Running into reality: even with Vince Carter on board, the Nets will have trouble taking off as long as Jason Kidd is limited--and no one knows how long that might be.(NBA)

Richard Jefferson can see it. It's the first thing he thought of when he heard the Nets would be acquiring gifted shooting guard Vince Carter from the Raptors, drooping a five-time All-Star into the lineup with Jefferson and point guard Jason Kidd. Indeed, it was the cushy fantasy of the entire Nets organization when the improbable trade scenario came along--get Carter, give up injured Alonzo Mourning, two draft picks and a pair of role players, and let the high-flying theatrics ensue.

Jefferson is pushing his leg into a pair of baggy jeans, smiling, thinking of the possibilities. "Jason with the ball," Jefferson says. "Me on one wing. Vince on the other wing. That's difficult to pick someone to guard. For us, that's the ideal situation."

Kidd creating turnovers and dashing the length of the court at top speed, Jefferson continuing his impressive improvement, Carter leaping and dunking like it was 1999--these are all ideals for the Nets. Reality mucks up ideals, though.

The Nets, and Kidd in particular, should know. After being courted by the Spurs, the 2003 champs, Kidd re-signed with New Jersey before last season, believing the Nets could remain contenders. But the past year changed that. The team was bought by Manhattan developer Bruce Rather, and, instead of building on the core of Kidd, Jefferson and Kenyon Martin, the Nets dumped Martin and shooting guard Kerry Kitties last summer in blatant cost-cutting moves.

To make matters worse, Kidd had microfracture knee surgery in the offseason, and the 2004-05 season looked lost. Word spread that Kidd had hobbled into CEO Rod Thorn's office in July and demanded a trade to a contender.

Both Kidd and Thorn say no trade demand was made, but it was clear Kidd was not happy with Ratner (who wants to move the team to Brooklyn) and the direction of the franchise. Kidd told reporters before the season, "We know we're not going to win a championship this year. Or next year. Not with the caliber of guys we have right now." Thus, trade rumors involving Kidd have continued to pop up--to Dallas, to Minnesota, to Los Angeles, to Seattle, to Portland--and as the league's February 24 trading deadline inches closer, Kidd's name will be churned endlessly through the rumor mill.

The trade of Carter to the Nets was not made to appease Kidd; it was made to make the team better. Around the league, the feeling is that the Nets never intended to trade Kidd. One Eastern Conference general manager says, "It's been my impression that they've never tried to go out and trade him and wouldn't have even if they had not gotten Vince. Maybe they would wait till his knee healed and then try. But up to now, it's not like they have been shopping him around."