THE NBA / MARK HEISLER : Nets Being Cut Down With No Title in Sight

They’re having another palace revolution in New Jersey. They’d be better off burning the castle down and starting over, but they’re starting another rebuilding program, which is unfortunate for two reasons:

1. It won’t involve ownership, the Secaucus Seven, which is what really needs to be rebuilt.

2. They’re still working on their last rebuilding program.

The latest thunderclap, the trading of Derrick Coleman for Shawn Bradley, might have happened by accident as they went looking for a deal for their other star, Kenny Anderson.

Anderson, a free agent next summer, just turned down their six-year, $40-million offer and is gleefully sorting through his options, starting with the one across the river in New York. The Nets are pursuing trades for him and have given him permission to talk to other teams.

One of the first to call was the New York Knicks. Why, exactly, is a mystery although Anderson, a native, is still a local legend. Maybe they feel they owe it to him. Since John Starks broke Anderson’s left wrist two seasons ago, Kenny has been a sub-40% shooter.

“Yes, [the Nets’ offer] is a lot of money, but sometimes you have to look beyond that,� said Anderson, less than distraught at his unsettled situation. “I have to weigh what’s best for Kenny Anderson’s future.

“The Knicks? That would be nice. Miami? If [Pat] Riley doesn’t want Gary Payton, that would be nice too. The important thing is, I’m in a good position right now.�

The 76ers called too. They wanted to know if they traded for Anderson if he’d sign a contract. Anderson’s agent, Richard Howell, said no.

Next thing you know, the Nets and 76ers were talking again--about Coleman, who was already signed, albeit for $7.5 million a year, a lot for a malcontent, however gifted. One way or another, the Nets were going to get rid of someone.

Dumped--despite having requested a trade--Coleman is down in the dumps (again).

“He’s obviously in shock,� said his agent, Harold MacDonald. “The whole understanding from the Nets is that nobody wanted him.

“I think it came down to an ego thing between me and Willis [Reed, Net general manager] and Willis and Derrick. Willis thought [Coleman] was trying to get him fired.�

Before the season, the Nets were so desperate to trade Coleman, they were prepared to take five Toronto Raptors--not including Damon Stoudamire. The deal fell through, reportedly, on the Toronto end because Isiah Thomas couldn’t sell it to ownership.

Reed may be allowed to keep his job, which has been trimmed back by the owners, whose devotion to him reportedly stems from their having been Knick fans when he was playing.

Reedd no longer controls scouting, negotiates contracts or reports directly to ownership, but he still appears at news conferences and is shown munching popcorn at games as the TV directors’ reaction shot of choice.

The franchise, of course, isn’t going anywhere. The Nets had four top-four selections--Coleman, Anderson, Chris Morris and Dennis Hopson--between 1987 and 1991. Only Anderson remains, for the moment.

SAVE THE STORK, STILL ENDANGERED

There are teams Bradley might have helped, but, at first glance, the Nets don’t fit the profile.

The Utah Jazz or Phoenix Suns would have been better, teams with winning traditions, good scorers and muscular forwards--teams that needed someone just to block shots.

But Bradley makes $6 million a year. They would have had to trade a $6-million player for him and it would have angered their veterans. In Utah, where fans want their big guy back, Karl Malone, who gets a mere $3.8 million, said, “That won’t fly.�

Bradley needed nurturing and patience, which weren’t available in Philadelphia. The Nets are melting themselves down and have some of the NBA’s most raucous court-side hecklers. Looks like another bad marriage.

GOOD IDEA EVEN IF HE DIDN’T MEAN IT

In Philadelphia, where the 76ers were making the Nets look like a success story, Coach-General Manager John Lucas got everyone excited last week, suggesting he might fire himself.

“I may look at the coach at some point if it doesn’t get a lot better for us,� Lucas said.

“I’m not saying right now I’m the problem. I’m saying that I can’t change $25 million in payroll.�

Lucas was obliged to explain that the last two sentences were the operative ones. Then he exchanged $8 million of his payroll, $6 million of it in the person of Bradley, as demanded by his players who had already quit on him and were threatening to mutiny next.

The 76ers had lost eight consecutive games, by an average of 20 points. In a seven-game stretch, they led for six of the 336 minutes. The latest they were ahead was with 7:37 left in the first quarter.

Teammates complained about Bradley, led by despondent rookie Jerry Stackhouse, promoted by the team as a savior and taking advantage of his new cachet.

“Make a trade,� Stackhouse said last week. “Do what you’re going to do. There’s been a lot of trade talk. Everybody’s talking the last two weeks. We’ve got to be able to compete in the middle. We’ve got to make a change.�

The amazing thing is, it might work.

Lucas is no X’s and O’s genius, but he’s the dynamo who lighted the fire under David Robinson in San Antonio. The 76ers have young stars--Stackhouse and Clarence Weatherspoon--a new arena going up and $7 million in salary-cap room coming, so if Lucas can mellow out Coleman, he might have something.

Of course, if he can mellow out Coleman, he’s wasted on the NBA and should go to the UN.

GOOD-TIME CHARLIE HAS THE BLUES

The Suns are, as they say, “quietly concerned� about Charles Barkley’s attitude, which is even more casual than usual, or depressed, depending on when you talk to him.

Barkley came in heavy and is still getting into shape, at his own pace. Before a recent game against the Lakers in Phoenix, he flew to Las Vegas, gambled all night, flew home for the morning shoot-around and played like a zombie, with as many turnovers as rebounds.

“The moral of the story is, don’t go to Vegas and gamble the night before a big game,� he said later. “I would have felt bad spending all the money I’d won if we’d lost.�

Rested or not, Barkley wasn’t much better in Wednesday’s rematch in the Forum, forcing up three-pointers, one after another. He went two for 10 from the arc, looked over at a team official on press row and pantomimed shooting himself.

The Suns have more problems. Kevin Johnson is coming back from his 19th physical breakdown. In a home loss to Utah, Hot Rod Williams and Joe Kleine were outscored, 17-6, by Greg Foster and Antoine Carr, the Jazz’s Nos. 3 and 4 centers.

After the loss to the Lakers, Coach Paul Westphal said he would take the blame for changing the offense too much.

He was asked if that had been a problem all along.

“Tonight,� Westphal said, grinning. “I’m not taking it for all 13 games.�

NAMES AND NUMBERS

The War Between the Js: As the Dallas Mavericks’ losing streak rose to seven, a rift opened between Jason Kidd and Jim Jackson on one side, and Jamal Mashburn on the other. Things got so bad between Jackson and Mashburn, they had a team meeting to discuss it. “There are a couple of people who got mad at each other and they’re polarizing our team,� Coach Dick Motta said. “They won’t pass to each other, won’t speak to each other. They’re being very immature about it.� Jackson and Mashburn say they have made up. Motta is warning players about personal agendas and “the fourth J--jealousy.�

Clyde Drexler’s new extension is for two years at a reasonable $6 million apiece. Said Houston owner Les Alexander, congratulating himself, “I’m the kind of owner who turns his attention to everything that needs to be addressed regarding our players.� He can afford it. Drexler is making $9.75 million this season, but the Portland Trail Blazers are paying $7 million of it.

Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, 19, is averaging 6.8 points and learning many valuable lessons, which would have been easier to learn in college. “I’m not going to say everything is roses, but I’m doing all right,� he says. “It’s a league full of old men who foul a lot. But it’s not that different from playground ball, except the talent level is higher.� Coach Bill Blair says he would like to play Garnett closer to the basket, but at 6 feet 11 and only 210 pounds, the kid has to be a small forward for the moment. “We had a talk,� teammate Doug West said. “[Garnett] told me this isn’t as fun as he thought it would be.�

The Golden State Warriors have all five starters on the all-star ballot, suggesting the process needs rethinking or the team shouldn’t be last in the Pacific Division. After a loss to his former Portland team, Coach Rick Adelman praised the Trail Blazers’ toughness. Asked if the Warriors had that, he answered, “That’s a good question.� . . . Lucas, on Grant Hill’s complaint to him about being surrounded by mediocre players: “I told him, why did he think he was there? I tell Jerry [Stackhouse] the same thing. This ain’t like college. He didn’t have the choice of going to North Carolina or Duke. He didn’t have the choice of going to Orlando or New York. He [Stackhouse] came here because we’re terrible.� . . . Charles Oakley of the Knicks, teasing Charlotte Hornet players about losing Alonzo Mourning: “You got a kitchen with no stove. How are you going to cook?�