It is now pretty safe to say...

rundmc00 said:

That dumping KneeMart saved the franchise.

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Why or how?

I don't know if its safe to say that just yet, we haven't gone back to the finals or even conference finals without him here. If we can get to that level within the next 2 years then I think we can say that Kmart's departure was worth it. Vince and Nenad, the two main results of the Kmart trade have not been in Jersey for a full 2 seasons yet, so the jury is still out. I think this year's playoff results will show us a lot more to compare to the old nets. I'll admit that both Krstic's and Carter's overall production is worth more than KMart and Kittles but again Vince has not led us to the promised land just yet, I'm still waiting to see if he can get us back to that level. This nets core (fantastic four) has the potential to be so much better than the core (old Big three) that went to the finals, but we'll have to wait and see.

Hbwoy said:

Why or how?

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With KneeMart's contract (and not being able to play)...we would be stuck with only RJ and Kidd and no ability to add another frontline player.

Now we've got VC and maybe a nice draft pick.

Am not going to get into the whole Kmart bashing thing, but was Nenad a result from the draft picks Thorn got for him

Hbwoy said:

Am not going to get into the whole Kmart bashing thing, but was Nenad a result from the draft picks Thorn got for him

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No, he was drafted in 2002.

rundmc00 said:

That dumping KneeMart saved the franchise.

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I'll say that when we get back to the finals.

Hbwoy said:

Am not going to get into the whole Kmart bashing thing, but was Nenad a result from the draft picks Thorn got for him

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I stand corrected, I think Nenad was just a pick of the nets, he wasn't one of the picks received from the Denver trade.

nenad would never have played if not for the VC trade sending our entire frontcourt minus collins to the raptors.

chris dudley said:

nenad would never have played if not for the VC trade sending our entire frontcourt minus collins to the raptors.

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true true.

Those who say "wait til we get back to finals" ignore KMart's medical condition, which was known to the Nets in 2003-04. There is no way that the Nets would be anywhere close to the situation they are in now if they had re-signed KMart. They obviously wouldn't have Carter and they might not have Jefferson considering that it was unlikely they would have committed to both of them in the summer of 2004. They would have waited til last summer to deal with RJ and probably Collins as well.

His knee was a problem in 2003-04. He was missing games back then because of tendonitis in the same knee that ultimately required surgery. This is not a new condition. Nor is it a condition that would have stabilized if he were in NJ. It is a progressive condition.

I believe [but don't know] that the Nets low-balled him in 2003 and were willing to wait for the other offers to materialize in 2004 partly because they didn't want to offer the max to a guy with a suspect wheel.

SeaNet said:

I'll say that when we get back to the finals.

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Whether or not we get back to the finals...we'd be much worse off with KneeMart. Please do not confuse the two.

At least stop calling him Knee Mart stopped being funny the 40th time it was used.

NetIncome said:

Those who say "wait til we get back to finals" ignore KMart's medical condition, which was known to the Nets in 2003-04. There is no way that the Nets would be anywhere close to the situation they are in now if they had re-signed KMart. They obviously wouldn't have Carter and they might not have Jefferson considering that it was unlikely they would have committed to both of them in the summer of 2004. They would have waited til last summer to deal with RJ and probably Collins as well.

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This seems right to me. I think the comparison is between where we stand now and where we would be if not for the Kmart trade. Answer: Without trading Kmart: no VC, and hamstrung with Alonzo's contract or dead money. And completely hamstrung and over the cap for the next several years due to Kmart's contract. Perhaps that means no RJ or no Collins, or maybe 2 years and no more Krly. IMO that is a good-not-great team with little prosepcts for improvement. With the trade: a balanced scoring attack that needs one more big man off the bench; a team up against the cap but with a little bit of roster flexibility; an extra draft pick. Much more hope for the future.

Grandmazter3 said:

At least stop calling him Knee Mart stopped being funny the 40th time it was used.

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For me, KneeMart is his permanent name (not a joke).

I care far more about the sold 2004 draft pick than I do this discussion.

3 quality First Round picks for any player is essentially too good to pass up.

cpawfan said:

I care far more about the sold 2004 draft pick than I do this discussion.

3 quality First Round picks for any player is essentially too good to pass up.

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Actually the picks will become #16 and two picks in the mid 20s...far from quality.

And since the trade of 2 #1 picks for VC was the biggest heist in the last 25 years...your statement seems off. I doubt one additional pick would've made Toronto the winner.

And about the sold pick, Monya sucks who would've been the pick.

rundmc00 said:

For me, KneeMart is his permanent name (not a joke).

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The fact that is obnoxious, spiteful, perverse and caustic are just added benefits.

cpawfan said:

I care far more about the sold 2004 draft pick than I do this discussion.

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Well then,

No Kmart = less chance of having to sell more picks

cpawfan said:

The fact that is obnoxious, spiteful, perverse and caustic are just added benefits.

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So then also stop the KMart. In his current status...KMart no longer exists and KneeMart is much more accurate. Kenyon Martin is also accurate.