LAS VEGAS -- Cheerless to say, yet indisputably reasonable, in all likelihood, we've seen the last of Jason Kidd in a Nets uniform.

On the other hand, I suspect he'll never lose his ability to grace an occasional New York City tabloid front page.

Within the last week the Golden States Warriors, I'm informed, have communicated interest in the Oakland-native and certainly flaunt more than enough assets to outbid the Lakers for his services.

I do not know the principles involved, or even if an actual offer was made.

Would the Nets accept, say, Jason Richardson (four years and $55 million left after this one), Adonal Foyle (two years, $19 million) and rising free agent Michael Pietrus?

If Jason Collins (two years, $12.3 million) were included in the deal, most certainly.

Should the Warriors refuse, I would do it anyway; it would terminate the guesswork regarding Vince Carter's contract intentions at season's end.

His time in Jersey would be over, no hard feelings, and Richardson would inherit the starting off guard spot.

Of course, should Carter verbally commit to the Nets before the Feb. 22 trade deadline -- and it's established he isn't using Carlos Boozer's agent or wife as consultants -- that abruptly ends any notion of dealing Kidd to the Warriors.

The Nets' insistence that Collins accompany Kidd to L.A. is an obstruction in that trade negotiation, but not intractable, I'm guessing.

If a better offer than expiring contracts, draft picks, cash and Kwame Brown or Brian Cook doesn't materialize within the next few days, I'm inclined to believe Kidd will return to the Triangle Offense from whence he began as a rebellious rookie in Dallas under Jim Cleamons, off-and-on assistant to Phil Jackson for the last 15 years or so.

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A categorical condition in securing All-Star Weekend was the prohibition of legal wagering in Las Vegas on the game.

Consequently, it's difficult to place a bet here on the outcome, over-under, high scorer/rebounder/assist, you name it, as it is to differentiate between the ladies of the evening and the lasses that normally congregate in the players' hotel lobby.

David Stern should've figured this out long ago.

After all, had All-Star Weekend been staged in Vegas when Michael Jordan was playing, I'm guessing he would never have blown off media day.

As far as this incarnation of All-Stars, big ups to the league office for securing enough rooms, suites and cells for players, posses and parasites.

Then again, what could possibly go wrong when two dozen or so of the NBA's deluxe athletes with gobs of greenbacks invade a city with a motto of "Vice is Nice"?

Pictures and prints, anyone?

To be fair, at last recount, the NBA had just enough sinners to justify this trip to Sin City.

In fact, Stern is giddy none of the participants needed a judge's approval to travel to Vegas.

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There's something radically askew with Springfield's Hall of Fame's selection process.

Fifteen finalists emerged from a field of 108 nominees for induction and just three are (eminently worthy) players -- Chris Mullin, Adrian Dantley and Richie Guerin -- and one team, the vastly celebrated 1966 Texas Western NCAA champs.

And here we thought the game of basketball was about players.

Obviously there are far too many ex-coaches or campaign mangers for contributors on the Fame's four committees.

It's impossible to give Dennis Johnson the brush-off when Joe Dumars got initiated last year.

They're the same player. Both excelled on either end.

Johnson won one more title as a player, once with the Sonics when he was MVP of the NBA Finals and two in Boston, where Larry Bird hailed him as the "best clutch shooter" he ever played with.

Dumars evened things up by constructing a third Detroit champion as Pistons president.

Bernard King (despite all the time missed to injury, he still almost hit for 20,000 points), Jamaal Wilkes (his UCLA career alone should be more than enough proof, and then he contributed so much more to the Warriors and Lakers championships), Maurice Cheeks, Alex English, Dan Issel and many other former NBA and ABA greats also were conspicuously insulted.

No wonder the voting is kept anonymous.