Jason Kidd to Sacramento?

[Franklinnoble]

http://nypost.com/sports/nets/36830.htm

JASON TO KINGS
TALK IN THE AIR

By FRED KERBER
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June 18, 2003 -- NET NOTES

The off-season officially has begun for the Nets. It wasted very little time getting very interesting.

Assistant coach Eddie Jordan interviewed for a second time with the Sixers yesterday and is scheduled to interview today in Washington for the Wizards' head coaching job. Jordan could receive an offer by the end of the week from one of the teams.

Even more interesting, but strictly in the stage of rumor, is a report floating around concerning Jason Kidd and a potential sign-and-trade with Sacramento.

Kidd, who all along said the Nets were his first choice in free agency, seemed to back off during the Finals and after the Nets were beaten by the Spurs, saying he would look at all options and it would take time for a decision. Now, there are whispers of a sign-and-trade of Kidd for Mike Bibby and Hedo Turkoglu.

Nets team president Rod Thorn is hopeful Kidd stays put.

"We've got a good team. Obviously Jason is the catalyst and he makes it go. Hopefully he'll want to stay here and everything will work out," Thorn said.

Thorn said the first order of business for the Nets is the NBA Draft a week from tomorrow. What are the Nets looking for?

"It depends," Thorn said, "because at [pick] 22, we don't know who will be there. It could be a point guard, we might get an athletic small forward. Maybe we'll look at two guards."

* The Nets' draft workouts continue today. Among those expected in this week are a pair of 6-10 high school gems, Kendrick Perkins of Texas and Blair Academy's (Blairstown, N.J.) Charlie Villanueva . . . Ed Stefanski, Nets director of scouting, has another interview with the Blazers this week. Portland is expected to name Steve Patterson president, and Stefanski could be offered the GM job.

The Nets' big man inside eventually could be last year's first-round pick, Nenad Krstic. But when? There could be a snag getting him here for next season. "It's up in the air," Thorn said. "We thought he was coming, but once they [Partizan Belgrade] lost Milos Vujanic, the guy the Knicks have, they may want him to stay another year," Thorn said.

* Thorn on contract-extension talks with Byron Scott, who would enter his final contract year next season but has been roundly criticized for his Finals coaching, particularly in Game 6: "That is America; it's a 'What have you done for me lately?' situation. With Byron, you have to look at the body of work. We went to the Finals two straight years after winning 26 games."

[Franklinnoble]

Can you imagine Kidd's wife and Doug Christie's wife courtside for every Kings home game?

[fantastic flying froggies]

Read in a french sports newspaper that he might be headed to the Spurs ???

Now that would be ironic, miss Alanis...

[fantastic flying froggies]

Dola -
but then again, what does a FRENCH sports newspaper know about the NBA ?

[MrBug708]

Good, Lakers will take Mike Bibby.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by MrBug708
Good, Lakers will take Mike Bibby.

How do you figure? The rumored deal is a sign-and-trade... Kidd for Bibby and Hedo...

I think it's a risky deal for the Kings... first, Sacramento gives up two young and promising players. Kidd is a lot older, has shown a tendency to choke in big games, and his domestic problems are what ultimately got him traded out of Phoenix. He's a great player, but he's not going to get any better... and he could get a lot worse. Plus, his contract would be enormous... and they're already paying Webber a shitload of money. They'd have a huge luxury tax for the next several years.

For the Nets, it's a no-brainer - they get two players instead of just letting Kidd go for absolutely nothing.

For Kidd, it's a good deal, because he gets to play with a great contender not far from his home town.

[cthomer5000]

this would be a great deal for the Nets, lousy deal for the Kings