Vince Carter's agent had a brief meeting with Nets owner Bruce Ratner on Wednesday night at the Meadowlands, and though little came of it, it was made clear to Ratner that Carter would like to proceed with discussions on a contract extension that will keep him with the Nets through the 2010-2011 season.

Agent Kurt Schoeppler, who has not returned phone calls all season, is presumably authorized to ask the Nets for the same three-year, $60 million extension Paul Pierce received last summer, according to industry sources who demanded anonymity so that they do not influence the negotiation.

The obstacles are getting Nets president Rod Thorn to the table, and then agreeing on a number, because team officials -- who cannot be identified, so as to protect the negotiation -- said the Nets are thinking more along the lines of three years and $45 million.

"I'm sure there will be some conversations about Vince," Thorn said earlier this week. "There is nothing scheduled at the present time, but there will be some conversation. As for whether it will be before the end of the season, let's see what transpires. Everyone's in a good spot now, focused in and ready to go. I don't want to fool around with that."