BASKETBALL

KIDD HOPING TO STAY WITH NETS — ALONG WITH CARTER

Jason Kidd talked about Vince Carter’s future with the New Jersey Nets and playing for USA basketball this summer, then had a final request heading into the off season yesterday.

“Don’t write any trade stuff,” the All-Star point guard said.

There were a couple of laughs and Kidd smiled, but his future and Carter’s will be topics of discussion for the next six weeks as the Nets prepare for next season.

Carter is the big question mark. He can opt out of his current contract at the end of next month and test free agency.

Nets president Rod Thorn has had initial talks with Carter’s agent, Kurt Schoeppler, but the sides are not close on either a new contract or an extension of the old one, which would pay the Nets leading scorer more than $16 million next season.

“His public posture is that he would like to stay here, but he would like to get the best contract he could possibly get,” Thorn said after meeting with the players yesterday. “Sometimes those things mesh, and sometimes they don’t.”

Carter is looking for a three-year extension worth about $60 million. The Nets may not be willing to go that high.

“We’ll see what happens,” Carter said repeatedly when asked about becoming a free agent.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PATRIOTS RE-SIGN SEAU

The New England Patriots re signed linebacker Junior Seau for a second season Monday bringing back the 12-time Pro Bowler a year after he ended a brief retirement for a chance at a Super Bowl ring.

The 38-year-old played 13 years for the Chargers and three for Miami before returning to San Diego — ostensibly to retire. He was lured out of retirement by the three-time Super Bowl champions, who were hoping to bolster their linebacker corps.

After signing in mid-August, Seau played in the first 11 games of the 2006 season and recorded 70 tackles before being placed on injured reserve when he broke his arm against the Chicago Bears on November 26.

BENGALS’ NICHOLSON WAIVED; PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Linebacker A.J. Nicholson was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday, hours after he pleaded not guilty to a charge that he hit his girlfriend. She insists she accidentally hit herself with a cell phone, and police misread what happened.

Nicholson was charged with misdemeanor assault Friday, and despite his girlfriend’s claim the case will go forward. He remains free on $5,000 bond and a pretrial hearing was set for May 31.

Nicholson was a fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2006 but played in only two games because of a hamstring injury.

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QB MUSTAIN TRANSFERS FROM ARKANSAS TO USC

Quarterback Mitch Mustain, who went 8-0 as a freshman starter last season for Arkansas, has transferred to Southern California.

Mustain, who will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out next season, is enrolled at USC for summer school and attending classes, sports information director Tim Tessalone confirmed yesterday.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mustain was a prized recruit after completing over 70 percent of his passes in 2005 for the undefeated state championship team at Springdale, Ark. He enrolled at Arkansas along with three of his high school teammates.