For Nets, Losing Is Hard Work
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

Winning in the NBA isn’t easy, but as the New Jersey Nets are finding out, losing is no walk in the park either.
The benefit of losing lies in securing a high draft pick, or at the least a good position in the lottery, and the 2003-04 Nets looked well on their way to achieving that goal. They unloaded a posse of veterans, including cornerstones Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles, and replaced them with a bunch of journeymen and a European rookie. They all but announced that as soon as Jason Kidd could play, they would audition the All-Star point guard for two weeks before trading him and his big contract. A similar plan seemed in effect for Alonzo Mourning, who returned after missing most of last season due to kidney ailments.
When the Nets stumbled out of the gate with a 2-11 record, everything seemed to be running on schedule, but five weeks into the season, the plan is in trouble. The problem isn’t with the Nets – despite this week’s two-game winning streak, they’re still on pace to lose 59 games – it’s that several other teams are even worse. If current trends continue, the Nets may have to consider Plan B.
Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Golden State, and New Orleans may all slip past the Nets in the NBA’s race to the bottom. The Hornets’ Darrell Armstrong-for-Dan Dickau trade last week served notice that they’re willing to fight tooth and nail for the pole position in the lottery, and they look poised to make a run at the NBA record for futility, 73 losses.
The dismantled Hawks show few signs of knowing which way is up: They rank 26th in offensive efficiency and dead last on the other side of the ball. The Warriors’ five wins are deceptive; four have come against the soft underbelly of the Eastern Conference. Charlotte and Chicago are young teams that figure to improve, though the Bulls’ reversal of fortune is so overdue that it will be a surprise when it happens.
In addition to the current doormats, the Nets will face competition for a good lottery position from several mediocre teams teetering on the brink of collapse. Toronto is seeking to trade its two best scorers, Vince Carter and Jalen Rose, to anyone who will take on their contracts. Milwaukee is fast proving that last season’s playoff run was a fluke and may be shopping Michael Redd, who is a free agent at the end of the season. And Philadelphia, which was handed a fifth straight loss by Atlanta on Monday, has been in turmoil since training camp.
If the Nets intend to “beat” their cellar-dwelling competition, they will have to move Kidd quickly. The list of potential suitors for the star point guard is shrinking daily.
Portland has the expiring contracts of Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Damon Stoudamire to deal, but the team is reportedly embracing the newfound religion of frugality and may be daunted by the length of Kidd’s contract, which has five years left on it. Denver and Dallas are in the mix, but rumored deals with those teams would do little to make the Nets either cheaper or younger. Minnesota remains a possibility, though the Timberwolves may not want to make changes while they’re on a roll.
Though it looked certain as recently as two weeks ago that Kidd would be traded, Thorn may now need to consider the possibility of standing pat. Trading Kidd was another way to make the team younger, cheaper, and in better lottery position, but if no equitable deal emerges, the Nets should shift their focus to rebuilding with what they have.
That might not be the worst thing in the world. The Nets possess six first-round picks in the next three drafts, and they may be able to package a few of them to move up into the lottery. The current cast of role players is much better than last year’s pathetic reserves, and rookie Nenad Krstic is starting to put up good numbers after looking lost during his first few weeks. Richard Jefferson, meanwhile, has blossomed into a bonafide star.
Kidd may have two, even three solid years left in him as a top-notch playmaker who can also rebound, a valuable commodity in the NBA. Keeping him for now will give the Nets leverage with which to pursue front-line players, if not at the trade deadline this year, then during the off-season. Kidd, who has demanded a trade, won’t be happy, but the team can’t be expected to give away an All-Star without reaping some long-term gain.
Mourning may prove even harder to deal. He offers solid pivot play and good defense, but given his recent health history, teams are worried about his contract, which has two guaranteed years left on it.
Perhaps Thorn should contact the one team that has never been shy about taking on onerous contracts – the Knicks – and propose a Mourning-for-Michael Sweetney trade. Such a deal would be abhorrent to Knicks fans who want to see the team build a future championship contender, but it might be tempting to Isiah Thomas because it would immediately make this year’s team stronger.
As the Knicks’ three-game losing streak has illustrated, they are weak defensively, particularly in the paint. Sweetney’s value is primarily at the offensive end, which is where the Nets need help. A trade for Mourning would be consistent with Isiah’s plan to push the Knicks as deep as possible into this year’s Eastern Conference playoffs; it would also succeed in making the Nets younger and cheaper. And if Sweetney develops into an effective full-time post player, the rebuilding process in East Rutherford could proceed much faster than initially thought. Losing may not be such a tough gig after all.