NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Representatives from two groups are still talking with the New Jersey Nets about purchasing the team more than two months after the initial round of bids for the franchise.

A group headed by New Jersey developer Charles Kushner and another by Bruce Ratner, a real estate developer who wants to move the Nets to Brooklyn, N.Y., are still involved in the talks.

Ratner appears to be the top bidder, reportedly having made a $300 million offer. Kushner's group, which includes U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., has bid $267.5 million. That group would keep the Nets at the Continental Airlines Arena at the Meadowlands sports complex in East Rutherford.

``We have to continue to pore over the information to see if a revised bid is warranted,'' Kushner group spokesman Michael Turner said Thursday.

Kushner representatives met Tuesday with the Meadowlands operators, the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, to discuss renovating the arena, authority spokesman Jim DeBosh said.

The authority has had no contact with Ratner, he said.

The sports conglomerate that owns the franchise, YankeeNets, declined to discuss the talks, spokeswoman Alice McGillion said. Ratner spokesman Joe DePlasco also declined to comment.

Ratner is president and chief executive officer of Forest City Ratner Companies, has proposed building the Brooklyn Arena and Brooklyn Atlantic Yards, whose residential, retail and commercial space would total 7.7 million square feet.

The arena would seat 19,000 for basketball, and the project also would have 4,500 units of residential housing and 2.1 million square feet of commercial office space.

A neighborhood group has complained that the project would displace about 1,000 people.

DePlasco said the current plan affects 140 residences.

``The guiding principle throughout has been to minimize the impact on residents and the community,'' he said Thursday, adding that those who have to relocate ``will be more than adequately compensated.''

___

On the Net:

Ratner project: http://www.bball.net/