Kidd staying with Nets

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wowow!!

On the one hand, Kidd gets a chance to appear in the Finals. And once you beat the Lakers, you win the title

On the other hand, Had he gone to the Spurs, they'd have to battle Lakers / Mavs / Kings in order to get to the Finals, and then still have to beat the Eastern team

I thought he was going to give up money (would've lost about $5M per year) to sign with the Spurs. But the Nets could pay him the most, as per NBA rules, and like Jermaine O'Neal and the 7-yr 120M contract, Kidd took the money


If I were Kidd, I'd done the same: take the money, and avoid facing Lakers until the Finals
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(07-11) 12:37 PDT EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --

Jason Kidd agreed to a six-year, $99 million deal to stay with the New Jersey Nets on Friday, rejecting an offer from the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

Since arriving via trade two years ago, the All-Star point guard transformed the Nets from an also-ran into a two-time conference champion.

"After great thought and consultation with the important people in my life, I have decided that I want to remain a New Jersey Net," Kidd said.

His decision came the same day that word emerged that center Alonzo Mourning would join the Nets as a free agent. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in an e-mail that Mourning wouldn't sign with Dallas and instead had chosen New Jersey.

A Nets spokesman would not confirm the deal, and a call to Mourning's agent, Jeffrey Wechsler, was not immediately returned.

Mourning -- out of the NBA last season because of a kidney ailment -- can't officially sign with the Nets until Wednesday, nor can Kidd.

Kidd and his family visited San Antonio this week, and his agent said Kidd would make a decision by the start of next week.

But the player made his choice known sooner -- and just 24 hours after there were reports he wanted the Nets to get rid of coach Byron Scott. On Thursday, Nets president and general manager Rod Thorn denied published reports Kidd demanded Scott be fired.

"I have enjoyed being here the past two years, I have worked hard with my teammates and believe in our future," Kidd said Friday. "I've been fortunate to have had significant interest from other great organizations, but ultimately I want to finish what we started here and bring a championship to the Nets."

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford confirmed Kidd pulled out of talks with his team.

"While it is disappointing news for us, we are happy for Jason and his family and wish them continued success," Buford said.

Kidd averaged team highs of 18.7 points and 8.9 assists, plus 6.3 rebounds, and made his sixth All-Star game appearance this season. He also averaged 20.1 points, 8.2 assists and 7.7 rebounds in the postseason, helping New Jersey reach the NBA Finals.

The Nets lost to the Spurs in six games. In 2001-02, the Nets were swept in the championship series by the Los Angeles Lakers.

New Jersey had won just one playoff series in its NBA history until Kidd arrived in a trade that sent Stephon Marbury to the Phoenix Suns.

The Nets were 26-56 the year before Kidd came, and they have gone 101-63 with him running the team.

Kidd was wined and dined in San Antonio. He ate with coach Gregg Popovich, toured the Spurs' practice facility and went for a drive with NBA MVP Tim Duncan.

The Spurs offered Kidd the most they could, about $90-to-$92 million.

"Our goal in San Antonio is simple. We want to win championships and win with players our fans are proud of -- both on and off the court," Buford said. "We will do everything in our power to put the Spurs in a position to make a run for another championship ring."

[bdrr]

and thats the way it should be....continue to dominate the east with a team that would finish 6th in the west.....well maybe 5th now with Mourning

[corys763]

wow what a surprise they look to be decent...now they should win the east... easily in my perspective...

[IggyWH]

After he saw Malone and Payton signed with the Lakers, he wized up and realised his best bet was to win 4 playoff games against West teams, not 11.

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corys763 -- yep, I agree. I do not see how the other teams in the East have the firepower to deal with the Nets.

Now, the question is: will Kidd force the removal of Byron Scott

Whatever the case, Scott will most likely take over for the Lakers once Phil is done

[russel6833]

i agree with him staying but wish he would have gone to the spurs. that would have been a great playoffs in the west but he is now basically guaranteed a NBA finals berth where he would have probably would have lost to the lakers in the west.

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yea, that'd be nice to see Kidd and Duncan vs the Hall of Famers

talk about viewer ratings bonanza!