In a development that no less a basketball maven than Christopher Russo described as Bruce Ratner “getting a buzz for basketball” (as opposed to real eastate), the Nets have acquired Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for moody Alonsso Mourning, both the Williams sisters (Lucinda and Victoria) and two first round draft picks.

Said trade says a lot about how far Carter’s stock has fallen, how little the Knicks had to offer, and how desperate the Nets were to get rid of Mourning. All of that said, with Carter, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson starting, New Jersey should once again resemble a playoff team, albiet one that would still be better off had they kept Kenyon Martin.