ducks
07-01-2003, 12:50 PM
For Free Agent Kidd, the Anticipation Is Over
By LIZ ROBBINS
he phones are ringing. Let the free-agent games begin.
As of 12:01 this morning, the Nets were able to begin negotiations with Jason Kidd. Several people in the Nets' organization think that after two successful seasons, he will finish his career with the Nets.
But nobody is certain that Kidd will return - not even Rod Thorn, the Nets' president.
"I don't know how this is going to come out," Thorn, the team's primary negotiator, said yesterday. "I don't expect anything. Jason and his agent, they set the agenda and how they want it to play out."
Like Kidd, the Nets have an agenda: sign Kidd first. But while negotiating with him, the Nets will explore signing their other free agents, Lucious Harris and Brian Scalabrine, and will also look to sign a shooter, perhaps with the $4.9 million midlevel exception. The mandate from the Nets' hierarchy to sign Kidd is unwavering.
The San Antonio Spurs, with their $15 million budget, may pursue Kidd. The Denver Nuggets, with an $18 million budget but little championship potential, could serve as a bargaining chip.
Kidd is also intrigued by a possible sign-and-trade deal with Dallas, the team that drafted him in 1994 and traded him to Phoenix in 1996.
But Thorn, flatly and repeatedly, has said the Nets are not interested in a sign-and-trade. They can offer Kidd the most money - roughly $99 million over six years, or $5 million more than any other team. They can offer him the chance to go to the N.B.A. finals every year.
With their proximity to New York, the Nets can offer his wife, Joumana, the most national exposure to work on her television career as a correspondent for the television show "Extra.''
Kidd's second-favorite sport, golf, will no doubt be on the recruiting agenda; Kidd and Thorn have played their share of golf together.
The two first became friendly when Kidd was playing on the United States Olympic qualifying team in 1999 (Thorn is on the USA Basketball selection committee). Thorn was not factoring that history into the equation.
"There's business and then there is a social relationship," he said. "Sometimes they intertwine. But I've got a team to run and he's got a career to look after."
Although people close to the Nets said that Thorn was upset to hear about the report on ESPN last week stating Kidd's intention to visit San Antonio, and possibly Denver and Dallas, without first hearing it from Kidd, Thorn understands that it is all part of the game.
"I'm not surprised at all,'' Thorn said. "A lot of things have been said. Rhetoric doesn't mean anything.
"I don't want to give up any positions. Once the process starts, it goes in different directions. To me, I don't have a lot to say."
Nor did anybody else yesterday. League rules stated that no other team could make contact with Kidd until today.
Jeff Schwartz, Kidd's agent, will go through the formality of opting out of Kidd's contract; Kidd was due to make $10.4 million this coming season. Depending on where the salary cap is set, Kidd's maximum salary for next season could be $12.6 million.
Besides the Nets, San Antonio seems the only viable option, in terms of salary and competitiveness. But several league officials and people with knowledge of the Spurs, speaking on the condition of anonymity, believe that the Spurs will make a priority of pursuing a power forward or a center.
Tim Duncan said yesterday he planned to sign a long-term deal with the Spurs, according to Lon Babby, his agent. Duncan decided not to exercise a player option in the fourth year of his contract, meaning he will become a free agent. Babby told The Associated Press that Duncan did not expect to talk to other teams.
The Nets have some contingency plans if Kidd leaves, though the free-agent pool for point guards is shallow. Gary Payton is not likely to sign with the Nets for the midlevel exception. The Nets drafted a point guard, Zoran Planinic, but he is 20 years old.
"The guys that will be available as point guards are guys that are basically looking for opportunities," Thorn said.
Meanwhile, teams are looking for Kidd. People close to Kidd have indicated that he will not let the decision linger; he hopes to come to a decision before July 16.
Thorn said he had not talked to Kidd about that. "It would be better for us if it transpires that way," he said.
REBOUNDS
The contract of the Nets' chief executive, LOU LAMORIELLO, expired yesterday. There was still no renewal or change in his status. He is also the chief executive of the Devils. Although the Nets and Devils' offices are closed this week for vacation, Lamoriello was working in the Devils' office. "We'll do everything we can to have Jason stay and I leave that to Rod," Lamoriello said. He would not comment on his own status with the Nets. "There have been no changes made in the management of the Nets nor are any expected in the near term," said DAN KLORES, a spokesman for Nets ownership.
webpage (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/sports/basketball/01nets.html?ex=1057636800&en=1c42303e57748105&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE)
By LIZ ROBBINS
he phones are ringing. Let the free-agent games begin.
As of 12:01 this morning, the Nets were able to begin negotiations with Jason Kidd. Several people in the Nets' organization think that after two successful seasons, he will finish his career with the Nets.
But nobody is certain that Kidd will return - not even Rod Thorn, the Nets' president.
"I don't know how this is going to come out," Thorn, the team's primary negotiator, said yesterday. "I don't expect anything. Jason and his agent, they set the agenda and how they want it to play out."
Like Kidd, the Nets have an agenda: sign Kidd first. But while negotiating with him, the Nets will explore signing their other free agents, Lucious Harris and Brian Scalabrine, and will also look to sign a shooter, perhaps with the $4.9 million midlevel exception. The mandate from the Nets' hierarchy to sign Kidd is unwavering.
The San Antonio Spurs, with their $15 million budget, may pursue Kidd. The Denver Nuggets, with an $18 million budget but little championship potential, could serve as a bargaining chip.
Kidd is also intrigued by a possible sign-and-trade deal with Dallas, the team that drafted him in 1994 and traded him to Phoenix in 1996.
But Thorn, flatly and repeatedly, has said the Nets are not interested in a sign-and-trade. They can offer Kidd the most money - roughly $99 million over six years, or $5 million more than any other team. They can offer him the chance to go to the N.B.A. finals every year.
With their proximity to New York, the Nets can offer his wife, Joumana, the most national exposure to work on her television career as a correspondent for the television show "Extra.''
Kidd's second-favorite sport, golf, will no doubt be on the recruiting agenda; Kidd and Thorn have played their share of golf together.
The two first became friendly when Kidd was playing on the United States Olympic qualifying team in 1999 (Thorn is on the USA Basketball selection committee). Thorn was not factoring that history into the equation.
"There's business and then there is a social relationship," he said. "Sometimes they intertwine. But I've got a team to run and he's got a career to look after."
Although people close to the Nets said that Thorn was upset to hear about the report on ESPN last week stating Kidd's intention to visit San Antonio, and possibly Denver and Dallas, without first hearing it from Kidd, Thorn understands that it is all part of the game.
"I'm not surprised at all,'' Thorn said. "A lot of things have been said. Rhetoric doesn't mean anything.
"I don't want to give up any positions. Once the process starts, it goes in different directions. To me, I don't have a lot to say."
Nor did anybody else yesterday. League rules stated that no other team could make contact with Kidd until today.
Jeff Schwartz, Kidd's agent, will go through the formality of opting out of Kidd's contract; Kidd was due to make $10.4 million this coming season. Depending on where the salary cap is set, Kidd's maximum salary for next season could be $12.6 million.
Besides the Nets, San Antonio seems the only viable option, in terms of salary and competitiveness. But several league officials and people with knowledge of the Spurs, speaking on the condition of anonymity, believe that the Spurs will make a priority of pursuing a power forward or a center.
Tim Duncan said yesterday he planned to sign a long-term deal with the Spurs, according to Lon Babby, his agent. Duncan decided not to exercise a player option in the fourth year of his contract, meaning he will become a free agent. Babby told The Associated Press that Duncan did not expect to talk to other teams.
The Nets have some contingency plans if Kidd leaves, though the free-agent pool for point guards is shallow. Gary Payton is not likely to sign with the Nets for the midlevel exception. The Nets drafted a point guard, Zoran Planinic, but he is 20 years old.
"The guys that will be available as point guards are guys that are basically looking for opportunities," Thorn said.
Meanwhile, teams are looking for Kidd. People close to Kidd have indicated that he will not let the decision linger; he hopes to come to a decision before July 16.
Thorn said he had not talked to Kidd about that. "It would be better for us if it transpires that way," he said.
REBOUNDS
The contract of the Nets' chief executive, LOU LAMORIELLO, expired yesterday. There was still no renewal or change in his status. He is also the chief executive of the Devils. Although the Nets and Devils' offices are closed this week for vacation, Lamoriello was working in the Devils' office. "We'll do everything we can to have Jason stay and I leave that to Rod," Lamoriello said. He would not comment on his own status with the Nets. "There have been no changes made in the management of the Nets nor are any expected in the near term," said DAN KLORES, a spokesman for Nets ownership.
webpage (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/sports/basketball/01nets.html?ex=1057636800&en=1c42303e57748105&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE)