While the New York Post’s Fred Kerber touts the salary cap motivations for Jersey to swap Jason Kidd, NJ.com’s Ian O’Connor insists that Richard Jefferson is the Net that has to go.

If Richard Jefferson returns this season and proves he’s healthy and eager to reclaim his place among the league’s second-tier stars, the Nets could deal him for better balance in their lineup. Jefferson and Carter are overlapping parts, and you can’t have two of your top three players overlapping in any way. So this summer, Jefferson for a bigger body will be the Nets’ best bet.

“I wouldn’t trade either Kidd or Carter right now if I were them,” said one Eastern Conference executive. “They’re not going to get anything worthwhile in return, and they’d basically be giving up on the season if they do that.”

Thorn is no dummy; he’s proven as much in the deals that landed Kidd and Carter. The Nets’ president knows if he ships Kidd to the Lakers for the expiring contracts and uninspiring bums they’re reportedly willing to ship back, he’ll be tarred and feathered in the court of public opinion. If the Lakers want to talk about Andrew Bynum, the 7-foot-1 kid out of St. Joseph of Metuchen, then Thorn will move Kidd and happily hand Marcus Williams the ball.

The Lakers are saying Bynum is untouchable, so that ends that. Thorn isn’t about to watch Kidd and Kobe Bryant win a championship or two while he’s trying to sell future salary-cap relief to the people of New Jersey, fans who will realize the cap relief won’t matter until the Nets hit Brooklyn.

The Spurs have acquired PF Melvin Ely
from Charlotte today in exchange for Eric Williams and a 2009 second round pic.

Gilbert Arenas suggests that LeBron needs a Sam Cassell type “to take the big shots at the end of the game”. I’m not sure who oughta be more offended, King James or Damon Jones.

Sincere congrats to Henry Abbott on True Hoop’s new pact with ESPN. I’m especially envious, as I’ve been trying to get the owners of Medieval Times to purchase CSTB from Cumbucket Media, but the two sides cannot agree upon a price.