[Mandyahl]

Analysis: Kidd-Mavs link is pure speculation

Golf event with Cuban sparks rumors of a deal for free-agent guard

06/24/2003

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

No matter where Jason Kidd shows up these days, he becomes instant news – even if there is little or no tangible evidence that the news possesses any foundation.

So when Kidd was at a New York practice range hitting golf balls to publicize a charity tournament and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was serving as his tight-lipped caddie, the rumor mill began grinding out speculation.

Though NBA free agents cannot begin negotiations until July 1, it hasn't kept executives around the league from mapping out their strategies for chasing the free-agent-to-be once the bidding war begins.

Conjecture linking Kidd to the Mavericks was to be expected. Kidd has made it clear that he wants the best chance to win a championship. Teams that went deep into the playoffs this year have to be considered possible destinations for the point guard who led New Jersey to the last two NBA Finals, only to be denied a championship.

Realistically, however, the Mavericks' chances of acquiring Kidd's services rate somewhere below San Antonio's and the Nets'. The Spurs, who are more than $14-million under the salary cap, have plenty of cash to pay Kidd and would not have to compensate the Nets.

Similarly, New Jersey could re-sign Kidd without regard to the salary cap, giving him a max-out contract that would start at $11 million and be worth more than $105 million for the seven-year duration.

So can the Mavericks legitimately compete in this high-stakes game?

In the NBA, virtually anything is possible. Whether it's legitimate is another story.

In this case, it would require a complicated sign-and-trade situation, with the Mavericks giving up Steve Nash and at least one other player with a significant contract. And the Nets would have to be willing to accept pennies on the dollar for Kidd, one of the NBA's best all-around players, who started his career with the Mavericks in 1994 when he was the second pick in the draft.

All of this would depend on the Mavericks changing their strategy about free agents this summer. They have made it clear they want to acquire at least one marquee big man to give them an inside presence that was sorely lacking during the playoffs. That still remains the priority in the free-agent frenzy.

If the Mavericks are going to aggressively seek a sign-and-trade, it is believed that Indiana's 6-11 Jermaine O'Neal would be a more suitable target than Kidd. O'Neal is 24 and one of the NBA's top young big men. Kidd is 30, and the clock is ticking on his peak years.

And bear in mind that acquiring Kidd also would mean having that contract for more than $100 million. With the Mavericks hopelessly over the luxury-tax threshold, that's the equivalent of a $200-million contract – a tough pill to swallow, even for the deep-pocketed Cuban.

The NBA, of course, is all about buying low and selling high. If the Mavericks can steal Kidd – or any other free agent, for that matter – they would jump at the chance. But there would appear to be better sign-and-trade possibilities for the Nets.

Kidd on Monday talked about his plans to play in the American Century Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe, Nev., with other celebrities July 18-20. Proceeds from that event will benefit the Fallen Patriot Fund that Cuban established for families of Americans lost or injured in the war in Iraq.

"That's one trip I have planned," Kidd said. "Tahoe, not Dallas. We know how much the league loves Cuban. I don't want to get him in trouble."

The bottom line is that Kidd is available for anybody who wants to get into the bidding process.

But in most cases, as with the Mavericks, there's more sizzle than steak.