NBA

Nets settle for Outlaw move

Suffice it to say Travis Outlaw rarely gets mentioned in the same sentence as LeBron James. This, however, is one of those times.

The Nets, who had hoped to make a free-agent killing and land James, instead will have Outlaw as their starting small forward next season.

It might not sell tickets in Newark, but it is an upgrade over what the Nets dealt with last season, when five different players started at the small forward position. The Nets agreed in principle yesterday to a 5-year, $35-million free agent deal with Outlaw, who was traded from the Blazers to the Clippers in February.

And that should be just the first of the Nets’ moves. They could present an offer sheet to Charlotte restricted free agent Tyrus Thomas, perhaps as soon as today, or try the trade route for the 6-foot-10 forward. Thomas already has a $6.5 million qualifying offer from the Bobcats who can match any offer. The Nets, then, may try to work a trade for Thomas by surrendering some second-round draft picks, if necessary.

Outlaw was the first asset attained with their $31.9 million cap space the Nets had earmarked for James and a playmate.

“In our situation, we needed a starting three,” coach Avery Johnson explained. “Travis had some really good years in Portland. Now with Outlaw and Damion James we feel we have gained ground at that position after last year.”

And last season’s dismal, near-historically bad 12-70 campaign is something the Nets want to forget.

“We are the ‘New Nets,’ ” Johnson said. “With my theme of ‘erase and replace,’ we now have two very valuable, productive assets for the three position, two guys who are 25 years or younger.”

Outlaw was the 23rd pick in 2003, directly out of high school. The 6-foot-9, 207-pound forward has a career scoring average of 9.5 over seven seasons, largely spent as a backup in Portland. A career 44.1 percent shooter, he has athleticism that won’t quit, a good shot and great hands.

And one other positive?

“He always plays well against us,” Nets president Rod Thorn said. “He’s a young guy, 25, a tremendous athlete who we feel can contribute right away. He has gotten better and shoots it a lot better than he had.”

The Nets projected Outlaw as a $6-to-8 million per player so the $7M annually is in line with that. Yes, they probably overpaid, but the alternative was bringing in short-term or minimum-wage type guys who could guarantee more disaster.

The Nets were debating Outlaw and shooter deluxe Kyle Korver of Utah. At one point, sources said both were coming. Thorn, though, said it was a one-or-the-other deal and that Outlaw won out by age (Korver is 29) and athleticism.

The Nets are not done. There’s Thomas, who is the leading candidate for the four spot, a position the Nets want to solidify until the readiness of draft pick Derrick Favors, who Johnson called, “a perennial all-star in the future.”

The Nets have considered Udonis Haslem, but he probably will stay in Miami. Houston’s Luis Scola is another possibility, but he’s also restricted and the Rockets would likely match any offer. The Nets also need a backup point guard, and the Lakers’ Jordan Farmar is a top candidate. Charlotte’s Raymond Felton likely would not come as a backup.

fred.kerber@nypost.com