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InsideHoops.com compiled quotes from local New York and New Jersey beat writers who cover the Nets, the morning after the team sign-and-traded Kenyon Martin to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for three first round draft picks, ending New Jersey's run as a contending team and robbing the fans of one of the most exciting dunkers in all of basketball and a key to the team on both ends of the floor.

"The Nets lost their best rebounder, best defender and second best scorer. But they saved money and now might even buy some marginal players. In the end, the luxury tax and the bottom line dealt the Nets a devastating setback they may need years to overcome as they traded All-Star forward Kenyon Martin to Denver for a collection of draft picks." NY Post

"So the Nets could be real good in 2010. Denver doesn't need to wait that long. "An All-Star power forward doesn't come along every day," said Vandeweghe, who thanked his owner for "taking on a contract of this magnitude" and noted Martin's "commitment" to Denver." NY Post

"Now the Nets might want to placate a couple other important guys: Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, both of whom were highly upset about "giving away Kenyon," sources said. Jefferson will be the next target of Net free agency and fans must hope it goes a little smoother than this escapade. Jefferson will have to ask himself about signing a long-term extension when the bulk of that term will be spent rebuilding." NY Post

"Prospective owner Bruce Ratner gave every indication he would match the Nuggets' offer, but investors around him opposed the move, sources said. When the Nuggets revised the offer to make it too heavy up front, the Nets caved." NY Post

"The Nets bid farewell to Kenyon Martin yesterday. And by parting with their 26-year-old All-Star, they are also saying goodbye to their days as contenders." NY Daily News

"Ownership didn't want to pay Martin," a source close to the organization said yesterday after the power forward signed a seven-year deal worth up to an estimated $95 million. "But it's a move for the future." NY Daily News

"That may not be enough to keep Jason Kidd content. Several people close to the star guard have said for weeks that the franchise star could ask for a trade if the Nets ended up losing Martin. Kidd, who at 31 desperately wants to win a ring, did not re-sign with the Nets for six years and $103 million last summer to see them trade his All-Star big man and close friend for picks that might never amount to anything." NY Daily News

"A source close to the situation said Ratner went into the free agency period wanting to keep Martin but followed the advice of Thorn, who wanted to see other teams set the market for Martin rather than bid against himself. Because Martin was a restricted free agent, the Nets had the right to match any offer." NY Daily News

However, two other league sources wondered last night why the Nets never tendered Martin an offer at any point if ownership really wanted to keep the forward, especially after the Nets learned that the Hawks and Nuggets were offering Martin a six-year max contract. "The Nets had every opportunity to bring Kenyon back," one source said." NY Daily News

"Another reaction came from Jeff Schwartz, the agent for Kidd, who is rehabilitating from knee surgery earlier this month. "Jason is processing this now,'' Schwartz said. He said that Kidd thought the fans "can't be happy'' with the Martin trade, but that Kidd also had a lot of confidence in the ability of Thorn and Ed Stefanski, the team's general manager, to rebuild." NY Times

"Less than two weeks ago, Ratner met with reporters in an effort to dispel stories that he was ordering cost-cutting within the Nets organization and that he would not allow the team to retain Martin. But a person with knowledge of the decision-making within the Nets' hierarchy said that Ratner and Thorn held discussions in the middle of this week in which they concluded that matching the Denver contract would create a salary-cap nightmare for the Nets." NY Times

"According to a person familiar with the negotiations, Denver was going to offer Martin an $82.3 million, six-year deal that included a $20.5 million signing bonus due on July 29. To retain Martin, the Nets would have had to match that offer. Between the signing bonus, Martin's 2004-05 salary ($7.5 million) and the NBA luxury tax implications for the capped-out Nets ($11 million), it would have cost Ratner $39 million over the next year to keep Martin, and the owner balked at cutting such a huge check." Newark Star-Ledger

"It is unclear, however, whether the Nets attempted to sign Martin to a deal that was structured in a more friendly way. There was nothing to stop the Nets from offering their own $82.3 million deal -- or more -- without the large signing bonus." Newark Star-Ledger

"For weeks the fans have said they wanted to see whether management kept Martin and fielded a team capable of getting back to the NBA Finals. Yesterday, the anger boiled over as the Nets agreed to a deal to send Martin to Denver for three draft picks instead of paying the All-Star power forward nearly $90 million over the next seven years." Newark Star-Ledger