Kidd to choose either Nets, Spurs, Mavs or Nuggets
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ESPN.com news services
Free-agent-to-be Jason Kidd has a list of four teams he's considering for next season, according to ESPN's Jim Gray.
Kidd
Kidd has already scheduled a visit to San Antonio on July 6-7, Gray reported Thursday night. Kidd also plans to talk with Dallas and Denver, along with his current team, the New Jersey Nets. Kidd officially becomes a free agent on July 1.
A six-year package from the Nets would approach $100 million; the Spurs and Nuggets can offer closer to $90 million over six years.
San Antonio has plenty of cap room to accommodate Kidd, a player they beat in this year's NBA Finals. Denver, which is a long shot, also has cap room, while the Nets can exceed the salary cap to keep their All-Star point guard.
Kidd's interest in the Mavericks, reported by ESPN.com on Monday, would require a sign-and-trade deal because Dallas is over the salary cap.
A trade with the Mavericks would likely send Steve Nash and other Mavs to New Jersey. Kidd would have to force a sign-and-trade by convincing the Nets he isn't coming back and that the team is better off getting something in return from Dallas than losing him to another team without compensation.
Kidd was drafted originally No. 2 overall by Dallas in 1994.
An important factor in Kidd's decision, Gray reported, is whether Dallas will sign free-agent center Alonzo Mourning this offseason.
The Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference finals but lost to the Spurs in large part by their inability to match up against Tim Duncan. Should Dallas sign Mourning, it would give the Mavericks a much-needed defensive presence in the middle and might convince Kidd that he's the missing piece of a legitimate championship contender.
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ESPN.com news services
Free-agent-to-be Jason Kidd has a list of four teams he's considering for next season, according to ESPN's Jim Gray.
Kidd
Kidd has already scheduled a visit to San Antonio on July 6-7, Gray reported Thursday night. Kidd also plans to talk with Dallas and Denver, along with his current team, the New Jersey Nets. Kidd officially becomes a free agent on July 1.
A six-year package from the Nets would approach $100 million; the Spurs and Nuggets can offer closer to $90 million over six years.
San Antonio has plenty of cap room to accommodate Kidd, a player they beat in this year's NBA Finals. Denver, which is a long shot, also has cap room, while the Nets can exceed the salary cap to keep their All-Star point guard.
Kidd's interest in the Mavericks, reported by ESPN.com on Monday, would require a sign-and-trade deal because Dallas is over the salary cap.
A trade with the Mavericks would likely send Steve Nash and other Mavs to New Jersey. Kidd would have to force a sign-and-trade by convincing the Nets he isn't coming back and that the team is better off getting something in return from Dallas than losing him to another team without compensation.
Kidd was drafted originally No. 2 overall by Dallas in 1994.
An important factor in Kidd's decision, Gray reported, is whether Dallas will sign free-agent center Alonzo Mourning this offseason.
The Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference finals but lost to the Spurs in large part by their inability to match up against Tim Duncan. Should Dallas sign Mourning, it would give the Mavericks a much-needed defensive presence in the middle and might convince Kidd that he's the missing piece of a legitimate championship contender.