By FRED KERBER
HOUSTON – We were kind of hoping someone would ask A-Rod if he thought Vince Carter was getting traded by Thursday’s 3 p.m. Eastern deadline.
After all, Vince was asked about A-Rod and banned substances.
So with the trading deadline rapidly approaching, Carter’s name is being linked here, there and everywhere. There is some truth to some reports, no truth to others. And Nets’ brass really are not addressing any specific rumors.
Again, gut feeling, he stays.
“There is a lot of talk and we’re making all of our normal calls, receiving all of the normal calls that you would expect right before the trading deadline,” said GM Kiki Vandeweghe. “But I don’t see anything for us.”
Vandeweghe said he does think there will be movement around the league, but not involving the Nets. And it is being done more for economics than personnel.
“Given the economic climate everywhere in the country, I do think you will see trades being made,” Vandeweghe said. “But I think they will be more to shave contracts and done from an economic standpoint.”
The Spurs would love to get their mitts on Carter and are trying different scenarios – one San Antonio source suggested they will try for a three-way. One – among many — sticking point could be San Antonio’s reluctance to trade PG George Hill, especially with Tony Parker’s penchant for rolling his ankle. But the Spurs will try.
Portland is another team with possible interest but one team exec in the league said the Blazers have their pick of deals and VC is not at the head of the pack.
There have been numerous Houston permutations, one involving Tracy McGrady, VC’s cousin, and his incredibly worrisome knee for Carter and Trenton Hassell. Figure the Rockets would be intrigued to shop out McGrady, even to take on one more Carter contract year. But the Nets would receive a player who is likely facing major surgery and has $22 million due next year. The other permutations involving Carl Landry and Ron Artest also were labeled unlikely.
And one Nets team source insisted there is nothing percolating right now.
Carter? He’s taking it all in stride and said he’ll know soon enough one way or the other.
“I haven’t talked to them (team brass). I don’t feel like there’s a reason to talk,” Carter said. It doesn’t bother me. I’m fine. Everybody seems to think it’s bothering me, it doesn’t bother me at all…My people know not to talk to me about it. I care not to hear it.”
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The bottom line question is where are the priorities, this year or well down the road. The Nets are legitimate contenders for a playoff berth and the experience of getting there and competing in the post-season could be huge for Lopez, Yi, Anderson. Without Carter, their chances equate to A-Rod being “Man of the Year.” Devin Harris said it yesterday and said it again today, he doesn’t want to see Carter go. And the job Carter has done sacrificing and leading cannot be overlooked. That is a huge component to yank for any reason or any return during a push to the playoffs.
But then, I’m not the one paying the bills and hemorrhaging money.
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The All-Star break rest did nothing for Eduardo Najera. He’s still hurt and is inactive for tonight and tomorrow in Dallas. Probably for a while. The veteran forward said he will give his injury – called a lower ab strain but sounding (and feeling) like a hernia – another week before looking seriously at surgery.
“I’m going to give it this week, rest and see how it feels and try and do something,” Najera said. “It does feel like I have the (hernia) symptoms. It’s my groin, my lower abs. I hope not (but) I do have the symptoms.”
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Elsewhere, Bobby Simmons is back and ready to play. Same with Yi Jianlian.
Lawrence Frank though said he will stay with the same starting unit that finished up before the break: Ryan Anderson and Trenton Hassell up front.
“We just played 3-on-3 and I had no problems so I’m looking forward to playing tonight,” said Simmons who said he stayed atop his conditioning and doesn’t see that as a major problem, although there’s no substitute for game play.
Yi practiced yesterday, looked good, felt good but Frank still was iffy about how and when to use him – Ryan Anderson said he was given a heads up that he and Yi could spend time together on the court at four and five.
YI said practice Monday went fine and although he didn’t take any direct hits, the healed broken pinkie felt fine. “It’s just getting the feeling back. It’s been a month away from playing games,” Yi said. “I think I can play.
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Frank on Yi: “He looked all right. Still, it’s going to take a while in terms of getting game rhythm and conditioning stuff like that. You can do all the one-on-oh work, but there’s no substitute for actual contact.”
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Team also taking it slow with Stromile Swift who is recovering from the death of his mother.
“For him, dealing with what he’s dealing with, it’s a significant loss, but I think it’s getting mentally ready, emotionally ready and then physically ready,” said Frank. “He’s missed a lot of time.”
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Useless fact of the day: Although angels are referred to throughout the Bible, only three are named: Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer.