they think that jefferson is worth the max deal extension why is K-mart not worth it? It doesnt make sence to me we will have to see mabye there tring to prove to j-kidd they still want to contend.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">prepared to offer the max deal to Jefferson a player who is no were near the level of martin yet. </div> Jefferson is the better player, but I guess Martin was more important when playing Eastern Teams since he was a quality power forward.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">I seriously dont understnad this nets orginization. First they say that they had to let martin go because he wanted a max deal the team couldnot get far withhim on it and he wasent worth it. Now they are prepared to offer the max deal to Jefferson a player who is no were near the level of martin yet. What are they tring to do seriously? Are they cutting cap room or do they just not want martin to be a net. If they think that jefferson is worth the max deal extension why is K-mart not worth it? It doesnt make sence to me we will have to see mabye there tring to prove to j-kidd they still want to contend.</div> The Nets pretty much from the beginning decided that they were only going to keep 2 of 3 as max players. Jefferson was a lock to get the max from the start. Last year, 2nd half season performance & the playoffs in the eyes of Nets management and many fans seperated him from Martin. He proved that he didnt have to rely on Kidd to produce all of his offense. I think Kenyon could have proved his developement as well but he just wasnt giving that opportunity RJ got when K-Mart and Kidd went down. RJ had a chance to show his blossoming game. SO RJ was a lock to get the Max when his time came. So it really came down to if the Nets were going to keep Kidd making the max or trade him and give K-Mart the max. I read an article last week that the Nets shopped Kidd hard early in July but no one had an offer that was beneficial. I dont know how much truth it was to the article but I also heard that rumor when the offseason 1st really got started. So if the Nets couldnt trade kidd then that left Martin as the odd man out. SO I dont ever think it was a battle between Martin & RJ on who would get payed. The Nets clearly decided that RJ was getting his money before the season was officially over. The only decision that had to be made was were they going to max out 3 players. Or chose between K-Mart & kidd.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">I seriously dont understnad this nets orginization. First they say that they had to let martin go because he wanted a max deal the team couldnot get far withhim on it and he wasent worth it. Now they are prepared to offer the max deal to Jefferson a player who is no were near the level of martin yet. What are they tring to do seriously? Are they cutting cap room or do they just not want martin to be a net. If they think that jefferson is worth the max deal extension why is K-mart not worth it? It doesnt make sence to me we will have to see mabye there tring to prove to j-kidd they still want to contend.</div> I think they want to build around jefferson with a low priced team and having martin would change that. Even though in my opinion Jefferson shows alot promise his first 3 seasons. I did agree with what rod had to say that in this stage of his career is not worth max contract yet. If you can sign jefferson to a long term max contract then it would be good for a person that is going to be the cornerstone or anchor of the team. He said also that he would like to stay in NJ/NY and if kidd left he would not agree with that decision but he would live with it and not demand a trade. He will get his money but he will be a net. If they make any trades for kidd its either going to be to clear up cap room with expiring contracts or player with contracts that aren't too big but yet can compliment RJs game. Which kind of gets me that kidds game compliments RJs game so much. But i can see where Kidd is coming from he needs that championship and he aint going to get it in NJ unless they do some roster adjustments
