Nets Fallout Begins

Bruce Ratner may soon regret not ponying up the dough to keep Kenyon Martin in Jersey. Jason Kidd is contemplating demanding a trade, Richard Jefferson is no longer a lock to resign with New Jersey, ditto for Rod Thorn, whose contract expires in two years.

"Ownership didn't want to pay Martin," a source close to the organization said yesterday. "But it's a move for the future. The Nets aren't about winning anymore, it's about development."

So what is the Nets next move? According to the New York Post, the team will dangle Kerry Kittles and his expiring contract along with Aaron Williams and Luscious Harris and see what they can get in return. Some names being bandied about are Shareef Abdur Rahim (as we reported yesterday), and a trio of Cleveland Cavaliers that would include Jersey native Eric Williams, Dajuan Wagner and Kedrick Brown. Free agent targets include Robert "Tractor" Traylor and Ron Mercer. Obviously, none of these players will be able to replace what Martin brought to the team.

You can be sure Kidd will be watching his team's next move and basing his desire to be traded on what transpires. "He's not there yet," said Kidd's agent, Jeff Schwartz, when asked if his client would ask to be traded. "But Jason is going to be looking very closely at what the Nets' next move is."