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.

l 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.

“This is basically the same team with a better bench than last season, so there’s no reason we can’t get turned around and start playing consistently. But we need to do it.”

The problem is, the Nets will play better. A nagging injury to Richard Jefferson’s ankle can be blamed for some of their struggles.

Eventually, Jefferson will recover, 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.

Vince Carter is a candidate for the NBA's next blockbuster trade.

So why let it happen again? Is Thorn really convinced that Marcus Williams, Eddie House and an unsuspended Cliff Robinson will be enough to put the Nets over the top this season?

It’s clear Carter can’t be the front man on a team with championship aspirations. So with his salary potentially coming off the books at the end of this season (he is hoping to get a contract extension), Thorn might as well try another option while outside teams still consider Carter an attractive option.

It might be difficult to swallow trading 26 points a game, but it will be a lot easier to accept if the Nets can manage a quality, athletic big guy in return and realize how much better he will vibe with Kidd and Jefferson.

l 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.

Stephon Marbury is also a candidate for the NBA's next blockbuster trade.

“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.”

That only strengthens the idea that Bibby and Artest are at odds. And never mind the true All-Star in the whole deal actually is shooting guard Kevin Martin.

All of this should point to Bibby heading elsewhere.

l 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.

Outside of New York, have you heard Marbury giving any opinion on the brawl, the suspensions or the actions of his coach?

The player at the point of one the most popular teams in the league in the biggest market should have more of a presence.

Instead, the point guard is sulking because the fans in Madison Square Garden are booing him and he’s no longer getting the offensive opportunities he used to.

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.