Instead, the club swapped Martin for three future first-round picks. That the Nets failed to obtain any players who could help the team now left some believing that winning was not its first priority.
Retaining the 6-4 Kidd, fourth all-time in assists average (9.4), could go a long way to proving that Ratner is intent on winning in the short term.
Veteran center Alonzo Mourning is the latest Nets player to question the direction of the franchise.
(Bill Kostroun - AP)
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Thorn questions why Kidd and Mourning would show so little loyalty to the club that pays Kidd his $105 million salary and signed Mourning to a $22.6 million deal last year despite knowing his ailing kidneys made him a financial risk.
Doctors diagnosed Mourning three years ago with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a rare disease that prevented his kidneys from filtering blood of impurities. Mourning underwent a successful kidney transplant last December.
Asked last week whether he thought Mourning and Kidd owed anything to the franchise, Thorn responded: "Obviously, they don't think so.
"What you can't do is allow players to say they are unhappy in the press and then later say 'I want to be paid a premium,' " said Thorn. "That won't happen here."
In the unenviable position of bridging the gap between management and players and patching holes left over from the trades is Nets Coach Lawrence Frank. A round-the-clock worker, Frank is a Kidd favorite and has also earned Mourning's respect.
"We've had a rapport since Day One," said Mourning. "I respect Coach Frank for his preparation as a coach. He works his butt off to get us right."
To get things right this season, Frank is going to have to mesh the journeymen free agents such as guard Jacque Vaughn and forward Eric Williams with role players from last season, including Aaron Williams, Brian Scalabrine and Jason Collins.
"This summer was painful for everyone," said Frank, who took over for the fired Byron Scott last season and led the team to the Eastern Conference semifinals. "There's no facsimile for Kenyon Martin, but with Kidd in the mix, we'll be in a position to win every game we play."
Kidd is expected to return next month. Mourning could also play a key role in a comeback. With all the hullabaloo surrounding the club's infighting, his numbers have been largely overlooked. At 34 and with a new kidney, he's averaged 12 points and 7.5 rebounds. His 2.75 blocks per game are sixth highest in the league.
Whether Mourning, a seven-time all-star, can continue to perform at the same level is also an issue.
"My body is sore, man," said Mourning as he massaged his left forearm following the 76ers game. "If I had more hands I'd be rubbing everything."
