NET NOTES
The Nets might need to mend fences fast if they end up with Bulls forward Tim Thomas.
“I don’t foresee it being a problem. I try to be above all that. If he can help the team, that’s what matters. I’m all about the team,” said Jason Collins, whom Thomas still seems to have a grudge against from a hard foul two years ago in the playoffs. “[As] teammates, he’d probably appreciate someone like me who’d go out there and give a hard foul.”
Team brass is obviously interested in Thomas, but also a little guarded. Before they can get Thomas, the Bulls must buy out Thomas from the remainder of his $13.975 million contract by Wednesday for him to be playoff-eligible. Thomas has targeted four teams: the Nets, Spurs, Heat and Sixers.
Bulls GM John Paxson said he does not want Thomas going to a team Chicago would be in direction contention with for a playoff spot, namely the Sixers. The Bulls likely would get a handshake agreement that in return for a buyout, Thomas would avoid Philadelphia. Chicago also would like some financial relief and, of the four teams, only Miami ($3.9 million) and Philly ($1.25 million) have mid-level money. The Heat also could use some of their mid-level to pay Thomas. The Nets can offer only a pro-rated minimum wage, about $300,000.
Thomas’ athleticism and size would make sense coming off the Nets’ bench. But his history raises flags. He jokingly suggested two weeks ago he could have a hit put out on Collins. “If I wanted something done to him, I’m from New Jersey, it’s nothing but a phone call,” Thomas said, stressing, “I don’t respect what he did still.” And Thomas was the one who called former Net Kenyon Martin a “fugazy” tough guy.
It is all in the Bulls’ hands – and they prefer Thomas go West. Thomas, who was acquired from the Knicks in the Eddy Curry deal, played three games for the Bulls, was perceived to be going half-speed and sent home. In New Jersey, there’s a forget-and-forgive air.
“That’s behind us,” Jason Kidd said of Thomas’ past. “If he can help us win, that’s the bottom line.”
Said Richard Jefferson: “If they get Tim Thomas and believe he can help us, it is all good. . . . Something that happened two years ago doesn’t really affect what is happening right now.”
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Some Nets were politically correct concerning the Knicks’ acquisition of Steve Francis, but Vince Carter was downright honest.
“Doesn’t make sense to me,” Carter said. “They’ve got four point guards. I’m not over there, so I don’t know what the thinking is. But I do know the one thing about Stevie is he can score.”
While the Knicks’ expensive backcourt is flashy and can score, the Nets like what they have.
“We have a pretty good backcourt in Vince and JKidd. For us, it is not necessarily intimidation, but we don’t fear too many backcourts,” said Jefferson. “We respect their backcourt. Their backcourt definitely got better. But we try not to focus in too much on what the other team has.”