Time for another blockbuster NBA night

MIAMI – The “blockbuster” trade has become a common practice in the NBA, with names such as Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson being shipped in recent seasons.

And it should not stop there. With Iverson now out of Philadelphia, other teams should consider sending their star players elsewhere while reconsidering their standing in the league.

“Vince Carter, New Jersey: The Nets have fallen into a pattern of slow starts, encouraging regular-season finishes and crash-to-reality postseason endings the past couple seasons. This season is beginning to pan out in much the same way.

Even Nets president Rod Thorn tossed out some threats earlier this season to let his team know that the same old story would not be good enough.

“I think you give it at least 20, 25 games,” Thorn said when the Nets were 7-10. “Then you have to reconsider what you’re doing, try to ascertain if this group is going to get it done or not.”

Eventually, Richard Jefferson will recover from his nagging ankle injury, and the combination of Jefferson, Carter and Jason Kidd will blend together to earn the Nets a division title after a strong finish to the season.

That will give the Nets false hope entering the playoffs, where they’ll run into the Pistons, Heat or even Pacers, teams that will defend well, and Carter again will shrink under pressure and come up short as the Nets’ leading man.

“Mike Bibby, Sacramento: The Kings are in a serious struggle to find their identity. The problem for Bibby as they try to discover one is that it doesn’t appear as if he’ll be the centerpiece in that design.

The Kings are trying to go the defensive route with Ron Artest at forward and Eric Musselman as coach.

And making matters worse for Bibby, Artest isn’t exactly willing to share the team responsibilities.

“I just pretty much have to worry about myself,” Artest said recently. “That was one of my problems a long time ago, just worrying about what everybody else was doing and not worrying about yourself. And that can mess up your game.”

“Stephon Marbury, New York: The better argument might be that Marbury dropped off the “elite” list long ago and nobody has told him. But his contract ($42 million the next two seasons) and ego (remember his rant on being the best point guard in the league?) keep him in the conversation.

Besides the fact he has become statistically insignificant on a struggling franchise (12 points, five assists, 40 percent shooting), it seems that Marbury doesn’t even have a presence anymore on the Knicks, his hometown team.

There doesn’t seem to be an obvious fit for Marbury elsewhere – although someone will scream for a return to Minnesota at first chance – but New York definitely feels like the wrong place for him.

And the Knicks certainly have enough combination guards to step in if Marbury is moved.