Don't completely rule it out: November 14, 2002 -- NET NOTES Tim Duncan didn't embrace New Jersey as his home away from home, didn't get misty-eyed recalling his first Turnpike drive, but he claimed he hasn't ruled out New Jersey and that "time will tell" about whether he'd ever play there with buddy Jason Kidd. Duncan and Kidd highlight next summer's free-agent class and the thought of them teaming up provides intriguing speculation. Yes, it might only occur in dreams - for the Nets to get Duncan it would take a sign-and-trade scenario. But at least Duncan hasn't deemed New Jersey as Hell. Kidd makes the place inviting. "All you have to do is look at what he does for that team - or for any team he's ever played on - to know what he means for other players," Duncan said last night before scoring 21 points in Jersey's 91-82 win over San Antonio. "You look at the Nets, he makes Kerry Kittles better, he makes Kenyon Martin better. Obviously, the chance to play with him would be a great opportunity, if it ever presents itself. "People are going to talk. That's their God-given right. Can't do anything about that. If it comes to fruition, it will be great. And what's going to happen is going to happen. I've got no control over it and I don't think he does either." Kidd had equal praise for Duncan. "He's one of the best in this league," said Kidd, who contributed 18 points and eight rebounds to the Nets' win. "He attracts so much attention on the court and he makes his teammates better. He's so fundamentally sound, doesn't do anything really fancy, but gets the job done. He's one of the best big men in this game." The two have talked. Both are very guarded about what they say, what with all that tampering stuff. But the top two vote-getters for last season's MVP admit they are intrigued about the possibilities. "We know that we both will be up at the same time and we will explore at the end of the season if we can play together," Kidd said. "We've talked about that [playing together] but we don't know if that would ever come true." That would be a crazy duo.
It could happen. But the Nets payroll is at about 52mil, which I believe is already over the cap. Plus, Kidd is going to be a FA too. If they resign him, that will add about 5mil to that. So in the end, there is no room to sign Duncan, unless its for the MCE (lol). The only way the Nets could do it, would be to get rid of some salary, starting with Kittles and Mutombo (who are both signed through next season). They would have to trade those two before seasons end for players with similar contracts who will be a FA at the end of this season.
Isn't SA going to have a bunch of cap room ...I think the more likely scenario would have Kidd going to the Spurs..I hope not though.
Now why did you have to go and suggest something like that .......LALALALALA ....im not listening ....LALALALALA ...if i dont hear it, it wont come true ............
Neither of those things will happen, Kidd loves it in Jersey and is staying, Duncan is staying in San Antonio.
Lst night during the Spurs-Nets game on TNT, they were saying that it's more likely Kidd joins TD in SA since the Spurs have loads of cap room to sign a big free agent next summer. The Nets are somewhat restricted due to their cap situation.
I'm inclined to agree that most likely no one goes anywhere, and Kidd is more likely to end up in San Anton, than Duncan in NJ. whatcha panicking about, codell? I say if Kidd wants to join Duncan in NJ, bring it on! I'll still take our team in a few years, presuming they can fulfill on their potential. Kidd can't stop Stevie. And a developed tandem of Yao and Eddie could be enough to give any and every star bigman in the league problems, including Duncan. But that's all a dream for now.
First off, as stated in the article, it would take a sign and trade for Duncan to go to Jersey. Second, Robinson's retirement may cause Duncan to look for other options. There is a reason Duncan only signed a 3 year deal. He wanted to play with Robinson, then see where the team was heading. Personally, I feel that the Spurs are leveling off then heading downhill from there. They are one of the oldest teams in the league too. If there is any sign that Duncan may depart, look for the Spurs to do a sign and trade to at least get something back in return. A sign and trade involving Duncan for KMart, R. Rogers, Collins, and Kittles may do the trick.
To the best of my knowledge, Duncan has a Player Option for next season. There are only two other contracts SA will have beyond the current season - Parker & Ginobili. I don't think they extended Rose, Ferry or Kerr. San Antonio will have a boat load of FA money.
Oh its not about panicking. But we do play them 5/6 times a year. I dont want to see any other good players in our division. Its tough enough as it is. We have a hard enough time beating Duncan and 4 mediocre players. As far as Griff and Yao's development goes, i indeed be less worred if they develop like we think they will. Thats a big if though. Im not rooting for the competition to get better than it already is.
As much as I like Duncan I can see him going East and to NJ. 1) He gets away from Shaq and the Lakers, and IMO has a clear path to NBA finals. 2) Again he goes to a team where he could play PF and not play C. This is not as big of issue in the East, but still something he may consider. 3) What big man (or SG) would not want to play with J. Kidd. He sets his teammates up better than any other PG in the league. So I think it is a possibility, but it would take alot to get him out of SA.
That would be awesome if Duncan plays for the Nets. Kidd and Duncan, what a team that could make. I don't see it happening though.
I suppose it takes a while to change perception. The only key player for the Spurs that is "old" is David Robinson. You might could make the case for Steve Smith, but he's only a 20 mpg role player, not much. The rest of the team is comprised of Tony Parker, Ginobili, Malik Rose, Stephen Jackson, Bruce Bowen, etc. -- quality young role players. None of them are stars, but the Spurs will get one next summer. I'm not sure who, but if you think that all the max free agents will balk at the chance to play at the max alongside the MVP of the league, you're too biased. The Spurs won't ever do a sign and trade, because there's no one with money! Mutombo's going to be making 18 mil next season, and he's under contract. Kidd's max would start at 14 mil. Kerry Kittles will be making about 8 mil. Being generous and putting the cxap at 42 million, there's 40 of it right there! Let's see... what were the other teams? Oh yeah, Orlando. Well, at least 27 mil of their cap is tied up in Hill and McGrady. Mike Miller will be making about 3.2, Pat Garrity about 2.5, and there's 33 mil for them, if they renounce everyone else and trade their first round pick. Not enough. Indiana? Well, for them to get anyone, they have to resign O'Neal. There's 11 million. They already have 9 mil tied up in Croshere, and 7 in Mercer. They extended Ron Artest for about 7 mil per season. Harrington and Bender are also making about 3 mil per year each. If they renounce everyone else, including Brad Miller, and trade their first round pick, that's 40 million right there. The only team that will actually have cap room this summer, besides the Spurs, is Denver, and I highly doubt Duncan goes there. Duncan's not going to want to leave SA... there's some good young pieces, and he can get a max FA to sign. But, even taking the perception of many that "SA sucks" and Duncan will want out, where exactly is he going to go? He has no leverage. The Spurs aren't going to sign and trade him when they know for a fact that team has no chance of signing him straight up. Sign and trades are only a last resort for teams that know they are losing their players anyway.
Cat...Im not trying to debunk your capologist mentality, only want to note (and I didnt look at any salaries or years left) that just claiming how much players make doesnt really say if a team could sign a player or not. Teams can hold off on signing some players who have earned their Bird-rights and sign the big F.A. first, then make their rounds on their own staffs. Also, sign and trades make just about anything possible these days.
Cat, first off, I dont see the supporting cast of San Antonio as anything special. If Duncan stays, then they will be a playoff team and nothing more. There strength in the playoffs was due to Robinson and Duncan clogging up the defense. With Robinson leaving, that puts Duncan in a much more difficult situation. Second, If Duncan goes to the east, he will automatically make ANY team a contender. Im sure you can find at least one team in the east that will have enough cap money to sign Duncan to the MAX. For instance, say that Miami can offer Duncan the MAX. Is there anything that Miami has that S.A. would want? Not really. Then, at that point, S.A. would search for trades that would benefit the team such as a trade to Jersey for: KMart, Kittles, Collins, and Rogers. At least they would be getting something back in return instead of having Duncan sign with the Heat.
DS, The only problem is, Nets are over/at the cap even without Kidds contract. So Kidds bird rights wouldnt matter. Mutombo and Kittles contracts kill NJ. As much as I would hate to see it, SA may indeed have the best shot. After this season, SA will be at about $13 mil on Payroll. That would then leave enough money to sign Kidd and Duncan with a lil room to spare. In the end, I agree with Mav3434. I would be suprised to see either player go anywhere. I think you have to think of SAs cast long term instead of what it is now. For example: after this season, lets say the cap is at 45mil and SAs payroll is at 13mil. They can sign Kidd (or Payton or Miller), Ratliff (or someone like a Brian Skinner) and Lamar Odom (or even a Kenny Thomas). That would put them at the cap and then they invoke Duncans bird rights to sign him. So potentially, this is what SA can have going into next season: Starting 5 Odom Rose Duncan Bowen Kidd/Miller/Payton Bench Skinner Parker Genobili Ferry OR Starting 5 Thomas Duncan Ratliff Bowen Kidd/Miller/Payton Bench Rose Parker Genobili Ferry The 1st lineup is weak bench wise, but the 2nd one is downright scary. Thats the advantage of having so much cap room. So when Duncan is a FA, hes not going to look at what SA has left, hes going to look at what they can get before they resign him. Ouch!
; Dreamshake, You can't do that. In order do sign the big FA first, you have to renounce the players on your roster, like Kidd, or their salaries still count on your cap. And if you renounce them, you lose all of your bird rights, so effectively they're gone. Sign and trades make things possible, but not likely. There has yet to be any major FA come anywhere close to getting a sign and trade to a team that didn't have the money in the first place. Rezdawg, There are no teams in the NBA, outside of San Antonio, Denver, and possibly the Clippers (if they are cheap and don't resign Miller, Brand, Kandi, Odom) that will have enough cap room next summer to sign a max free agent. Miami has over 23 mil combined invested in Jones and Grant. There's about 7 mil combined in Anthony Carter and Laphonso Ellis and 3 mil for Caron Butler. There's 33 already... too much. And that scenario is the absolute best case-- if they renounce Mourning and every single free agent on their roster (including Best, House, etc.) and trade their first round draft pick for nothing, it's still not enough.
This is correct. It was that type of situation that made it necessary for the Rockets to deal with Dream before they ever got to Shandon, Moochie or MoT two summers ago. Olajuwon hit the cap at his old salary plus 20% until he was either re-signed or renounced. Hence, there was only MCE money for Mo (no Bird Rights) until Hakeem was handled.
The spurs are the oldest team in the NBA according to nba.com's team survey they had called "Meet Mr. Average" about 2 weeks ago. Heaviest team-LA Lakers Tallest team-Toronto Raptors Shortest team-Minnesota Timberwolves Youngest team-Denver Nuggets Oldest team-San Antonio Spurs (avg. team age of 30.138 yrs) (K. Willis 40 yrs, D. Robinson 37, S. Kerr 37, D. Ferry 36 , S. Smith 33, B. Bowen 31) They have 6 players over 30, of these 6 there are 4 players over 35. It was the signing of Kevin Willis, that pushed them over 30 years of age. The second oldest team is Portland 29.042 yrs. (A. Sabonis 37, C. Dudley 37, S. Pippen 37, D. Davis 33) League Average Age: 27.310 yrs
