The wheels are in motion for the new Nets arena in Brooklyn.  The Nets will be leaving New Jersey and relocate to Brooklyn in the year 2008 and have brought in design and development expert Michael Hallmark to help plan the new arena.  

Hallmark has worked on projects including the Staples Center in Los Angeles, America West Arena and Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Safeco Field in Seattle, Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, FleetCenter in Boston, and MCI Center in Washington D.C., as well as renovations to Madison Square Garden.

"Michael is the most innovative and successful arena designer in the field," Nets owner Bruce Ratner said. "He has established himself as a leader in trendsetting arena development worldwide. Michael's experience and deep understanding of sports arenas will help the Brooklyn Arena become one of the premier facilities in the world."

The Nets signed their general manager Ed Stefanski to a multiyear contract extension on Thursday.

Stefanski has been credited for the Vince Carter trade which propelled the Nets to a 15-4 run at the end of the season and a playoff birth.

Details of the contract are not known at this time.

Stefanski was a candidate for the GM job in Cleveland, but preferred to stay in New Jersey.

League sources have confirmed that several teams, including the Cavaliers, have approached the Nets seeking permission to talk to Ed Stefanski, but the GM who uncovered Nenad Krstic is staying put.

"Yes, several clubs have approached us, but Ed's not going anywhere," said team President Rod Thorn, who declined to identify the interested teams. "Ed's happy and he likes the direction we're going."

Stefanski was named GM last summer after four seasons as director of scouting and one year as senior VP of basketball operations. He has been identified in several reports as one of Cleveland's top three choices, along with Seattle GM Rick Sund (contract up, but unlikely to leave) and the apparent front-runner, David Morway, Indiana's VP of basketball administration.

As the Rockets recover from their first round playoff loss, the plans for next season are already underway.

Jason Kidd reportedly still is unsure whether or not his future should be in New Jersey and the New York Daily News is reporting that Kidd would welcome and might even demand a trade to Houston.

Putting Kidd along side Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming would instantly elevate the Rockets in the Western Conference.

New Jersey Nets owner Bruce Ratner is prepared to spend some cash this off-season.  Ratner has given team president Rod Thorn and general manager Ed Stefanski near-carte blanche to improve the Nets and keep Jason Kidd happy.

In fact, Ratner isn?t even worried about luxury tax penalties that will come as a result of going over the cap.

"It doesn't even require a conversation," Ratner said Wednesday afternoon inside a Brooklyn steakhouse. "Rod knows he's out there to get the best player or players that he can, given the restrictions that are in the collective bargaining agreement. That's really the only restrictions there is."

On the menu this summer are Donyell Marshall, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stromile Swift and Samuel Dalembert.

New Jersey Nets rookie center Nenad Krstic had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.

The surgery came two days after the Nets were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat.

Krstic, who hurt his thumb late in the regular season, will be in a cast for five weeks before starting rehabilitation. He averaged 18.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in the postseason. The 7-footer from Serbia-Montenegro averaged 10 points and 5.3 rebounds in 75 regular-season games.

The Nets' brain-trust expects to keep the team that was seen at the end of 2005, without any blockbuster trades, like last summer's Kenyon Martin deal.

"I don't see any reason they won't stay together," Nets general manager Ed Stefanski said of his star trio yesterday. "Unless there's a blockbuster trade that Shaq wants to play for our coach.

"I honestly (believe) that Richard and Vince do totally opposite things," Stefanski said. "They complement each other very well. We really at this moment want to go ahead and look what these three are going to look like together. And I think we want to do it more now, with what (Nenad) Krstic showed in the playoffs."

The Nets are over the salary cap, but they have two additional funds to spend on free agents -- a $4.9 million trade exception, left over from the Kerry Kittles deal; and the midlevel exception, which will be valued at roughly $5.5 million.

On their short list are Stromile Swift, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Donyell Marshall and anyone who can add length, post scoring, or shot-blocking. It's a fair free-agent market, and many desirable players (Eddy Curry, Samuel Dalembert, Vlad Radmanovic, Kyle Korver) are restricted, which means their current teams can match any offer sheet.

"I think it's going to be harder to sign a restricted than an unrestricted free agent," Stefanski said. "You have to see what kind of numbers we have to (earmark toward) that. I don't think you just throw out your money and have it tied up for 15 days," which is the amount of time the player's current team has to match the offer.

Nets' forward Brian Scalabrine would like to test the free-agent market.

Ron Mercer, who played just 18 games, has an option for $1.76 million that he's expected to exercise.

The Nets might try to buy him out of his contract.

Mercer is a talented player, but is often injured and his game is very similar to Richard Jefferson's and Vince Carter's, but without the high-flying.

Brian Scalabrine and Travis Best are two Nets' free-agents that they will likely looks to retain.

Dwyane Wade scored a postseason career-high of 34 points to help the Miami Heat to a 110-97 victory and an easy four-game sweep of the New Jersey Nets.

``He's been a superstar, even last year,'' Shaquille O'Neal said of Wade. ``It's just now you guys are recognizing it.''

Eddie Jones chipped in 21 points, including five 3-pointers.

``I'm a little more confident,'' Wade said in comparing himself to his rookie season last year. ``I know my teammates depend on me a lot more. I know what to do more now than last year.''

The Nets' season of change is now over.

``It says a lot when you beat a team four straight times,'' Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. ``Normally, there is a letdown. Those guys kept on coming. Our guys made a big run. Once we got it up three, they took it to another level.''

With the season officially over, a 4-game sweep coming at the hands of Miami Heat, Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets must now weigh their options concerning Kidd?s status for next season.

"It's obvious that Jason and Richard and Vince can play really well together," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "I'd like to see those guys together. If we can add something around it we could have a really good team."