There’s some talk about Nick Van Exel and whether Toronto and New York really are interested. There’s some talk about Golden State’s Marc Jackson, yes, again. There’s snippets about Jalen Rose and Scottie Pippen and about whether Washington can do something now with its resurgence under Michael Jordan.
But with the trade deadline next week, there doesn’t seem to be a blockbuster midseason deal coming like last season’s trades involving Dikembe Mutombo and the 76ers, the Raptors, Hawks, Knicks and Nuggets.
But the foundation was started this weekend for perhaps the building of a new dynasty or for the collapse of some dreams and for the future of the Nets, Sonics, Spurs and Magic and perhaps for the balance of power in both conferences.
And much of it centered around Jason Kidd, the East’s starting point guard Sunday who is eligible to become a free agent after next season. Kidd, along with Jordan, is the popular choice for league MVP honors this season as the long-woeful Nets will come out of the All-Star break 3 1/2 games ahead of the pack in the Eastern Conference.
Kidd’s wife, Joumana, said if the Nets promise to keep general manager Rod Thorn and the coaching staff, Kidd would agree to re-sign. But Kidd also has talked about playing with another star, previously mentioning Denver’s Antonio McDyess, who is also a free agent after next season.
“Right now, my heart is [there] and my family is very happy in New Jersey,” Kidd said. “I have a contract. I’m going to play it out. I want to win. You’ve got to have the right pieces to the puzzle and you’ve got to have a little luck. People feel we might be one piece away from being a legitimate contender.”
Perhaps a piece like McDyess, or even Tim Duncan. Which is where all this gets very interesting. Duncan, who figures to be the dominant big man in the game in a few years as Shaquille O’Neal loses interest, also is a free agent after next season.
“I don’t think it’s wrong for me to mention who I would love to play with,” said Kidd.
And not for Duncan as well, although NBA officials clearly were becoming uncomfortable with the open recruiting that was going on.
“When he’s a free agent, we’d love to talk to him,” said Duncan, who is sounding more like he wants to stay in San Antonio. “Anybody would love to talk to him. I would hope I could attract a superstar to San Antonio [with] what we’re doing (new arena after next season), the history of winning we have, the team we have.”
Kidd was the player Phil Jackson most wanted when there was talk from Kobe Bryant last season he might want to leave the Lakers. That has all changed, although Bryant can become a free agent after the 2004-05 season.
The Lakers are set to offer Bryant a three-year, $54.8 million extension this summer. But those close to Bryant said he doesn’t plan to sign and wants to see what will occur because that’s when the current collective bargaining agreement expires. Bryant was the lone player to vote against the current deal.
The Spurs have just Duncan and rookie Tony Parker under contract after next season. So they can afford to go after any free agent, and a twosome of Kidd and Duncan could make Bryant and O’Neal move over fast.
But Kidd has other significant options. He long has been close with Seattle owner Howard Schultz, even being involved in business deals with him and socializing with Schultz’s family when he was in Phoenix.
“We had dinner,” said Kidd. “Howard is still a friend of mine, and I’ve spent some time with Howard and he has done a wonderful job in getting those young guys to play, and Gary [Payton] has been a big part of that.”
Schultz reportedly is determined to obtain Kidd. It’s one reason Seattle is working to deal the high-salaried Vin Baker, perhaps to the Knicks or Pacers. And it’s also why it has been a kinder, gentler and more team-oriented Payton this season. Last week Payton gave every teammate a watch inscribed “Thanks for the All-Star Assist. G.P. 2002.”
And Payton also happens to be a free agent after next season. He and Kidd grew up together and Kidd played recreational league basketball for Payton’s father.
“I would love to play with Jason,” Payton said. “Me and him playing the [point guard] and the [shooting guard], and with us running down the floor, I know we both have dreamed about that before.”
Added Kidd: “That would be a great option. To be able to play with Gary. That’s a pretty talented backcourt. I will let him shoot. I will play the point and he can play the two guard.”
Chris Webber said he’d use his vast experience to counsel Kidd about free agency. Which should be interesting since the Spurs were eager to sign Webber last summer. But Webber fired his agent and the Spurs never could contact him. Frustrated and under local pressure, the Spurs then re-signed David Robinson through next season.
Had the Spurs signed Webber, Derek Anderson would have re-signed. Now, interestingly, he is telling friends he regrets going to Portland, where he has asked for more playing time or a trade. When the Spurs did re-sign Robinson, Webber’s aunt called to say he was interested. But by then the Spurs didn’t have salary-cap room available and Webber was forced to return to the Kings. This season might be very different if Webber were with Duncan.
Meanwhile, there’s Orlando, which has been making moves for two years to team Duncan with Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill, though questions continue now about Hill even returning after missing two seasons with ankle injuries. And now the Magic is for sale amid talks it could move eventually, and coach Doc Rivers says he’s concerned that could affect the team’s ability to go after Duncan.
It’s not child’s play, but a Kidd could determine the league’s competitive future.
Coach Sprewell: Get this one. Coach choker Latrell Sprewell says he’d like to become a head coach when his career is over. No doubt with Charles Oakley on his staff.
“I think I could get something out of some guys,” Sprewell said. “I think I wouldn’t be as aggressive as Jeff [Van Gundy] but I wouldn’t be as easygoing as [Don] Chaney, either. I think I could be good at it. I think I know what it takes as far as the work part of it and the communication part of it. The strategy, the Xs and Os, is something I’d have to learn more.”
Sprewell, of course, rarely arrives for games or practices on time, has skipped training camp and team meetings and has singled out Chaney for criticism when the team started losing.
More talk: Denver’s Van Exel is one of only three NBA players ranked in the top 20 in scoring and assists. He is averaging 21.7 points and 8.2 assists a game. Payton and Milwaukee’s Sam Cassell are the others. And all have come up in trade talks this season, though only Van Exel continues to ask to be traded and says he wants to play in the East.
Van Exel has said he’ll agree to opt out of the last two years of his contract, paying a total of about $27 million, to facilitate a trade, though his agent declined to confirm that. Cassell signed a maximum three-year, $17 million extension last week and said he’s unhappy with the deal.
“I’m still underpaid,” said Cassell, who got the best contract he could under terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Cassell said he signed it because his family wanted him to. “If I didn’t sign it, I’d be leaving,” Cassell said. “And then you won’t have Sam Cassell, you won’t have Jason Kidd, you won’t have Gary Payton. You might end up with some other guy. George Karl would leave Milwaukee and then you’re back to the old Bucks.”
Special night: Just a coincidence, but on Wednesday, Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett is sponsoring a “beer night” promotion in which the first 10,000 fans get coupons for free beer. The opponent? Phoenix and former teammate Stephon Marbury, who just was arrested for driving under the influence.
Good shot: Suns guard Joe Crispin, a 6-foot rookie from Penn State, recently was picked randomly for a midcourt shooting contest while attending a Stanford game with a friend. Introduced as “Joe Crispin from Pitman, N.J.,” the guard was given two chances to make one shot from midcourt. He swished the first attempt and won a framed, autographed Michael Jordan jersey. “That’s what happens when you look like a regular dude,” Crispin said.
