Kidd for Marbury?

[djb]

Looks like it's going down.

Kidd reportedly traded to Nets for Marbury

Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 28, 2001

All-Star playmaker Jason Kidd probably has played his last game for the Suns.

According to several reports out of New York and league sources, the Suns are set to send Kidd to the New Jersey Nets in a blockbuster trade for New Jersey point guard Stephon Marbury. The deal can't be completed and announced until July 18.

Kidd and Marbury will be the principals in the transaction, but other players have to be involved to make the deal work within the complicated NBA salary cap rules.

New Jersey just obtained three players in the first-round of Wednesday's NBA draft, including former Arizona and Moon Valley High star Richard Jefferson. The Nets also reportedly are shopping forward Keith Van Horn.

The July 18 date could mean that one or more free agent players are involved in the transaction, because teams can negotiate with unsigned players beginning Sunday but cannot sign them to contracts until July 18.

Therefore, any sign-and-trade arrangement would have to await the 18th.

Suns President Bryan Colangelo refused to comment on the reports, which first surfaced as rumored talks around the NBA trading deadline in February.

"We don't comment on rumors and speculation," Colangelo said. "It only fuels more rumors and more speculation. That's our policy."

Nets President Rod Thorn was out of the office and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Kidd, 28, has been a first-team All-NBA selection the last three seasons and is a four-time NBA All-Star. He has spent the last 4 ½ seasons with the Suns after the obtained him in a 1996 trade that sent Michael Finley and others to the Dallas Mavericks.

Since Kidd arrived, the Suns have compiled a 219-142 record and have reached the playoffs in each of his seasons. However, the club has failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs in four of the last five years and has not gotten past the second round.

He averaged 16.9 points last season while shooting 41.1 percent and led the NBA with 9.8 assists a game. He was only the fourth player in league history to lead the NBA in assists three years in a row or more, joining John Stockton, Oscar Robertson and Bob Cousy.

A member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic basketball team that won a gold medal in Sydney, Australia, Kidd was regarded as a model citizen and player during his tenure with the Suns until a domestic incident in January. Kidd was charged with domestic abuse after striking his wife, Joumana and ordered into anger management counseling.

The Kidds reconciled and are expecting their second child in October.

Marbury, 24,. was drafted by Milwaukee in 1996 as the fourth player taken overall. His rights were traded to Minnesota, where he spent 3 ½ turbulent seasons.

Marbury reportedly clashed with teammates Tom Gugliotta - who ironically is now with the Suns - and Kevin Garnett before he was traded to New Jersey in a three-team, nine player deal in March of 1999.

The 6-foot-2 Marbury averaged a career-high 23. 9 points a game last season for New Jersey, along with 7.6 assists while shooting 44.1 percent overall and 32.8 percent from three-point range. He was named to the NBA All-Star team for the first time in his career.

But the Nets have struggled despite Marbury's offensive output. New Jersy is just 69-124 since the club traded for Marbury. He has played on only one winning team, his second season in Minnesota.

After the Nets completed a 26-56 season, Marbury told reporters:

"I'm frustrated, man. I'm tired of losing. If I was the owner, and I could get something good for the team. . . I'd do it."

Source: Kidd reportedly traded to Nets for Marbury