True, Carter (he and cousin Tracy McGrady are the two active leading scorers not to have played in a single Finals) is the sole Net capable of creating points at game's end with the verdict up for grabs.

Too bad the lone payoff was a seat on the lottery dais. In the mind of management, as constructed, there was more non-playoff payoffs where that came from.

So, once it became evident it would be impossible to attain an established pivotal force (Denver wanted what New Jersey doesn't have for Marcus Camby) in order to compete with Boston and Detroit and Orlando and Toronto the Nets dropped back 15 yards and punted on third down.

There are no two ways about it, the game plan is to cut costs and the easiest way to go about it is to delete long-term obligations to marquee names. At the same time, adding Yi (a project, no doubt, but widely considered among the league's most sprightly and skilled 7-footers), almost assures the Nets amplified interest and enlarged attendance by the Asian community.

That and the core of Harris, Yi, first-round pick Brook Lopez (Stanford's twins just keep on rolling into East Rutherford), Josh Boone, Nenad Krstic, as well as Marcus and Sean Williams will earn the Nets a recurring role in the next two lottery presentations.

Odds are the Knicks will be in their company. One of the few teams they played to a standstill the last couple seasons were the Bucks. Now, instead of having to wait for Yi to mature and hope that Simmons stays off injured reserve for three consecutive games, new coach Scott Skiles has Jefferson's versatility at both ends to enhance Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, Mo Williams and Charlie Villanueva. Though everyone but the Aussie center is being shopped to some degree.

The Raptors, meanwhile, were very good the season before last, winning the Atlantic Division, and just plain good this past year. By acquiring Jermaine O'Neal from the Pacers for extraneous playmaker T.J. Ford, conceptually, no opponent from either conference should be able to sweat them.

Never hesitant to take a risk, team president Bryan Colangelo is gambling his limit this time by taking on a contract ($44M for two years) owned by a chronically injured player. Count me in for a piece of that action.

Should O'Neal return to All-Star form the Raptors' upside is equally boundless. I'm told he's in excellent shape while joining a title contender is certain to boost his dwindling spirit.

Pretend you care and ask the fans howling at the Jamario Moon who they would rather have, the frontline of Bosh-O'Neal-Andrea Bargnani . . . Bogut-Jefferson-Villanueva . . . or Eddy Curry-Zach Randolph-Gallinari?