http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/kittles_040729.html The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired veteran shooting guard Kerry Kittles from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for a future second round draft pick. Kittles, who led New Jersey to consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, holds career averages of 14.3 points and 2.6 assists per game during his eight year career. “We are very pleased to announce the addition of Kerry Kittles, who is a talented player with a great work ethic,” said Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor. “Kerry plays hard on both ends of the floor and has a great feel for the game. He is also a veteran player who brings a tremendous amount of playoff experience to our roster.” Drafted by New Jersey with eighth overall selection in the 1996 NBA Draft, Kittles played in all 82 regular season games for the third time in his career last season and averaged 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Kittles was also named the Atlantic Division Winner for the 2003-04 NBA Sportsmanship Award, a distinction also bestowed on Clippers forward Elton Brand, who was the recipient of the Pacific Division Award. “Our objective all along has been to add talented players and we are very pleased with the acquisition of Kerry Kittles, who is the perfect fit for our team,” said Clippers Head Coach Mike Dunleavy. “Kerry is a terrific defender, ball-handler and perimeter shooter who will enhance our team chemistry.” Kittles, who shares the Nets franchise record with 54 playoff games played, has career playoff averages of 12.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. E-mail this story
These 2 moves give the Rockets more to worry about next season... This is really frustrating, seeing everyone else in the West making moveS, while the Rockets make the 1st and take a vacation. I'm not the only worried one am I?
But the TE + 2nd rounder now looks better. Of course I doubt Les will want to take on a big contract if we can't move some of our deadweight out.
if this means Phoenix doesn't get Dampier then that is good news for the Rockets hopefully both Dampier and Magloire go to the Eastern Conference as both gave Yao problems last year
That's true, but talent is talent and those 2 teams are adding more of it while the Rockets are standing still. Although, the Clippers probably lost more by shipping Eli to Charlotte and Richardson going to Phoenix while adding only Kittles.
the clippers add kittles but probably lose richardson and did lose ely and drobjnak (pretend i spelled it right) and i wanna say they also traded wilcox to someone but maybe i made that up. plus, they're the clippers. now, if the nets just give away kidd for practically nothing i can sit back and enjoy jefferson being on a terrible team.
I'm surprised the Clips couldn't get a first rounder out of that trade, personally. Nets have been desparate to dump Kittles. In fact, if this move happened 3 weeks ago (they've been working this deal for at least that long), Martin would still be a Net. Now, all this does is get NJN under the lux tax threshold (per Ratners orders). They're going to bring in Ron Mercer to take Kittles place, which isn't much improvement - especially on D. Kidd has to be burning the phone lines to his agent and Rod Thorn by now. Evan
Wilcox is still there, you're probably talking about the rumor that had him going to New Jersey. Still bitter about the Eddie Griffin trade?
Ron Mercer? I almost threw up... Those dudes are wasting Kidd's best years! How can the best PG since Magic, BY FAR the best at that, be allowed to play his few remaining GOOD years without a REAL opportunity to win a ring? They need to get him out of there, maybe to Indiana? Detroit? Just keep him in the East...
I wonder if Jefferson is available to someone who's willing to take on the remaining year on Mutombo's contract? (though, come to think of it, you're probably not allowed to do that)
Mutombo's contract was bought out. It will count against NJ's salary cap this year and come off the books next year, and they can't trade his buy-out money. What they need to get rid of is Zo's contract. It still has a few years left and will count against their cap (I think that it will only count partially after two years but I'm not sure about this). However, I don't think that they have any intention of trading RJ even if someone's willing to take on Zo's contract. Jason Kidd is certainly available now, but he's getting old and has bad knees. His huge contract will make people think before they trade for him. If I were Kidd I'd ask my agent to find me a feasible trade ASAP. NJ obviously is not building to win right now. The Nets currently are looking at a 15+ million dollars cap room for next summer, but it could dissapear after they resign Jefferson. They could get more cap room if they trade Kidd for expiring contracts.
Best deal right now would be Kidd and Aaron Williams to Portland for Stoudamire and a throw in. Would Portland do it though? Who do they want to spend their money on next year? Anyone better than Kidd? Any backups at better value than Aaron Williams? Ratliff/Williams Randolph/SAR Miles/SAR DA/Woods/NVE Kidd/NVE That squad is very athltic, very good defensively, and could make the playoffs in the West. If not, other potential deals: - Glenn Robinson + Willie Green - Payton + Fox + Devean George Imagine the Sizers with this line-up: Dalembert KT Iguodala (he will be better than RJ with Kidd) Iverson Kidd Now that team can RUN.
What about John Stockton? I don't like the guy, since he's a dirty Jazzhole, but I'd put Stockton above Kidd in terms of PG play.
In the mold of Magic Johnson Jason Kidd is the closest, he's the only playmaker that can compare to Magic, Stockton was an extremely gifted passer, but the Jazz system along with Malone made most of the plays.
