Kerry Kittles was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second-round draft pick Thursday, another step in the dismantling of the New Jersey Nets.

Kittles is the second starter to leave the Nets this month: Power forward Kenyon Martin went to the Denver Nuggets for three first-round draft choices.

To try and fill the void left by Kittles, who spent eight years with the Nets, the club signed free-agent guards Jacque Vaughn and Rodney Buford.

``We're going to try to win every game we can,'' Nets CEO Rod Thorn said. ``We as an organization want to be monetarily responsible. When you look at our position, we can have some money and also have as good if not a better team than we were going to have the other way.''

Thorn said the money saved by trading Kittles will be used to fill other needs on the roster.

``We have holes to fill,'' he said. ``We've got to build our base back up.''

Kittles has averaged 14.3 points, 2.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds a game during his career. Last season, Kittles played in all 82 regular-season games and averaged 13.1 points and 4 rebounds.

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said Kittles is a perfect fit for his team.

``Kerry is a terrific defender, ball-handler and perimeter shooter who will enhance our team chemistry,'' Dunleavy said in a statement issued by the team.

The Clippers also declined to match Quentin Richardson's six-year offer sheet with the Phoenix Suns worth about $45 million. The Clippers had tried to sign Kobe Bryant, but Bryant decided to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers.

New Jersey hopes Vaughn will provide productive minutes off the bench to rest All-Star point guard Kidd, who is recovering from knee surgery.

``He is a veteran who can come in and run the show for us behind J-Kidd,'' Nets general manager Ed Stefanski said. ``We can't play J-Kidd the amount of minutes we have in the past, and we know that. This is a decision we made to lessen that load.''

The 6-foot-1 Vaughn played for the Atlanta Hawks last year and averaged 3.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 71 games.

The 6-5 Buford, who played for the Sacramento Kings last season, is expected to add depth at both guard and forward. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

``Rodney has no problem putting the ball in the basket,'' Stefanski said. ``He can put points on the board and he can do that quickly.''

The Nets are the fifth stop for Buford, who previously played for Miami, Philadelphia, Memphis and Sacramento. He has career averages of 6.2 points and 2.5 rebounds.

I heard this earlier today. I'm sure Kidd is pretty pissed. They get rid of the coach to please him. Now I'm sure they're out of options to keep him.

Gee Pat, thanks for the kind words. :rolleyes:
I really have only one thing to say.....


Aaargh

I figured I'd go easy on you. :p The least the Nets could've done was trade him to a team in the East. The West just keeps getting stronger and stronger. -Pat

Kittles is one of my favorite players. He's the all-time leading scorer at Villanova.

It was reported that J-Kidd asked for a trade, but they won't give it to him because he signed a 6 year contract earlier this year.

Because of his contract and recent knee surgery, Kidd is basically untradeable even if the Nets did want to make a deal.

There has been speculation in the local newspapers, however, that he could be going either Dallas (for Antoine Walker & Josh Howard), or Indiana (for Artest, Tinsley, and Jonathan Bender).

I'd make the latter deal in a heartbeat.

I'd LOVE to see him in Dallas though with Dirk & Finley. Plus Dallas needs to fill the void left by Nash (I can't believe he went to Phoneix ) and he started his career in Dallas.

The team that needs a good point guard is the Houston Rockets. Tyronn Lue isn't good enough to fill the gap that Francis left. They missed their chance with Derek Fisher, and now he's with Golden State.

Speaking of Trades, Teams, etc., who do you think will be Contender/Pretender for the Championship this year?

Here are mine:
(03-04 Season Standings)
West
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (Contender)
2. LA Lakers (Contender)
3. San Antonio Spurs (Contender)
4. Sacramento Kings (Contender)
5. Dallas Mavericks (Pretender)
6. Memphis Grizzlies ( Pretender)
7. Houston Rockets (Contender)
8. Denver Nuggets (Pretender)

East
1. Indiana Pacers (Pretender)
2. New Jersey Nets (Pretender)
3. Detroit Pistons (Contender)
4. Miami Heat (Contender)
5. New Orleans Hornets (Pretender)
6. Milwaukee Bucks (Pretender)
7. New York Knicks (pretender)
8. Boston Celtics (Pretender)

As for next year, here are my predictions:
MVP: Shaquille O' Neal
Rookie: Emeka Okafor
Sixth Man: Kwame Brown (he'll break out of his shell this year)
Defensive Player(s): Ben and Rasheed Wallace
Coach of the year: Stan Van Gundy down in Miami

It may be too early to tell, but I have a good feeling about it.

Plaw--The rumors I am hearing about Walker is that he's either coming to Philly for Glenn Robinson or he's going to New York for Kurt Thomas.

Raulito--Kwame Brown just had surgery. -Pat

Walker and Tony Delk were traded to Atlanta today for Jason Terry and Alan Henderson

I can't believe Walker's going to Atlanta for Terry! That sucks. Looks like Kidd isn't going anywhere.

Who do you think it sucks for, IM? I think it's a good deal for the Mavs.

Contractually, Kidd cannot demand a trade, but coming off surgery he can use the gambit of "Gee coach, I don't think I'm ready to play yet" as leverage.

it was the hell of a deal for the Mavs. Walker sucks! and they really a PG a thousand times more than a forward.

well, I hope Jamal Crawford really go to NY. he's a great player, just needs to improve his FG percentage.

Sixers traded Coleman and Mckaskill (SP) to Detroit for Williamson.

Good, I can't stand Williamson! I didn't want him to win the title!

There's hope for the Nets....

Jefferson signed a six year $78 million contract today.

Yeah but Kidd & Jefferson aren't going to be enough & you know that

well, Jamal Crawford and Jerome Williams just got traded to the Knicks in exchange for Othela Harrington, Frank Williams, Dikembe Mutombo and Cezary Tribansly (who???). some teams really seem like they want to lose...

isiah got off to a good start gettin marbury but he hes kept on assemblin a team of losers. talented but with marbury, tim thomas, crawford, and now prolly dampier and mohommad- thats alot of guys who have never won. im a knick fan but i dont no if ikes team of losers can get it done

Patrick: Since we've spun off in a few different directions, I've modified the title of this thread.

isiah is like 60 million over the salary cap and has only managed to take the team to mediocore really. I wish he couldve waited for a couple contracts to expire before just going for a quick fix

Before everyone starts bashing Isiah Thomas, let's not forget the condition that the team was in before he got it. This was a s**t team he got & he got them to the playoffs. I'm really glad that he got Marbury (rumor has it Carter wants to come to NY as well). I still however don't like that he got rid of Keith Van Horn.

in my opinion Thomas is doing a good job in NY.

now, good news: Gary Payton was traded to the Celtics in a five players deal that didn't send any great player to the Lakers. it feels like their PG next season will be Chucky Atkins. and it feels just like this will be a looong season in L.A.

Ten-four.

Looks like Peja now wants out of Sacramento. I wouldn't mind dumping G Rob for him.

I'd love to see Peja or Vince go to NY (although I know that will NEVER happen), but I can't believe so many people are bashing Isiah. I think he's doing a fine job.