The Nets' brain-trust expects to keep the team that was seen at the end of 2005, without any blockbuster trades, like last summer's Kenyon Martin deal.

"I don't see any reason they won't stay together," Nets general manager Ed Stefanski said of his star trio yesterday. "Unless there's a blockbuster trade that Shaq wants to play for our coach.

"I honestly (believe) that Richard and Vince do totally opposite things," Stefanski said. "They complement each other very well. We really at this moment want to go ahead and look what these three are going to look like together. And I think we want to do it more now, with what (Nenad) Krstic showed in the playoffs."

The Nets are over the salary cap, but they have two additional funds to spend on free agents -- a $4.9 million trade exception, left over from the Kerry Kittles deal; and the midlevel exception, which will be valued at roughly $5.5 million.

On their short list are Stromile Swift, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Donyell Marshall and anyone who can add length, post scoring, or shot-blocking. It's a fair free-agent market, and many desirable players (Eddy Curry, Samuel Dalembert, Vlad Radmanovic, Kyle Korver) are restricted, which means their current teams can match any offer sheet.

"I think it's going to be harder to sign a restricted than an unrestricted free agent," Stefanski said. "You have to see what kind of numbers we have to (earmark toward) that. I don't think you just throw out your money and have it tied up for 15 days," which is the amount of time the player's current team has to match the offer.

Nets' forward Brian Scalabrine would like to test the free-agent market.

Via The Star-Ledger

New Jersey Nets

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