Nets keeping tabs on Garnett

Ohm Youngmisuk of the Daily News reports that the Nets are inquiring about a big move next summer. Jason Kidd will be a free agent at that time and could be convinced to resign with the Nets if he had a superstar to play with. So, the Nets have inquired about Kevin Garnett. Shortly after Minnesota was bounced out of the first round for the sixth straight season, the Nets talked to the Timberwolves about Garnett's availability, according to several sources.

In Order acquire Garnett, the Nets would probably have to give up Keith Van Horn, Kerry Kittles and Kenyon Martin in order to come close to Garnett’s $25.2 million salary for next season. While sources say the Nets have discussed those three players internally, the Nets deny making an offer for Garnett. Garnett is one of the top players in the game and the Timberwolves have always said that he is not for sale, but they will need to address his huge contract eventually. He currently has two years remaining in his $126 million contract. A four-year extension under the collective bargaining agreement could force the Timberwolves to pay Garnett an average of nearly $35 million a season.

One Western Conference GM said that Minnesota should consider moving Garnett since he takes up so much cap space and because the team hasn't made it out of the first round with him.

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New Jersey Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Knicks, Nets diving into free agent pool

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports that both the Nets and the Knicks are stepping up their efforts to land free agents. The Knicks are trying to bolster their front court with Cleveland’s Michael Doleac while the Nets want to sign a quality backup point guard in Toronto’s Chris Childs.

The Nets are close to a deal with Childs and could announce a contract as early as this week. It is expected that he will sign for two years and about $3.5 million.

The Knicks aren’t as close to a deal, but according to league sources, talks between the team and the 6-11 center are heating up and moving into the serious stage. Doleac is expected to be in New York for a “recruiting trip” later this week.

"It's going fine. I'm optimistic Michael would be a real good fit if it were to happen," Doleac's agent, Glen Schwartzman, said yesterday. "We're still talking and I'll really have a better feel for matters [today]."

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New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors

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Utah and Marshall still stalled

Tim Buckley of the Desert News reports that the negotiations between the Jazz and free agent forward Donyell Marshall are still dragging. "I really, really tried to get something done with them (Wednesday), and they just are not moving in the right direction," said Dwight Manley, who for the second time in six days said, "It doesn't look like Donyell's gonna be back to Utah."

Manley also seems disturbed by the Jazz movement away from another one of his clients, Bryon Russell in favor of Calbert Cheaney. Manley suggests that the release of the more talented Russell in favor of the less-expensive Cheaney is a sign of a team in “rebuilding mode”.

Manley suggested he was baffled that the Jazz apparently are "replacing Bryon (Russell) now with Calbert Cheaney" while "yesterday they said they were getting younger, and today they're not getting younger."

"It's a real tough situation, because it's not only money we're talking about, but the direction of the team being in a rebuilding mode, and a player in his prime not going in the same direction. . . . Donyell (Marshall) is not in a rebuilding mode," said Manley, who also made a case for Marshall being a $10 million player — about $3 million more in annual salary than what the Jazz have been offering the player whose re-signing they have identified to be their top priority of the summer free-agent market.”

Asked if he was allowing the situation of one of his clients (Russell) to affect that of another (Marshall), Manley said this: "Don't all the players' situations affect each other? It's a team, so every piece matters. Regardless of who their agent is, every piece matters. "Donyell was willing to go back to the team without Bryon being there . . . but the Jazz," Manley added, "are making it quite obvious that Donyell is not the priority that they've made him out to be."

If Marshall can’t work out a deal with the Jazz, he can try to force a sign and trade deal to another team, or he could sign with another team for the $4.5 million mid-class exception. The Jazz have reportedly turned down a few sign and trade offers from the Nets (Keith Van Horn) and the Raptors (Hakeem Olajuwon).

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Utah Jazz, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors

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