Well Kidd signed a 9 year deal as a rookie it was for 60 million. Then the Suns gave him an option 2 year extension on that deal.....which Kidd opted out after the 2003 season, leading to the great Kidd Free Agency tour and his current max deal. In his 2002 he pulled in 8.4 million. In 2003 he pulled in 9.2 million. 2004 his new deal, 13.1. The day he was traded to NJ he wanted out, his earliest was 2003. There was no loyalty, he knew it. If there was a good deal to be had, he knew as most players know, he'd be shown the door. So given the 2 titles, he could easily command a max deal, which he did....moreso than the ring, if he wanted the ring he'd be in SA. So for him to take a pay cut at that point in his career, I think wouldn't necessarily help him. It'd be easier to trade him first off. I see Kobe has a trade kicker, Kidd could have asked for that as well as a no trade clause. He gets a max salary as soon as he's traded...etc. Duncan was shown loyalty first by the Spurs, he knows his place in Spurs history, he knows how David Robinson was treated in SA, so it was an easy decision for him. He's never been about himself, he's been about winning, thus he's never been traded, nor entertained recruiting trips. Kidd's, VC and Kobe's career have been dotted with controversy, thus Kidd and VC's trades and Kobe forcinig Shaq out. Duncan's just stayed out of the limelight, stayed home, been a team first guy, yea then throw in the talent. I've said this about Kidd, Kidd can't be your front guy if you want to win it all. He needs a big man to complement him, a big man #1 option. If McDyess had stuck it out in PHX, they might have done something special.</p>