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Christie Had "Casual" Talks With NBA About New Team in Newark

NEWARK NJ - OCTOBER 23:  A general view of the Prudential Center prior to the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils on October 23 2010 at the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey.  (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEWARK NJ - OCTOBER 23: A general view of the Prudential Center prior to the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils on October 23 2010 at the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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If any NBA teams are ready to split their current surroundings for better deals elsewhere, Gov. Chris Christie would welcome them to New Jersey. Chris said he's spoken to David Stern about having a team in Newark once the Nets depart for Brooklyn. Stern has said the state had its chance with the Nets.

Describing his talks with Stern as "casual conversations", Christie said he is aware of Stern's position, but added, with a smile, "sometimes people don’t say things to me that are going to make me unhappy — you know how that works."

The Nets are last in home attendance but 17th in road attendance, a disparity that won't help state officials convince Stern to bring a team to "The Rock".  The Nets control NBA territorial rights to New Jersey but under their agreement with the NJSEA, will relinquish those rights once they move to Brooklyn and won't oppose a new team in New Jersey.