If grabbing Kidd guarantee's you a championship in the next couple of years... would you eat his contract for that? Given how difficult it is to win a championship.. I'd think you have to go for it.
I agree with you for most parts but it's never a problem have the ball in J-Kidd's hands constantly no matter how many scorer/stars already on your team.
Outgoing from NJ Jason Kidd 6-4 PG from California 14.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 8.3 apg in 36.9 minutes Incoming to NJ Clarence Weatherspoon 6-7 SF from Southern Mississippi 3.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.1 minutes David Wesley 6-1 SG from Baylor 10.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.9 apg in 34.1 minutes Moochie Norris 6-1 PG from West Florida 1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.8 apg in 6.5 minutes Change in team outlook: +0.9 ppg, -1.1 rpg, and -4.2 apg. Outgoing from HOU Clarence Weatherspoon 6-7 SF from Southern Mississippi 3.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.1 minutes David Wesley 6-1 SG from Baylor 10.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.9 apg in 34.1 minutes Moochie Norris 6-1 PG from West Florida 1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.8 apg in 6.5 minutes Incoming to HOU Jason Kidd 6-4 PG from California 14.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 8.3 apg in 36.9 minutes Change in team outlook: -0.9 ppg, +1.1 rpg, and +4.2 apg. Successful Scenario Due to New Jersey and Houston being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. New Jersey and Houston had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Just trading contracts, but if we could have Kidd on the team rather than these guys, I'd be for it. What's a Luxury Tax?
Probably not but isn't the idea here that they could make use of Kidd's money sooner with these guys whose contracts expire in 1-2 years rather than waiting for Kidd's to expire in 4? In the meantime, we give ourselves a shot at the tirle while Yao and T-Mac are still in the ascending phase of their career.
there's more to the NBA than just player's salaries. Fans will be outraged. Plus Kidd brings fans to the seats. They'll lose a lot of money if they start moving an established Nets player like Kidd without getting a superstar in return.
it's amazing how much we think alike on bball. that was pretty much my thought. if we get kidd and one of our pf targets (marshall for me), i don't see how we wouldn't be better than we are now. and the team we are now finished 45-20 (a 57 win pace) and was pretty much the 6th best team in the playoffs, and might've been 5th with howard healthy. now you upgrade the pg position and presumably the pf position and i don't see how we wouldn't be better, and thus realistic contenders for the title. i can't think of any skill sura has that we would lose by having kidd. sura has been good for us but i think kidd has all of his strengths (toughness, rebounding, driving it in) covered plus much better passing and overall offensive game. and donyell would have that rare horry-like ability to hit 3's from the pf position. assuming neither new guy is a cancer to team chemistry, we would have to contend. to me, the real danger isn't even kidd breaking down in year 3 or later b/c by then you would be nearing the expiring contract phase of his contract and it would either have value of it's own or at least be about neutral. it's that he just breaks down right when he gets here and is hobbled his entire time here. one thing that makes that seems somewhat unlikely is that while he wasn't his usual self in nj this year, he certainly didn't experience a houston/mashburn/webber like decline in mobility and skills and his 14/8/7 was still very good, if not equal to his contract. so to me, if les is willing to take the inevitable LT hit from this contract combined with yao's new contract and still willing to build a bench around them (i'm not talking cuban spending here, just more than we're used to) then i say we have to go for it. i never want to take for granted the fact yao and tmac are young but if you've got yao and tmac and got a chance to add kidd to that, i think you have to take it and go for the title, even if it could blow up and cost you a few years of yao and tmac's prime. titles are the only reason we play this game and the only real prize to win. and at worst yao and tmac are still 28-30 or so if the whole kidd thing blows up in our face. so i think you've gotta go for it if nj is for any reason willing to deal. expiring contracts and a pick are about all they should get considering how toxic that contract is.
they didn't seem to mind when kenyon martin didn't get resigned. i don't remember jersey selling out when they were in the playoffs last year. throw a couple of picks and expiring contracts, who knows what can happen. although i am worried about his left knee, part of me drools at the thought of having kidd with SAR as a 4th option. with 4 years left on his deal (iirc), he should be superb for at least 2 if not 3 of them. having a banged up kidd for 1 year is not that bad in my opinion. much depends on ratner and thorn, especially since they seemed to have had a change of attitude in the post-season and are now willing to upgrade rather than scrap that team. maybe his penny-pinching ways can rear its head again...
I have to disagree with Clutch in terms of Kidd's impact on our salary cap. We're screwed with the cap without Kidd anyway. The only reason money is an issue here is because Les Alexander will never pay the luxury tax. If we're talking about an owner like Allen or Cuban, there wouldn't even be talk here about Kidd being too "expensive" for the Rockets. Since being at the salary cap and being $20 million over the cap means the same thing for them. I would love to see Kidd here. He is good for likely at least 2 more years. During which time we could attract better players with our MLE for vets wanting to win. Another thing to note is that the Rockets have never had PG even close to Kidd's quality. I don't think the fans here truly appreciate what a great passer like Kidd can do to a team. Since we've had to deal with the likes of Steve Francis/Kenny Smith/Matt Maloney at the position for so long now. But in the end, I don't think it's realistic to think Les will be willing to pay the big bucks. And that really sucks.
I am very leery of Kidd and his knees and that coupled with his salary really makes me hesitant to want to add him to the team (even if we could realistically do it). I dont see the Nets moving Kidd for expiring contracts, not now with Carter on board. I would rather the Rockets try to find 2 really good players to add to the team that maybe combined to make what Kidd makes. As for stars, Tmac and Yao is all we need. We just need a 3rd scorer and to improve our role players a bit.
I'm not really sure getting Kidd is a real possibility in the first place. The Nets had a great run at the end of their season, Kidd and Carter really played well together and could be contenders in the east if they can find a legit big man. With that being said, getting Kidd might be too big of a risk for the Rockets to take on right now. He is still the best PG in the league and the best passer, but taking on his contract along w/ his age and his recent inury might be too much. I would say no to Kidd, it may sound dumb, but I think the Rockets could be fine w/o having to take on a giant contract.
We should never say never. Everybody knows that Yao is huge in China now, but that is nothing compared to how gigantic he would be if he should win a championship. The glory of that (translation: marketing $$$ for the Rockets) would flow directly into Les's pocket for years to come. So perhaps Les should consider the luxury tax on Kidd as an investment. Hmmm.... Kidd would be perfect for the Mavs (if we ignore salary considerations). Maybe we should get him before Cuban grabs him. Two years might be long enough for us to train up a young PG to take over when Kidd retires. Absolutely.
Agree. Besides Kidd is getting old and has a contract that will put the Rockets in cap hell for the next several yrs. Pass on Kidd.
I just can't see this happening. Too much money for an aging player. Why must these contracts be so rediculous? I guess if it was low, someone else would have snagged him up.
Umm... Didn't I just basically say that in my post? My post was only to point out that Kidd can't possibly mess up our cap situation. Our cap is already screwed for the next 6 years simply because of T-Mac and Yao.
