Richard Jefferson, who has been involved in numerous trade rumors throughout his career, would like to make something clear: If he is ever shipped out of New Jersey, it won't be because of any desire on his part.

"The rumors never bother me," the Nets forward said yesterday. "Once you're in the league, you have to understand that no matter how good or how important you are, you're going to be traded. Jason Kidd is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he's played for three teams. Shaquille O'Neal, he's played for three. You can't be amazed or shocked by it."

"I want to end my career here. Good or bad, highs and lows," he said. "If once in a while people go, 'Hey, you played in this many playoff games, you're second all time in playoff scoring behind J-Kidd,' that's important to me. Mind you, New Jersey didn't have a rich history before Jay got here, but history has to start someplace."