The Jets might not be done wheeling and dealing yet, with the NFL Draft now less than three days away.

Just a day after they traded star cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers for the No. 13 pick in the draft, the Jets might be looking to move back in a draft short on top talent but one that is relatively deep. The Jets’ original pick in the draft at No. 9 could be targeted by teams looking to move up, according to one team source familiar with the Jets’ thought process heading into the draft.

The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because he cannot publicly comment on personnel decisions.

“Now with the trade for Revis giving the Jets another pick in the top half of the first round, that ninth pick has emerged as somewhat of a luxury for the team,” the source said. “The Jets were always open to moving back later in the first round even before this trade. Now, they can do that and accumulate more picks.”

On Monday afternoon, reports surfaced the 49ers were looking to move up in the draft and the Jets, with two first-round picks, could be a possible trading partner, the source said. Certainly with the number of picks the 49ers have — as of now they have 13 selections in the draft — Jets general manager John Idzik could be interested.

“There isn’t an incredible difference in this draft between someone you can take in the Top 10 picks or a little later in the first round,” the source said. “The Jets can move back, accumulate a later pick or two and add immediate depth to their team rather than just one impact player. Remember, the Jets have three or four needs on either side of the ball. Trading back for more picks wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

Most mock drafts have the Jets going after an outside linebacker or a wide receiver with their first selection in the first round with some speculation that a quarterback could be targeted. The source said the Jets might go a surprising direction.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see a guard taken,” the source said. “There is a need there with Matt [Slauson] leaving for the Bears. Either [Chance] Warmack or Jonathan Cooper, who is also high on the draft board, would solidify that position. If they can protect Mark Sanchez and get the running game going, then a lot of other pieces fall into place. Essentially, taking a guard might mask the deficiencies on offense. It may not be a splash pick, but Idzik isn’t a splash GM.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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(UPDATE) Sunday, 5 p.m. —

ESPN is now reporting the deal is official and Darrelle Revis has been traded to the Buccaneers.

The cornerback has reportedly signed a six-year, $96 million deal with Tampa Bay, putting him just behind defensive end Mario Williams and his $100 million deal in Buffalo.

The Jets receive the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft as well as a conditional fourth-round pick in 2014. The latter pick will likely become a third-round pick, as Revis just has to be on the Tampa roster three days into next season in order for it to vest.

—————————————

The Jets’ extended negotiations with the Buccaneers over All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis appear to be nearing a conclusion.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report Revis was in Tampa undergoing a physical, which means the trade particulars had been agreed upon. The Bucs would surrender their top overall pick, No. 13, as well as a package of picks from later rounds.

Of course, the physical is no mere formality in the case of Revis. The corner tore his ACL in Week 3 last season against Miami and is still rehabbing. According to general manager John Idzik, who spoke last week, the rehab process is going well and they didn’t expect any complications.

Idzik was very cryptic about answering questions of whether the team would trade the defensive star, but it had been reported all offseason the team was searching for suitors. Tampa seemed to be the team with the most interest for months. The Jets wanted to get a deal done before this Thursday’s NFL Draft.

Revis is a free agent after this season and the team did not appear interested in signing him to a long-term contract. He was reportedly looking for a deal in the neighborhood of $100 million — similar to the one signed by Buffalo defensive end Mario Williams last offseason.

Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.

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The Marian Gaborik era has come to an end.

The Rangers traded Gaborik, Steven Delisle and Blake Parlett to the Blue Jackets Wednesday afternoon for forwards Derek Dorsett and Derick Brassard, defenseman John Moore and a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft.

“Got four pieces,” director of player personnel Gordie Clark told Metro in a phone conversation after the deadline passed. “It’s really four pieces.”

Clark stressed the importance of the sixth-round pick as the Rangers selected Carl Hagelin and prospect forward Jesper Fast in the sixth rounds of the 2007 and 2010 drafts.

Yesterday’s blockbuster was the second trade the Rangers made in as many days. The Rangers acquired left wing Ryane Clowe from the Sharks for 2013 second- and third-round picks and a conditional pick in 2014 Tuesday night. Clowe played in Wednesday night’s Garden match against the Penguins.

The acquisition of Dorsett, Brassard and Moore add depth, something the Rangers have lacked this season. Dorsett, 26, has 727 penalty minutes in 280 games. He suffered a fractured clavicle, but Clark told Metro he thought Dorsett could return before the end of the season.

Brassard, the sixth-overall pick in the 2006 Draft, has recorded 169 points in 309 games. Selected 21st overall in the 2009 draft, Moore has scored eight points in 86 NHL games.

“Each of them fit into a position we need,” Clark said. “Dorsett [is an] old-school grinder, hard to play against. [Brassard is a] Top-2 center. John might have been one of the best skating defenseman in the draft. [He] skates like Paul Coffey.”

The deal also gives the Rangers $14.8 million in cap room, which is vital as the restricted free agent deals signed by Hagelin, Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh are up this summer. All should expect significant raises.

Gaborik leaves New York having scored 114 goals and 229 points in 255 regular season games. He has totaled 333 goals and 666 points in 757 regular season games with Minnesota and New York.

He scored 42 goals in 2009-10 and finished last season with 41 goals. But he had fallen off this season, totaling just nine goals and 19 points while being shuttled throughout the lineup.

“When somebody wants you and somebody tries to trade you, it’s good somebody wants you on the team,” Gaborik told TSN’s James Duthie during the Canadian network’s TradeCentre broadcast.

When asked by Duthie why the Rangers were struggling this year, Gaborik said, “I don’t know. We weren’t playing consistently enough,” and specifically noted the 25th-ranked power play. “There’s a few factors there.”

Local deals

» The Devils acquired forward Steve Sullivan from the Phoenix Coyotes for a seventh-round pick in June’s draft.

» The Islanders did not make a deal at the deadline.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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In five of the last six NFL drafts, the Jets moved up at least once to select a player they coveted. This time around, the Jets might be adopting an entirely different philosophy.

A league source told Metro New York that the Jets are eying options that would see them trade back in the first round, looking to acquire more picks rather than package together a deal to move up in the draft. After a 6-10 season where they missed the playoffs for a second straight year, the Jets have several holes to fill and with a tight salary cap situation would benefit from an infusion of young, cheap talent.

“The Jets have been doing their due diligence on the pick and seem very open to moving out of No. 9,” a league source with knowledge of the situation told Metro. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to comment on personnel situations. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone at that spot in the draft who can necessarily help them any more than later in the round. This isn’t a top-heavy draft, especially in the first round, but it is relatively deep. The Jets seem open to the idea of moving out.”

The source said, to his knowledge, the Jets have not actively looked at moving up in the first round, as they most recently did in 2009 when they moved up from the No. 17 to the No. 5 spot in a trade with the Buccaneers to select Mark Sanchez. Given new general manager John Idzik’s “competition” mantra, he might be looking to add numbers and talent, a break from recent draft philosophy.

The source also said the Jets rate several players very highly who could fall late in the first round or perhaps in the second round, making a move out from No. 9 more attractive.

Only one starter at linebacker is back and all three of their top safeties could depart. In addition, help is needed at wide receiver, running back and perhaps two offensive line starters will need to be replaced.

“There isn’t just a lack of talent in some key areas on this team — there is a lack of depth too. This team can address their needs later on in the first round and get an extra pick or two,” the source said. “Some team will covet being able to draft ninth. The Jets will be a willing trade partner and seem to be thinking that way. It doesn’t hurt that some of the players they like will be there later on too.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for all your offseason news.

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According to men who have been in a similar position to Jets general manager John Idzik, trading away star cornerback Darrelle Revis would involve a fundamental shift for the franchise and signal the start of a rebuilding era. But, they say, it might be the right thing to do.

Over the past six weeks, reports have filtered in every few days linking Revis to any number of NFL teams, all citing the Jets’ interest in trading away the game’s top cornerback. Revis, who has an opt-out clause after this season, is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2014 and the Jets might not be able to-resign him due to salary cap constraints. In short, the Jets might need to maximize this asset now.

Phil Savage was the general manager of the Cleveland Browns from 2005-08 and he understands the dynamics in play now for Idzik. If the Jets trade Revis, they’re going from a win-now mentality to rebuilding their roster without its star.

“Well, how much bang for your buck are you getting for the first rounder and the other picks? When you’re talking about these kind of trades and use words like rebuilding — when in reality, Rex Ryan, the coach, is in a situation where he needs to win this year,” Savage told Metro. “That’s an internal situation that they need to decide is if Darrelle Revis is part of their winning today and can he be a part of winning tomorrow? Are they willing to sacrifice a really good player to begin another chapter?”

Therein lies the rub for Jets fans, as Revis was drafted by the team in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career with the team. While fans might want to see him retire as a Jet, that might be impossible given the long-term contracts already doled out to D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold, Santonio Holmes and David Harris, among others.

Revis might just be a casualty of a numbers crunch.

It might just come down to the Jets wanting to recoup some value for Revis rather than letting him walk for nothing next year. One AFC executive told Metro the internet banter about the Jets getting multiple first-round picks this year and next year “is a complete pipe dream with no basis in reality.” The executive spoke on the condition of anonymity because he isn’t allowed to comment publicly on personnel moves for other teams.

It is a point Savage concurred with, especially given the season-ending knee injury Revis suffered last year in Week 3.

“I think in this scenario that you think you’re going to get two No. 1 [picks] is probably unreasonable because of the injury and the fact that he did miss most of last year. But to think you’re going to get a first rounder — depending on where it is — are you going to get Kansas City’s first pick in the draft? I seriously would doubt that,” Savage said. “Maybe the No. 14 pick or the No. 24 plus something next year that might elevate from the third round to the second or a second rounder that would increase in value some way, that’s probably where I think this will fall.”

The Jets might not be moving in on a trade anytime soon. The AFC executive painted a picture of a Jets team cautiously doing its homework under Idzik and not signaling a rush to make a move. Savage cautioned that draft picks aren’t necessarily a sure thing, saying, “To me, a bird in hand is worth more than two in the bush. Darrelle Revis is a proven, top-flite, proven corner. They just don’t grow on trees.”

They may be left with no alternatives, however, and seem to be exploring their options. The AFC executive squashed a recent report that said three teams have emerged as favorites for Revis. According to the chatter he’s hearing, that isn’t the case and the Jets aren’t that far along in the process.

“I think it is fair to characterize the Jets right now are doing their due diligence, just like any other team would in that situation,” the executive said. “But to say that a deal is quickly forthcoming, from everything I’ve seen, is not accurate. But given the way Revis has handled contract situations in the past, it is likely that the Jets are being prudent in exploring their options. ”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

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Former Colts general manager Bill Polian is among those perplexed by how the Darrelle Revis situation will pan out.

Recent reports have linked Revis as trade bait for the Jets, especially since he is able to opt out of his contract after this season and could become a free agent. Revis has had lengthy holdouts twice in his career to resolve contract disputes and the Jets, who are tight against the salary cap and could use more draft picks to restock a team lacking in depth and talent, might be tempted to deal their best player.

In a conference call with the media, the now-ESPN analyst sees issues with the Jets lining up a deal for Revis. The major stumbling block being his recovery from a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 — something that might scare away suitors, or at the very least bring down his value.

“Well, I can’t predict either one. I can tell you that as of now … all general managers deal with facts and not sound bites or noise. The fact is he’s an injured player who has not proven yet that he is what he was before he got hurt. So that’s point A,” Polian said on the call. “Point B is that he is entering the season prior to his free agency and he cannot be tagged so he either reaches a long-term agreement with the club, or he becomes a free agent. Those are the facts. How you balance them is the difficult part.”

On Monday, in a conference call with Jets season ticket holders, general manager John Idzik didn’t exactly give a ringing endorsement to a future for Revis on the Jets. While he said that “we’re very, very happy to have him as a New York Jet,” Idzik wouldn’t commit to a long-term future between the franchise and a player considered the best cornerback in the league.

Polian sees the health issue of Revis creating a quagmire when deciding to sign or trade the player.

“How can you negotiate when you don’t know what the player is likely to be? You can surmise, but you don’t know until he gets on the field. To me, that’s a very important issue. I presume that if they have an intention to keep him at some point they’ll enter into the negotiations. But the timing of that depends entirely on what they find out vis a vis the medical,” Polian said.

“And, again, as I stated just a minute ago, that’s something that none of us in the media business know. The club is the repository of that information. That is what is going to drive the decision. I can’t predict what’s going to happen, but I can tell you what’s going to drive the decision, and that’s the medical.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer for all your offseason news.

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Nets general manager Billy King may want to make a notable trade but if he was placing odds on it, the chances of a major name coming to Brooklyn before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline seem slim.

“We could, then we could not,” King said to reporters at the morning shootaround on Tuesday. “I would put the likelihood of us doing a deal at 10 percent.”

In the buildup to the deadline, the Nets have mostly been linked to Atlanta power forward Josh Smith, who is due to become an unrestricted free agent and unlikely to return to Atlanta after the season.

Other names linked to the Nets include Charlotte reserve shooting guard Ben Gordon and Utah power forward Paul Millsap. Of course the name Dwight Howard has also been thrown into the rumor discussion, especially after the Nets failed pursuit of him last year.

Adding someone notable could prove costly in terms of the luxury tax for the Nets. After King shelled out $330 million last summer, the payroll currently sits at $83.5 million, putting them $13.5 million over the salary cap.

Ownership has stated anything less than a trip to the Eastern Conference finals will not be considered a successful season and the lone assets the team has in a trade are two players whose play has diminished after last season in Kris Humphries and Marshon Brooks.

“We are at a point now where I think this group has got to play together more than shaking it up and bringing in a bunch of pieces,” King said. “The roster itself is not perfect but I think it’s a roster that can win and it’s won 31 games.”

Carlesimo befuddled by Williams criticism

Before last night’s game, interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo spent a few minutes defending point guard Deron Williams from the various criticism he has received this year despite his 16.7 points per game and 41.3 percent shooting not being as effective as past seasons.

“We just need him to be Deron Williams,” Carlesimo said. “Everybody else has problems with Deron. I don’t have any problems with Deron Williams. I love Deron Williams and he’s a great player. I’m a little bit befuddled at everything that’s being made. He’s a pretty good player. I don’t have the problem with him that everybody else has or seems to have. I don’t know what everyone else is looking at.”

The most recent criticism came from president of USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo. Colangelo told the New York Daily News at All-Star Weekend in Houston that Williams was “not in the best of shape” for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Williams returned Tuesday night after missing two games with inflammation in both ankles and Carlesimo cited the 31 wins the Nets had at the All-Star break in his defense of his franchise player.

“Again you can look at numbers and make numbers say whatever they want,” Carlesimo said. “I don’t know what the stats are. We’ve had more wins in a bunch of years than this franchise has had in a bunch of years at the All-Star break. We’re playing in a new building and with new teammates.

“I think from the outside world people will say things are OK in Brooklyn and Deron has a lot to do with that. Deron’s basically been the single most important factor in transforming the franchise, so honestly I don’t understand it.”

Follow Nets beat writer Larry Fleisher on Twitter @LarryFleisher.

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The Knicks got back to work Tuesday, expecting to stay in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while also expecting to see the same players that practiced to remain a part of the team when the trade deadline passes Thursday.

Head coach Mike Woodson saw his aging team limp into the All-Star break on a 1-3 skid, but as Tuesday’s session brought back forwards Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby — albeit on a limited basis — Woodson said he believes what he had on the floor for Tuesday’s workout will be “the same guys” who’ll fight for Atlantic Division and conference supremacy going forward.

“I don’t think we have anything working,” Woodson said about the many floating trade rumors involving the Knicks. “You always talk, but we like the makeup of our team.”

Woodson also likes the makeup of his starting five, regardless if Jason Kidd seemingly ran out of gas down the stretch before the break, and shooting guard Iman Shumpert struggled while playing out of position as the starting small forward.

Tuesday was the first time all season all 15 guys on the roster worked out together. The sightings of Wallace and Camby were particularly encouraging, specifically since both forwards offer the type of defensive flexibility Woodson craves.

The Knicks (32-18) have tailed off for an extended period since starting 18-5. And without the services of the 6-foot-11 Wallace, they’ve gone 15-13 since he last played played on Dec. 13. Wallace didn’t practice fully with the team — nor talk to the media following practice — instead choosing to get his foot fitted with protective footwear. But grumpy disposition aside, his teammates were happy to see him back in the mix — although no one knows for sure when he’ll actually return to game action.

Center Tyson Chandler said that he feels with guys like Wallace and Camby back in the mix, the Knicks’ defense will get back to its stingy ways.

“We have to get back on the same page throughout entire games and throughout entire streaks,” Chandler said. “We’ve shown that we can play with the best, especially in spurts. But in order to be the best, it can’t be spurts. It has to be full-time. … Definitely getting those guys back will help.”

These next few days leading up to the trade deadline will be critical for the Knicks, especially for Wallace. He may be one of Woodson’s favorites, but should Wallace’s stress reaction worsen into a stress fracture, he’ll be of no good to the Knicks. These next few workouts will be crucial, because if Wallace’s foot doesn’t appear to be getting better, the rumors of adding free agents like Kenyon Martin or Louis Amundson will get louder — and make Wallace expendable.

Chandler basically scoffed when asked if distractions like rumors of trading Shumpert or jettisoning Wallace will harm the team’s renewed focus, saying the veteran-laden team knows what it has to do to remain a title contender.

“You’re going to have your ups and downs,” Chandler said. “What you have to do is take a deep breath and understand ultimately what the goal is — to keep your eyes on [the title hopes] and never stray from it.”

Knicks notes

» The Knicks better get back on track quickly, because the second-half schedule isn’t very kind to them. New York has 19 games against teams with winning records, including two each against the Heat and Thunder. And while they’re actually 2-0 against the Heat, Miami is looking like a team that’s starting to peak. The Knicks also face the challenge of having only 14 of its remaining 32 games at home, so they can no longer afford to drop games to inferior teams like they did in Washington before the break.

Follow Knicks beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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For a team that seems to talk constantly, they apparently haven’t given Darrelle Revis the answers he wants.

The star cornerback conducted an interview with NFL Network Monday night in which he said he was frustrated with the lack of answers he’s received from the team in the wake of trade rumors.

“I know it’s a business; just call me, don’t have it lingering out there,” Revis told the network. “I need answers and I’m not getting any. Just the fact that that was put out there instead of contacting your best player on the team. If that’s how you want to do business, then that’s fine.”

Revis is still rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 against the Dolphins. He is expected to be ready for training camp in the fall. NFL Network is documenting Revis’s return from injury for a TV special.

The team hasn’t expressly said they are interested in trading the former All-Pro, but rumors have floated since the season ended with a disappointing 6-10 record. Revis has just one year remaining on his contract at a base salary of $13.77 million. The team is stuck in the position of debating whether they want to extend a player coming off a major injury or trade him in order to rebuild a floundering franchise.

“If I do get traded I’m not going to sit here and pout and cry,” Revis said in the interview. “But I’ve told them numerous times that I want to be here, so it’s up to them and management what they want to do.”

New general manager John Idzik wouldn’t answer the question of whether the team would explore trading Revis at his introductory press conference, saying it was too soon for such speculation. Idzik has reportedly contacted Revis since the interview was recorded Monday morning.

The Jets are already dealing with salary cap issues. As previously reported by Metro, they will release veterans Bart Scott and Calvin Pace in order to free up some money. They will likely have to release more players as well. Revis is reportedly looking for a contract in the neighborhood of defensive end Mario Williams’s six-year, $96 million deal the Bills gave him last offseason. That contract was the richest ever given to a defensive player.

Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.

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The Knicks have battled inconsistencies for months now, despite their impressive record atop the Atlantic Division, so it’s natural to think that a changeup may be needed. Just don’t count on Iman Shumpert being moved as a way to shake up things.

Following a report over the weekend that the Suns were inquiring about a trade scenario involving Shumpert, Knicks head coach Mike Woodson had to shoot down the rumors — with a caveat.

“Iman’s a big part of what we do [and] I’ve got a lot of faith in Iman. This organization does, too. We’ll get him where he needs to be, [but] it’s going to take a little time. He’s been kind of on a little roller-coaster ride, so my job is to continue to show him some love and assure him he’s a part of what we do,” Woodson said, adding the catch. “If owners came to me and said we have to do a deal, then you do the deal. [But] as I told my daughter [who is friends with Shumpert from their Georgia Tech days], ‘Iman’s going to be right here with me.’”

Shumpert said he’s not really thinking about the rumors, noting it’s part of the business. The swingman, who’s played only 12 games this season after missing the first two months following rehab on his torn left ACL, added Woodson immediately came to him once the story broke and reassured him.

“He said don’t worry about it,” Shumpert said. “Rumors are rumors.”

Carmelo Anthony, who may have as much power as any player within the organization, nearly guaranteed that his buddy is safe from the trading block, saying Shumpert “isn’t going nowhere … He doesn’t have to worry about that. The Knicks shouldn’t even be in trade talks.”

Perhaps the Suns thought they could get Shumpert on the cheap, considering his diminished stats and knee recovery. But more pressing than trying to get a bargain, the Suns have reportedly been kicking themselves since they passed on Shumpert in the 2011 NBA Draft and are trying to correct a wrong. They even went as far as to push the Knicks to include him in any sign-and-trade scenarios that were discussed for Steve Nash in July. And in the past week, the Suns had sent scouts to Knicks games to see the object of their affection.

Phoenix reportedly offered veteran swingman Jared Dudley and possibly a first-round pick for Shumpert. Dudley has three years and $12.8 million left on his contract and is averaging 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds this season.

And while Dudley is a serviceable player, who by all accounts is a great teammate, a good 3-point shooter (39 percent) and a willing defender, the trade “doesn’t make sense” on New York’s end, noted a Knicks official. Woodson and his staff have always held to their beliefs that Shumpert could be a special player once he’s 100-percent recovered. The second-year player is averaging only 5.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 18.9, while shooting a paltry 34.3 percent from the field, but Shumpert has started all 12 games since his return from the knee injury and is getting better, Woodson said.

The Knicks’ official said Shumpert’s real value is his youth, energy, athleticism and ability to defend multiple wing positions — even if the Knicks are currently struggling to defend opposing wing players. Shumpert’s contract is also a plus for the Knicks. He’s set to make $1.6 million this season, $1.7 million next season and $2.6 million in 2014-15. Those cheap numbers — relative to the NBA’s market value — make Shumpert real valuable to the Knicks.

Woodson said once his shooting guard completely recovers, the real value will be on the defensive end.

“I’m happy as [heck] to have him back on the floor. He brings us so much energy, and his teammates feed off of him,” Woodson said. “The thing about Rook is that he can defend four positions, can play the 1 [point guard] or the 2 [shooting guard], and he can handle the basketball, which will relieve [Jason] Kidd and Raymond [Felton] of always handling it so much. … It’s just nice to have him back.”

Follow Knicks beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.

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Jets fans will have to live with Tim Tebow on their roster for at least a little longer than they might like.

ESPN reports the team will not release Tebow prior to the beginning of the trade window on March 12, and will hope to unload him after that day. The problem for the Jets is that there doesn’t appear to be much of a trade market for the quarter-back. New Jaguars GM David Caldwell said last month that he “can’t imagine a scenario” in which his team would trade for Tebow.

He would likely command only a mid- to late-round draft pick. If released, the cap hit would be about $3 million.

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Well, if you’re asking the question today, you can pretty much forget about it. The little guys (that’s us) won’t be riding the social network IPO cash train.

That’s because, at a target price range of $34-$38 a share, the big wig investment banks that are underwriting the IPO get the first crack. Their high profile (and extremely rich clients) get dibs on the shares.

Next (and last) in line come retail investors. E-Trade, TDAmeritrade and Charles Schwab will have some shares to sell, but even those opportunities are reserved for their top-notch clients, as explained by the LA Times.

Think you might just be top-notch? According to TDAmeritrade’s policies, any client looking to bid on any IPO must have an account worth $250,000 or have made at least 30 trades in the last three months. The average client, however, has an account worth about $67,400 and only makes an average of two trades per month. Charles Schwab customers face similar restrictions.

While E-Trade doesn’t set guidelines like that in writing, it does alert its interested clients they must undergo a “subjective review” of their accounts and trading history. That likely means, in fewer words, that only the biggest and best clients will get a shot (at a minimum order of 50 shares, by the way).

Before you get too bummed out about missing the Facebook gravy train, some financial experts are saying it’s probably a good thing not to buy shares. A Forbes article claims GM’s recent decision to pull advertising from Facebook is just the first indication that the social network is going to suffer in the ad department. Facebook is also facing challenges turning its mobile traffic into dollars — another bad sign.  There’s plenty of debate over whether the company has the same potential as, say, Google or Amazon for long-term growth.

If you’re still set on buying shares, it might just take some patience. Facebook has already increased its initial IPO offer by 25 percent after strong demand. There are also companies, such as OneShare and Give A Share, that are poised to offer single shares, primarily for novelty purposes.

And if you don’t emerge as an stockholder of Facebook, at least you don’t have to worry about its lavish spending on employee perks and beautiful work environments, as the Wall Street Journal illustrates in this slideshow.

The post Can I get into Facebook IPO? Should I buy Facebook stock? appeared first on Metro.us.

That, combined with the exorbitant price for Ubaldo Jimenez and others, meant a very quiet trade deadline.

It is also the reason nobody should be surprised that a deal was not consummated by GM Brian Cashman.

“My reaction to not making a trade is: I didn’t expect one,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I didn’t foresee one coming. As I’ve said, I worry about the guys in the room, and they’ve done a great job.”

The Yankees felt their pitching staff — which has the AL’s third-best ERA —did not need Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda (who wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause anyway) or the Astros’ Wandy Rodriguez.
Cashman explored those options, but his decision was aided by the performances of Garcia, a 10-game winner with a 3.22 ERA and Colon, with eight wins and a 3.30 ERA.

Jimenez wound up in Cleveland because the Yankees were unwilling to meet Colorado’s “Herschel Walker”-like asking price of catcher Jesus Montero and pitchers Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos — and possibly Ivan Nova.

“I know it feels like we’re in dire straits, but the reality is: If you look at what these guys are doing and what collectively they’re all doing, it’s pretty good,” Cashman said. “We’ve got a lot of depth, and we have lot of different ways to go.”

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If you haven’t … the Yankees are inquiring as to the availability of Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

There’s no question the Yankees could use another starter — I’m giving up on Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia — but Jimenez isn’t the guy to get. It’s not just because his fastball velocity is receding faster than Mariano Rivera’s hairline (though it is). It’s not just because his wins above replacement (WAR) has steadily declined in each of the past three years (though it has). And it’s not just because he’s pitching to an above 4.00 ERA in the NL (though, again, he is).

It’s because the Yankees would have to mortgage the future to get him The Rockies are reportedly asking for Jesus Montero, Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos and Ivan Nova.

Pause.

Pause.

Let that sink in.

If you’re not familiar with the prospects in the Yankees’ system, you are now. THOSE ARE THE PROSPECTS IN THE YANKEES SYSTEM.

Now, I realize you ask for the moon and expect to get something less. That’s how bartering works. But the Yankees can’t afford to give up two young starting pitchers. You buy hitters and you develop pitching.

The Yankees could probably replace Montero in other words. Scouts say he’s not even a catcher anyway. (The only prospect the Rockies didn’t ask for, Austin Romine, can catch.)

But you simply can’t give up both Betances and Banuelos.

Next year, the Yankees have two pitchers definitely under contract — A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes. Remember, CC Sabathia has an opt out clause in his contract and he will probably exercise it. He will also probably return — for more money.

And that’s the point. Jimenez has a reasonable contract for the next two years ($4.2M in 2012, $5.75M in 2013) and a third year that would be voided if he’s traded. But then you remember those negatives at the top of this column. Where do you go in two years?

So you just put yourself in the exact same position down the road. But will you have replaced your prospects? Probably not.

And you don’t want to be the team trying to trade for Manny Banuelos in five years.

Follow Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.

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