NEW YORK -- The New Jersey Nets are close to agreeing to terms with Vince Carter on a long term contract Carter would sign shortly after he opts out of his contract on Sunday, a league source tells SI.com.

The 6-7 Carter, a seven-time All-Star with Toronto and New Jersey, will walk away from the $16.3 million he was scheduled to make in the final season of a six-year, $94-million contract he signed with the Raptors in 2001. In return, Carter will reportedly sign a new four-year deal worth between $60 and $65 million sometime next week. The proposed new deal will keep Carter under contract through the 2010-2011 season, when he will be 34 years old.

The re-signing of Carter presents the Nets with an interesting dilemma. League sources say Richard Jefferson has gone back and forth on his desire to remain a Net long-term with the 27-year old small forward's desire to play an expanded role offensively being the major sticking point. Carter, however, shares many of the same skills as Jefferson.

Should the Nets elect to put Jefferson on the market, Portland would seem to be a natural trading partner. The Trail Blazers are dangling Zach Randolph and the Nets, who have struggled to find a replacement for Kenyon Martin at power forward, could benefit from Randolph's interior scoring (23.6 points per game) and rebounding (10.1) while hoping that being in the same locker room as Jason Kidd will resolve any of Randolph's character issues.

Jefferson would join 2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and probable top pick Greg Oden in one of the league's best young lineups.

Nets president Rod Thorn reportedly said the Nets have had "no conversations" with Portland about Jefferson.

THat would be a great deal for both teams. NJ needs inside scoring, and Portland needs to get rid of Zack to make way for Aldridge and Oden. Jack, Roy, Jefferson, Aldridge, and Oden would be an awesome offensive and defensive squad. With a good coach in McMillan, Portland might be challenging for the playoffs this year if this deal went down.

Anyone seen Zach play more than a handfull of times?

He seems like Curry at the 4 position. Great on offense, flawed on defense.

Who do the Nets have to replace RJ?

RJ is Carter Lite. If they re-sign Carter it makes RJ expendable. Especially if RJ may not want to sign there long term with Carter already signed.

If the Nets can get Zach, I'd look to draft Almond, the best shooter available. He could live off of kickouts and force defenses to play Carter and Zach one on one. A post player like Zach and a deadly outside shooter and they can make it to the Finals next year. They won't defend anybody but they'll be tough to stop offensively.

Zack Randolph reminds me a bit of Willis Reed...

Nets look very balanced with zach, nachbar, krstic, kidd and Carter. Get it dun!

i would love to see this trade go down... i hate RJ with a passion.

Posted by bobs3304:

Zack Randolph reminds me a bit of Willis Reed...

WHAT?? You're 21 yrs old , what do you know about Reed. Zach couldn't carry Reeds jock strap.

Posted by blueNorange:

i'd love to see this happen ... Nened and Randolph is one horrific defensive inside presence.

Nened, Collins, and Randolph would be pretty bad on defense but not as bad as our frontcourt

Teams double Eddy because it's an automatic turnover--not because he's 1.5 inches taller than Zach. If Zach spent all his time in the low post and was an automatic turnover on the double team, they'd double him just as often as the double Eddy.

nice i would love it! AZach avg 23.6 pts and 10 rebounds last season. Now, imagine with him with Kidd. They will be in the eastern conference