Will Nets fans mourn the return of Alonzo?

With rumors swirling throughout the NBA about the possible return of Alonzo Mourning, many questions remain unanswered.

The New Jersey Nets center, who appeared in just 12 games last season, will attend training camp following a kidney transplant earlier this year.

Mourning, who suffers from a rare kidney condition, was traded from the Miami Heat to the Nets last year with hope that his kidney could be treated and he could revive his career.

The Nets, hopeful that Mourning would in fact remain healthy, signed him to a four-year contract before his kidney ailment disrupted his season.

Despite his questionable health, Mourning is confident he can play again. However, there are still doubts among Nets fans.

Can a 34-year old veteran revive his career? Can Mourning prove any assistance to a trade depleted lineup? Are the Nets better off if Mourning doesn't play this season? Can Mourning's new kidney withstand the elbows it will face during the season?

Mourning may be a different player than he was eight years ago, but the Nets are keeping their fingers crossed.

If a comeback by Mourning is successful, however, the Nets could gain one of two things: an inside presence formerly lacking or increased trade bait. Both would provide the Nets with the power needed to potentially rebuild their team.

Lacking a powerful big man has proved to be a weak spot for the Nets.

Jason Collins, a former Stanford center has soft hands and no power. Mourning's muscle alone makes him a top contender for the position should he be able to play. But, the dominance that once made him a league leader in rebounds may have faded with his age.

With the off-season loss of the dominant Kenyon Martin, the Nets are looking for a boost.

Mourning, a close friend of all-star point guard Jason Kidd, may be a key point in convincing Kidd that the Nets do have the potential for success. Kidd was rumored to have demanded a trade after he was unhappy with the Nets' inability to retain Martin. A successful comeback by Mourning may be the medicine Kidd needs to keep him from pulling a Shaq.

Questions also have arisen regarding how Mourning's new kidney will react to the physical contact he will encounter in the lane. Although Mourning is in extremely good shape, any patient recuperating from a kidney transplant faces a greater potential for fatigue. Furthermore, Mourning's body could still reject his new kidney.

But, there have been comebacks before.

Sean Elliot, returned successfully from a kidney transplant to play during the 1999-2000 season, although he never attained the level of success he had achieved prior to the transplant.

Rod Thorn, the Nets CEO, must have his regrets about acquiring Mourning originally. Those regrets could be exacerbated should Mourning's return allow him to play more than four games (assuming he lacks the strength he once had).

If Mourning is unable to appear in more than four games, the Nets will be eligible to drop the remaining two years of his salary and be eligible for an injury exception. This could provide the Nets with the money to acquire a young, healthy center whose body can withstand the wear and tear of a long season.

And who knows, that young healthy center could turn out to be the next Alonzo Mourning.