The Sport Count

Marc Stein over at ESPN is reporting somewhat of a minor blockbuster looming in the glamourous NBA cities of New Jersey and Milwaulkee (or Miliwaukay, as Alice Cooper might say).

The New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of a trade that will send Richard Jefferson to the Bucks for forwards Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons, according to NBA front-office sources.

So clearly Rod Thorn looked across at the struggling Rockets and thought “Gee, I’ve got T-mac’s cousin, maybe I can struggle to several first round playoff losses if I get a paper thin Chinese power forward too. Hell, it’ll help me clear all of these excess jerseys we’ve got with New Jersey written on them before the Jigga Man ships us all off to the 40/40 club.”

What does this mean? Well, it puts the Nets in the rebuilding zone for the next two seasons, so you know that’s a cue for Vince Carter to pick up something season ending come February 2009 (note to fantasy players: don’t select him). It also means, ladies and gentlemen, LeBron James is coming to the Nets when he opts out in 2010.

“Surely you could’ve gotten more for R.Jeff, Hov?” “Nah, son, it’s all about the cap space”.

Aside from the much reported friendship (see Slam Online for a great run down) and mutual respect between the Two Kings, a move like this actually puts the Nets as the top big market team to attract free agent talent in the much coveted 2010/2011 off season, when your Wades, Boshs and Lebrons enter the land of the unrestricted.

The over/under on Lebron James Rocafella albums before then? I’m calling 3.