ORLANDO – Yes, they called about Shaquille O’Neal and Shawn Marion. But so many of the Nets’ trade talks these days lack substance. They have talked to every team in the league and as one team insider put it, “everybody’s name comes up.” Even O’Neal’s and Marion’s.

“We weren’t in the mix,” team president Rod Thorn said, admitting O’Neal didn’t loom as a good fit. “What was Shaq going to do for us, for instance? Absolutely nothing. He wouldn’t want to play for us to begin with.”

Thorn, who would not confirm if the Nets spoke to the Heat and Suns (but they did), noted the Nets had a hard time formulating proposals for the superstars.

“[Pau] Gasol, they were looking for expiring contracts, period . . . We don’t have one of those,” Thorn said. “We didn’t have Al Jefferson or [Andrew] Bynum, one of the key players Minnesota was looking for [in the Kevin Garnett trade]. You got to have what a team’s looking for.”

With little happening on the Jason Kidd front, Thorn said he would not be disappointed if nothing happened. His only goal: “To try and improve our team. That would be our motivation. Period.”

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Thorn and Lawrence Frank supported Vince Carter after Lakers coach Phil Jackson suggested Carter plays with the fire of a thunderstorm (“Carter seems to be just playing right now, not playing with that fire,” Jackson said).

Nets brass stressed Carter only now is getting full health from his ankle injury. Thorn did not rule out summer surgery.

From the Knicks’ side, it was learned the Knicks proposed a deal involving Stephon Marbury for Kidd. Nets said no.

Stromile Swift remained on inactive list a second straight game.