organisation destroyed the knicks who are close to resuscitate.

Same happens to the nets now :

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/207490p-178959c.html

Ratner may mean
end of Rod for Nets

By OHM YOUNGMISUK
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Bruce Ratner's penny-pinching wishes may cost the Nets one of their two stars in Kenyon Martin or Jason Kidd this summer.
But several people around the organization worry that the incoming owner's cost-cutting mandate could also affect Rod Thorn's future.

Thorn has one season left (2004-2005) on his contract, and some players have expressed concern about whether the extremely popular CEO will want to return if in fact new ownership is not committed to winning like the previous regime was.

Thorn politely declined to discuss his future.

"I'm under contract and I expect to honor my contract," Thorn said.

Thorn is the man perhaps most responsible for turning around a woeful Nets franchise. He left his post as the NBA's executive VP of basketball operations in 2000 to rebuild the Nets, and those close to Thorn believe that the fiercely competitive executive will have a hard time if the organization isn't committed to winning anymore.

Sources have said that Ratner, the Brooklyn developer, plans to run the team like a business, although Thorn has not acknowledged any such thinking.

Yesterday, Thorn promoted his right-hand man, Ed Stefanski, from senior VP of basketball operations to general manager, but said the move has nothing to do with his future.

Stefanski is expected to continue scouting and help Thorn make personnel decisions.

"It has to do with him being promoted and he's done a wonderful job," Thorn said of Stefanski, who helped draft Martin No. 1 in 2000, trade for Richard Jefferson in 2001 and pick Yugoslavian center Nenad Krstic in 2002. "He is an incredible judge of talent."

Many feel the same way about Thorn, who was voted 2001-2002 executive of the year by his peers.

Thorn has worked diligently to transform the Nets from a perennial laughingstock into a two-time NBA Finalist with blockbuster moves such as trading Stephon Marbury for Kidd.

This summer, however, Thorn may need to come up with some of his best moves yet just to try to keep his core intact. Ratner, whose expected approval by league owners reportedly has been delayed into next month, isn't interested in paying the dreaded luxury tax.

Thorn has been trying to deal Kerry Kittles and the $10 million remaining on his contract for weeks. Even Kidd, the franchise savior, isn't immune to a possible deal.

Kidd, who will have surgery on his left knee this offseason, has close to $90 million and five years remaining on his max contract. And with Martin seeking another max contract worth perhaps $85 million over six years, Thorn may have his hands tied.

And Thorn thought trying to convince Kidd to return last summer was difficult.

"I'm going to do the best I can do under whatever the circumstances are and try to get done what I have to get done," said Thorn, who tendered a one-year, $6.6 million offer to Martin this week which allows the Nets to keep the right to match any offer made to the All-Star next month. "We are going to do everything we can to keep our core intact. We'll see what happens."

If you want to run it like a business, keep thorn.

I think it is highly intellegent to pull back and make a run for a strong brooklyn enterance. I think trading kidd makes a huge amount of reason given his contract. They should call the spurs and get Ginobli and Parker (euro wonder boy) and see if they can dump kittles to someone for a playoff run. Or let him expire.

I'd work out a Nene and somthing for Martin. Keep jefferson.

The team is dead meat at the gate moving to brooklyn. That arena has to be at least 2 years off. Might be better to move to Long Island until then.

I would challege thorn by offering him some ownership and increase the value of the team so it is off and running when they land in Brooklyn. and get rid of that sissified name!