I saw the article on espn's website, their sources are NY times. They have the contract going for six years.
It was in today's ESPN Insider that Kidd might sign with the Spurs, but league sources remain divided about 50/50. Nothing is certain yet.
lol.....that would be cool I guess. But he's a man of his word! He's not coming back. What if MJ joins them?!?
nah he played hurt so much. i really think his body is just done. i think hed be worth alot in attendence for moral support....ahh much like apollo creed being in the crowd when rocky would fight. very cinematic
Their source is the New York Times. When was the last time anyone anywhere believed anything printed in the N. Y. Times?
If so, it looks like Kidd vs. Payton will take on a whole new significance this year...not just for best pg bragging rights, but for NBA Championship rights.
God, Please let SA sign Kidd. If Malone and Payton get rings, the world is not right. Not this way. I hope LA bickers all year and gets knocked out in the 1st round. Payton and Malone can rot in hell together......... WITHOUT A RING. They should be ashamed of themselves, and any ring they get, I will never acknowledge because they didn't earn it.
I totally agree about Malone. If he goes to LA and wins a ring, he'll be disrespecting the whole partnership he had with John Stockton all those years. To go all those years together without winning a ring, and then as soon as Stockton retires he leaves and wins one without him...it just wouldn't seem right. Payton I could care less about
Didn’t Barkley come to Houston a year after we won back to back championships??? If he won, would you have acknowledged that? Clyde Drexler joined the Rockets the following year of our 94' title. Does his ring not count?? Malone and Payton aren’t young superstars anymore. They are aging players with diminishing skills. But it’s not as if they are just going to ride the bench either. They are taking lesser roles but will still be starters and important to the Lakers' success. You always hear fans talk about how sports have been taken over by money, and the only thing players care about is their paycheck. But here you have two guys who could’ve gotten more money elsewhere, but chose to go the other route, and take considerably less to maybe live their dreams and be champions. That is admirable ,whether their colors are purple and gold or red and gold.
Here's the article you lazy bums: BTW, it says a Parker s&T wouldn't work because Parker's salary is too low, and it also says Parker is thinking of demanding a trade. I thought both teams had to be over the cap for the S&T to have to be salary matching, right? Can somebody who knows the cap clarify this? Kidd Draws Closer to San Antonio By LIZ ROBBINS Jason Kidd and his wife, Joumana, returned to New Jersey from a lavish 26-hour recruiting visit to San Antonio late Monday, laden with a $94 million maximum offer and visions of winning a championship. The Spurs' presentation was so persuasive that Kidd was leaning toward signing with the N.B.A champions, according to three people with intimate knowledge of the Nets. When the Nets learned yesterday of Kidd's inclination, the organization acted quickly to try to convince him that New Jersey was still the best place for him and his family. The Nets, though, are running out of time. Kidd told the Spurs and the Nets that he hoped to make a decision by Friday and no later than Monday. "The Nets are deeply concerned," said a person with intimate knowledge of the organization who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Every effort on earth will be made to retain him." Nets officials were expected to meet with Kidd last night. The Nets have offered Kidd the maximum contract of six years, worth approximately $99 million. The Spurs did not comment, but according to four people with knowledge of the team's plans, they extended Kidd the maximum contract, which surpasses the Nets' deal because Texas has no state income tax. The Nets have facilitated national endorsement opportunities for Kidd. They are believed to have made inquiries for Kidd's wife to work on a television show with the team's YES Network. Last week, they arranged for Kidd to play championship golf courses in New Jersey, Baltusrol and Metedeconk. While the Spurs wooed Kidd and his wife for 26 hours, the Nets have done so for two years. That is why Nets President Rod Thorn believes the team has the advantage. "At the end of the deliberations, as the case may be, the pomp and circumstance will take backseat to the substance," said Thorn, who is the club's principal negotiator. "That's where the Kidds will make their decisions. He obviously knows that we would like to have him." The Spurs showed Kidd that he is their top priority. Gregg Popovich, the coach of the year, flew to New Jersey before the Kidds went to San Antonio to have dinner with them. He picked them up from the airport when they arrived on Sunday. Popovich and Tim Duncan, the league's most valuable player, entertained the Kidds with gourmet meals prepared by a private chef, gave Kidd a tour of the Spurs' practice center and showed a video montage that pictured Kidd with the Larry O'Brien championship trophy, according to several people with knowledge of the visit. Thorn contended that fancy parties would not sell Kidd. "He's an adult," he said. "When you're talking about the team's trying to sell something that the player doesn't know anything about, some teams do lavish things." "I would assume at some point in time, we'll have some substantive conversations with his agent," Thorn said, referring to Jeff Schwartz. "I think we've gone after him pretty aggressively as it is. I think he understands that." Schwartz did not return phone calls last night.Nets Coach Byron Scott has been curiously absent from the proceedings. He is on vacation and is expected to return before the Nets begin their training camp for summer league on Thursday. Kidd's relationship was far stronger with Eddie Jordan, who left to become the Wizards' coach, than with Scott. According to two Eastern Conference officials, the Nets have had talks with Jeff Wechsler, the agent for Alonzo Mourning. If the Nets were able to sign Mourning with the midlevel exception of $4.9 million, then Kidd would have his All-Star in the frontcourt along with Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson. But the risk is high because of Mourning's health. He is fighting a kidney disease, which is still an unknown factor. What is far more unclear to the Nets is what happens if Kidd bolts for San Antonio. Yesterday, Gary Payton agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers for the midlevel exception. "Yes, it's official; it's a real good opportunity for him,'' Aaron Goodwin, Payton's agent, said. That would seem to put pressure on San Antonio to sign Kidd. Another free-agent point guard, Andre Miller, was visiting Denver yesterday. The Nets are not trying to think of the alternatives. Barring a sign-and-trade, there are no other high-profile point guards remaining; contingency plans could rely on the 20-year-old draft pick Zoran Planinic or a journeyman. If the Spurs were to sign Kidd, however, they could have some ramifications. Jermaine O'Neal withdrew his interest in San Antonio and Dallas. Pacers President Donnie Walsh said yesterday that the team was "working on the contract, and we're very close to getting it done." That leaves the Spurs to consider Karl Malone, P. J. Brown, Michael Olowokandi and Mourning for their big man to replace the retiring David Robinson. If they were to sign Kidd, that would leave less than $4 million to spend on other free agents. And if the Spurs were able to sign Kidd, there could be an issue in the backcourt. The Spurs have told Tony Parker that they envisioned playing him with Kidd. Parker, the second-year point guard, has told friends, family, teammates and Spurs officials that he does not want to take a backseat to Kidd. A person told of Parker's situation said Sunday that Parker would be inclined to ask for a trade. The Spurs have declined to comment. Since Parker's salary would come to $713,500 next season, the Nets would not be able to sign Kidd, trade him and then get Parker back in exchange.
Drexler was traded. He came here because he had no other option. Totally different situation. And yes, I would've called Sir Charles ring cheap as well. Even being overjoyed as fan, I would not have considered his ring to be earned like a superstar should. Malone and Payton haven't slipped one bit no matter their age, it's their teammates that made them look elsewhere for a ring. And to still be very productive and go mooch off of Shaq and Kobe for a ring is disgraceful and not the way the game should be played. I hope anyone in the West kicks their ass in the postseason to be frank. Superstars don't need help to get a ring, and its not like Malone and Payton are deteriorating players yet. They still easily can carry a team. Which is what makes this all worse. None of this is the any bit admirable, it's all shameless.
Not deteriorating? Yeah they are, the Glove is more like a tattered old mitten on defense and the Mailman mostly just delivers fallaway jumper after fallaway jumper now
Did Malone and Payton not both lead their respective teams last year to the playoffs? Did they not both produce very good point per game averages as well? Of course as your body gets wear and tear your game changes. But they have adapted, and can still carry a team. They are nowhere near where Ewing and Dream and DRob were when they started deteriorating. Both malone and payton can still be the top option or number 2 on a very good team. I hate to say it, but why would we care if they still weren't all star caliber players? Role players are expected to mooch off superstars to get rings. Very good players and superstars who can still play even in old age, arent.
Gary Payton's sonics were not going to get to the playoffs this year in the West. And his Bucks barely made it in in the pathetic East. Malone fared better though not as good as years past, but you're right they did make the playoffs. But they both have slipped noticeably, are approaching (or are in) middle age, and it's only a matter of when, not if, it gets worse. I call that deterioration.
I concede they are deteriorating, but both guys can still play very well was my whole point. And both have been superstars in this league for a long time, so they should know it's about leading your team to a title, not great players mooching off of other greats to get one. I'd rather retire ringless than do what Payton and malone are doing if you ask me.
Yep. The article is wrong, if San Antonio clears the space, they can take on Kidd and just trade Parker in the deal. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the Nets may even get a ~13 mill ( ) trade exception out of that.
Lots of activity in SA right now but nothing may go down. Definite possibility of Kidd using SA's interest to get what he wants in NJ. Otherwise the Spurs are looking at plans should Kidd actually commit. There are a couple of players who would be on their way out though their destination would be south and east, not NJ. My guess is Kidd stays.
