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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The answer: Likely. At the very least it's 60-40 in favor of Kidd playing somewhere other than the Swamp next season. Kidd had his boarding pass in hand for Los Angeles when the Lakers pulled Andrew Bynum off the table at the trade deadline. But after another first-round exit (and with Kobe Bryant getting grumpier by the day), Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak may be inclined to include his prized prospect in any Kidd-related deal. He has already stated no one, outside of Kobe, is untouchable. Dallas, too. The Mavericks have would love to have a big-game point guard to take the pressure off Dirk Nowitzki, much the same way Nash did.
Vince Carter may follow suit ("we?ll see what happens," he said after the game). With free agency beckoning, the Nets may decide Richard Jefferson and Carter's games are too similar (they are) and elect to let Carter walk. In that case, Kidd will almost certainly be elsewhere, as the only thing keeping the 13-year veteran from forcing his way out has been annual promises of bolstering the roster. Cosmetic changes like Bostjan Nachbar and Mikki Moore aren't going to cut it. The Nets were seventh in the NBA in payroll this season ($67 million), and even if they jettison Carter's $16 million contract, there aren't marquee names out there that make sense for New Jersey. Chauncey Billups plays the same position and Chris Mihm, Andres Nocioni and Anderson Varejao don't make players like Kidd jump out if his seat.
If this is the end of the line for Kidd -- and Lawrence Frank was unwilling to admit it, saying, "it will be a decision for Rod [Thorn] in the offseason" -- it will be the departure of one of the greatest point guards who ever lived from a franchise he effectively breathed life into. Before Kidd's arrival in '01, the Nets qualified for the postseason once in seven years. Think the crowds here are lousy? Try playing in front of a handful of tourists who got lost on the way to Giants Stadium.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As Kidd walked off the court, he exchanged a hug with Cavaliers coach Mike Brown and LeBron James. "I admire that man," says Brown. "He?s unbelievable. A great player."
Says James: "He's probably the best point guard I've ever seen in my whole life. I played against Steve Nash, but in a six-game series ..."
James paused.
"Yeah, he's the best."</div>
Source
Vince Carter may follow suit ("we?ll see what happens," he said after the game). With free agency beckoning, the Nets may decide Richard Jefferson and Carter's games are too similar (they are) and elect to let Carter walk. In that case, Kidd will almost certainly be elsewhere, as the only thing keeping the 13-year veteran from forcing his way out has been annual promises of bolstering the roster. Cosmetic changes like Bostjan Nachbar and Mikki Moore aren't going to cut it. The Nets were seventh in the NBA in payroll this season ($67 million), and even if they jettison Carter's $16 million contract, there aren't marquee names out there that make sense for New Jersey. Chauncey Billups plays the same position and Chris Mihm, Andres Nocioni and Anderson Varejao don't make players like Kidd jump out if his seat.
If this is the end of the line for Kidd -- and Lawrence Frank was unwilling to admit it, saying, "it will be a decision for Rod [Thorn] in the offseason" -- it will be the departure of one of the greatest point guards who ever lived from a franchise he effectively breathed life into. Before Kidd's arrival in '01, the Nets qualified for the postseason once in seven years. Think the crowds here are lousy? Try playing in front of a handful of tourists who got lost on the way to Giants Stadium.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As Kidd walked off the court, he exchanged a hug with Cavaliers coach Mike Brown and LeBron James. "I admire that man," says Brown. "He?s unbelievable. A great player."
Says James: "He's probably the best point guard I've ever seen in my whole life. I played against Steve Nash, but in a six-game series ..."
James paused.
"Yeah, he's the best."</div>
Source
