Nets Should Bring Back KMartNow that Cliff Robinson's idiotically-timed marijuana use has doomed the Nets season (Robinson was suspended for five games beginning with Game 3 of the Nets series with Miami), the Nets will need to figure out how to get back to real championship contention.
Going into the offseason, the Nets deficiencies are, yet again, the power forward position and their bench.
Regardless of whether he is worth the money left on his contract, it's a no-brainer for the Nets to go after Kenyon Martin, who will almost certainly be traded by Denver.
Martin has already proven to be a perfect fit for the Nets, and it's likely that he can be obtained for a reasonable package that would keep the Nets core intact, with the exception of Jason Collins. Even if the Nets had to give up Vince Carter, Martin is more valuable than Carter is during the playoffs, and a trade of Carter for Martin and another player might be beneficial.
The question will be whether the Nets want to add to their payroll, particularly since Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson are already making more than $11 million annually apiece. It will be up to Kidd to pressure Rod Thorn and Bruce Ratner to seriously consider bringing KMart back to the swamp.
The Nets are unlikely to fire coach Lawrence Frank, but Frank has clearly been outcoached by Pat Riley, relying far too heavily on Carter and failing to adjust when Carter's shooting is off.
posted on 5/15/2006
