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The Nets losing ways have now reached 9 straight games, following a 98-95 loss last night to the worst team in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves. In that contest, New Jersey allowed their opponent to score the final ten points.

One wonders how a team could get this bad this quick. Remember just 20 days ago, the Nets went on an 8-2 stretch to be one game above .500. Now 18-26, and ninth place in a futile Eastern Conference, the Nets maybe facing the crossroads of not just the 2007-2008 season, but the next few seasons to come.

Trade rumors have plagued this team for several seasons now. Anytime you have a team with valuable commodities that’s going to happen. (Notice the Knicks aren’t in trade rumors right now?) But with the team performing the way it has, a trade appears imminent. Just look at this quote by GM Rod Thorne from the Neward Star Ledger:

“Am I convinced that all of my players want to be here?” Rod Thorn asked, repeating a question in very clipped delivery. “I think how they perform on the court indicates whether that is true or not true.”

This has all fingers pointing to starting point guard Jason Kidd, who has tipped his hand on more than one occasion this season that he wants to be traded to a contender…

…That’s funny, maybe if Kidd believed in his teammates, they could contend?

That is not to say Kidd’s production has been down, however. The 34 year old all star averages 11.3 pts, 8.3 boards, and 10.4 assists a game. No point guard outside of Chris Paul can brag like that.

But I find it very odd that a player who’s having his success, and a supporting cast that on paper should contend in the Eastern Conference, has any beef.

I think in the end the Nets should trade Kidd to the team that overbids the most in young talent. It would be foolish to simply acquire expiring contracts as was mentioned in a rumored Dallas Mavericks trade (Devean George, Desagana Diop and Jerry Stackhouse plus picks). The Nets have never been big players in the free agent market and without Kidd, their chances at alluring any attractive stars would be diminished. Theoretically, this team could build around Richard Jefferson, Josh Boone, Sean Williams, and Marcus Williams- and have a very bright future.