Seeing Thorne, Bruce said depressedly: "I think the team needs to make a trade, it's better to get a star as soon as possible, we have to make the playoffs this season, do you have any good ideas?" ”

Thorne was stunned for a moment and sighed: "Boss, I have studied the situation in the free market with scouts, and there are no strong players. If we didn't trade Jefferson, Wang Jun, and Kidd, we wouldn't have the chips to get the big names. ”

Bruce didn't give up, covered his head and said, "Isn't there one?" If there is no trade, how will this squad win next? ”

Thorne wanted to tell him that of course he couldn't win.

The key players are all injured, and the first point of attack in the team is Eric? Williams, it's hard to imagine this is the defending champion's lineup. The team's defense is hopelessly rotten, and the fourth quarter generally goes into garbage time.

The media mentioned the Nets and laughed at them.

Thankfully, Kenyon Martin played badly with the Nuggets, averaging only 14 points and 7 rebounds per game, and the Nuggets opened the season with an 8-6 record.

If Martin had played well with the Nuggets and the Finals MVP, the Nets management would have cried.

Another player sent away, Kittels, played off the bench with the Clippers, averaging only 6.7 points per game, which is also very pitiful, and his annual salary of tens of millions is at the level of a marginal person.

The Clippers are different from the Nets because of Brand, who did not arrange three-point tactics, which is not suitable for Kittels at all. He himself took a summer break and didn't practice, and his condition was no longer good.

Because the Nets avoided a bad contract, Bruce was not abused with internal injuries.

Thorne thought for a moment and said, "Boss." I think there are two people who could be traded to the Nets and it won't cost much. ”

"Who?"

"First of all, Chris, of the Clippers? Kaman. The big man wasn't used heavily with the Clippers, but he partnered well with Wang Jun in college. He can shoot and defend, he is a good meat shield, and if he is traded to the Nets, the interior can better open up space, and Kidd is good at working with such players. ”

In Thorne's concept, Carman partnered with Kostic, and the two big men could shoot the basketball, while Wang Jun, Jefferson, and Kidd were all there. It's like a tiger with wings, and the attack of five people is not bad.

With such a starting lineup, the Nets are still very competitive in the playoffs.

Carman is an unstable starter for the Clippers, averaging only 8 points and 6 rebounds per game, and it doesn't cost much to get him, he is young and has a lot of potential.

But Bruce denied it in a word, and was still very angry. "Do you want Wang Jun to form a gang as soon as possible and take away Kidd's core position? Are you still idle enough of him? Or do you want to turn the Nets into a gangster? Kaman is not a peaceful person at first glance. ”

Carman sneezed wildly. Again fell on the looks. If it weren't for his long flowing hair, embarrassing beard, and evil facial features, he might have become the starter a long time ago.

Not many fans like to watch maniacs play. Ben Wallace is an exception, but Big Ben is a defensive titan and Carman just looks like a defensive giant. In fact, the offense is strong and the defense is weak.

Bruce asked, "Who's the other one?" ”

"Vince Carter." Thorne explained: "In 2001, Carter signed a six-year, $88 million contract extension with the Raptors. He underwent surgery on his left knee in 2002. After that, the form declined, and the Raptors had a poor season this season. We want to trade him, but we don't have a shortage of swingmen. As long as the king and Richard were there, there was no need for him. ”

Bruce pondered for a moment, slapped the table and said, "Just him, negotiate with the Raptors, and try to trade him without hurting his bones." ”

Thorne thought it was the next step. "But we already have three good swingmen on the team. Carter is here, how can Korver still play? ”

Bruce shook his head and said with a smile: "Then send away the two swing men, the Raptors can't just have an inside line, right?" We also have plenty of salary space on the team, and Carter doesn't have to pay the luxury tax when he comes. ”

"But the ball is not easy to distribute, who is the main attack of Jefferson, Wang Jun, and Carter?" Thorne still felt that something was wrong.

If other teams recruit Carter into the team, it is cheap, and the Nets have a big hidden danger.

Bruce knocked his hand on the table twice and said angrily: "Jefferson is seriously injured now, and he will not be able to play until April at the earliest, can he recover immediately?" Are we going to make the playoffs? ”

Thorne sighed: "Just to make the playoffs, I don't think it's worth it, if you renew Wang Jun's contract in the summer, the three high-paid swingmen, plus Kidd, there will be a situation where the annual salary of 40 million is outside." ”

Bruce was confident: "Didn't there be a Arenas clause?" Wang Jun's salary in the first two years is not high, we can trade him in two years, and then we don't need to change anyone, we need draft picks and cash, and we don't have to pay luxury tax. ”

Thorne sighed and said nothing.

The boss knows money in his head, so he doesn't talk about feelings, and with such a boss, it will be difficult for the Nets to win the championship again.

Jefferson and Carter clearly overlap in position, and both play fast break and carry the ball to be effective. Do you want them to take turns attacking with the ball?

Wang Jun is good at playing without the ball, but he shoots a lot.

Carter came to share the ball, Wang Jun would definitely not be happy, if Wang Jun suppressed Carter, as a few All-Stars, Carter would definitely not be happy. It would be nice if they didn't fight.

From a squad point of view, it's a very SB plan. But from the perspective of making money, Carter does attract fans, and may help the team reach the playoffs, which is an excellent instant force.

When Jefferson returns, he will have to make a cameo appearance as a power forward, otherwise the three swingmen will only be able to play for about 30 minutes. By next season at the latest, Thorne felt he had to tear them apart.

Thorne had to listen to his boss and immediately started negotiations with Raptors manager Babcock.

The two sides immediately reached a preliminary intention, but who to exchange has not yet decided. The Raptors have no strongman on the interior other than Bosh, and they want the Nets to send three interior players plus two first-round picks.

In this way, the Nets have no one available on the inside, and of course they can't agree, and Thorne's proposal is to send two insiders, two outsiders, and a draft pick.

The two sides began to bargain, Carter is not worth much now, and other teams have also contacted the Raptors, and the chips given are not as good as the Nets.

Before the start of the 2004-05 season, Carter said in an interview with the Toronto Star: "It's time to get the truth out and I want to be swapped out." ”

At the same time, he published an open letter to fans on his official website, in which he said that he could no longer wait for the Raptors to rebuild.

Recently, the Raptors' home court actually had fans booing Carter, and everyone knew that he and the Raptors had gone from a passionate love to a gritted tooth and tooth hostility.

The ambivalence between the two sides is like a barrel that has been shot through, and there is no way to make up for it or stop it. In the eyes of the fans who boo Carter, the cold data is there, so far in the new season, Carter has averaged only 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, where has the former flyer gone? Is he still good enough?

Raptors management is scared that Carter won't get anything when his contract expires, they can't wait any longer, and they're going to prove that no one can't be traded. (To be continued.) )