ESPN just reported that he's looking at San Antonio, Dallas, New Jersey and now Denver is in the hunt. My gut tells me he ends up in San Antonio, why wouldn't he?
Same reason every other big free agent stays with their team. Because NJ can offer like 30 million more.
If Jason Kidd were signed and traded, the money might not be so much a factor. But to actually sign and trade Kidd to Dallas, well, wouldn't Kidd be BYC? Wouldn't you have to either trade enormous numbers to offset that, or find a team with cap space to make it a 3-way or take salary in a separate trade to provide a trade exception?
It's more like $4-5 mil - and no state income tax in Texas makes it a $$$ wash. (because of age and the CBA O'Neal has something like $20 mil to lose if he bolts)
Over the life of the contract it's a lot more than that. I think Webber's deal was for 120 mil, compared to 90 mil he could've gotten anywhere else. Surprise, he stayed in Sac.
Jason Kidd can be making almost 18 million a year in New Jersey! And his wife seems to have a nice career going there. And he has a home. And his kid likes all the media. And it's his team. And he should be loyal to his teammates. And if he left....he would be a traitor leader! But.....I think he is going to leave. Not to Denver though.....that would be great for Denver. They really need a point guard.....Jason Kidd is better than Gilbert Arenas... But then that means Arenas returns to Golden State.....that wouldn't be good. Jason Kidd to Spurs. Or Nets.
TheFreak is closer. NJ can offer a 7th yr to SA's 6. Assuming max raises, that 7th year would cha-ching in at about $18-20m, and then you'd still add in the difference for the raises themselves being higher under Bird Rights that straight free agency....12.5% versus 10%. btw: any SnT can offer the same salary as NJ.
If I was NJ and doing an S&T with SA, who would you demand? I would ask for Parker AND Ginobli, just for starters, considering that Dallas may come with Nash and change. But I don't think that any of SA's cap eating contracts can be packaged along with parker and ginobli to make the Salary cap match, no?
I agree. Out of all the teams mentioned, SA has the least to offer in a SnT for Kidd, imo. I would go so far to say that since SnTs allow almost any team into the hunt that SA has the least to offer out of all of them. Not to say SA doesn't have a great chance to get him via straight free agency. I'm just simply agreeing with TheFreak that $20m is a lot to turn down from NJ.
btw: SA does not need to match any salaries, since they have enough cap room to sign him outright. Recall that trades only require matching salaries when receiving teams are over the cap. So technically speaking, Kidd could get a 7yr contract for Kidd by SnTing Parker straight for him if NJ thought they were going to lose Kidd outright to SA, and Kidd only wanted to go to SA....versus allowing NJ the chance to find a better SnT for themselves with another team that Kidd would go to. does that make sense?
Perfect sense--it does give Kidd/SA a little leverage if he really wants to go there (e.g., he convinces them if they don't S&T him to SA he will go for the 6 year FA deal and he simply will not consider staying in NJ nor going to Dallas or Sac who could offer much fairer deals). Parker + Manu or picks would be better than losing Kidd outright. My bets are Kidd stays or goes for a S&T with much better comp than just Parker & picks (too tough a sell that he really will just walk out via a FA deal instead of the extra 20-30 mil with the S&T), but we will see.
theres no way the spurs would do a sign and trade for kidd. they just wont sign him then. they're not hell bent in signing him. they will not give up both gino and parker for kidd. they would not even dream about parting with gino especially. they would instead sign someone else, or split the cap space between two above avg. players. kidd is not a neccesity. instead of the s&t they would go after j. o'neal, brand, olawakandi, nesterovic, pj brown, malone, etc...
I agree to the extent that the Spurs don't necessarily NEED Kidd, but.....they may have to give a little just to keep Dallas from getting him. I believe, of the two, that whoever gets Kidd, provided he goes, becomes the clear favorite to win the title next year. (with Sac and LA in the mix, of course). And SA can't just sit on their asses if O'Neal and Brand don't come knocking. Coincidentally, I don't think O'Neal OR Brand will come knocking to SA in any event. Why? I think the Clip joint will match on Brand, maye not so for the rest of their FA's, but I think they will lock up Brand whether he likes it or not. O'Neal? I just don't see it. What is O'Neal, 24 or 25 years old? he can sign a 6 or 7 year deal, collect the max, more than SA can offer him, and then be a free agent, in the prime of his career, at age 31 or 32, still young enough to collect one big payday. He's not exactly in the "win a championship now" mode. Maybe someday he will be, but I bet for now he opts for financial security. If I were him, I would definitely want to go to a bigger, more, happening market than Indy (not cool when you're young and like to party), but that bigger more happening market is not San Antonio, no offense to SA.
I know it might sound crazy, but Denver would be a good fit. They have the cap space, and signing Kidd would be the only FA signing they need. With Kidd, Carmelo and a improved Nene, Denver could have a winning season for the first time in what, 10 years?
Oneal is not going to give up being the man on a decent young team plus 30 million or so to do a strait FA deal with the Spurs. The Spurs only have power regarding a Kidd trade if Kidd is so determined to join them he convinces NJ he will leave on his own (tough sell, 30 million tough sell actually) if they don't work a favorable deal with SA. Otherwise Dallas or Sac can makle a much better deal for Kidd. Brand is a RFA--the Clips would match, not a likely option for the Spurs. Now sure, the Spurs can open the checkbook for Rasha (though Minn has his bird rights and can match I believe), Brad Miller, Kandi, Brown or Malone--the question is do they want to and at what price. I think Brad Miller would make a real nice addition for them actually, but Kidd is a whole level caliber of player above these guys including Miller. There are not so many great FA options for the Spurs as many think. They have almost no chance at Oneal and little chance at Brand (Clips will likely match)--thus Kidd is by far their best option. If it came down to Parker and Manu (who is a FA after next year and who they may not be able to resign if he improves anyway) for Kidd they might do it--it is a "no brainer" for the Spurs if the Nets will take either Parker or Manu plus just a little more (picks, cash, something).
And why is that better than being a NBA finalist which Kidd has been in NJ for 2 years--which also has its 2nd (KM) and 3rd (RJ) best players steadily improving.
actually, the spurs are looking to sign both Kidd and either Rasho or Brad Miller. they have cap space to do that. and i think thats theyre goal. if they dont get Kidd they'll go after GP because its not a sure shot that he will stay with the bucks now that khol is going to keep the team, and the spurs could het him for a lot less money (near $8 mill instead). oneal is a longshot now, and that true, but having Kidd and either Rasho/Miller would really enhance the lineup. the biggest leverage is that Kidd will actually make more money in SA. There is no state income tax in TX, and its latest news that NJ can only sign Kidd for 6 years only (not 7 as thought of before) so the contract would be for the same legnth of time, and he would actually make more money in SA. Therefor, S.A. and NJ would not do a sign and trade, because Kidd would not ask for one. Hes already making more money in SA. Plus, he gets to play along with Duncan, Gino, and Jack, Parker, and Rose.
