Give me Miller over Kidd. Kidd's pts/rebs/ast have all dropped the last 3 or so years in a row. He's declining and he will continue to decline. Miller still has some left in the tank. Miller easily imo.
Here comes the "Yea but" to bring up some questions. He was in Denver with a lot of the same faces that are there now. Why did he not enjoy success there at that time, where Billups does? In his 3rd year in the league, which happened to be a free agent year, he averaged over 10 assist per game. He had one year since where he reached 9, but mostly, averaged about 6 to 7. Why is the the disparaging difference from year to year on the same team with the same personnel? This means IMO that he has to fit your system. You will note, that Philadelphia played most successfully in an up tempo style this year, and when they did not, they struggled. That is not Portland. The reason Andre Miller struggles with half court teams is that teams just lay off of him and say "shoot from the outside". When he is in a running team he can get to the rim easier and be comfortable. I look at Jason Kidd, and I can say a lot of the same things except for one fact. Jason Kidd has been to the promised land of the finals before twice. He has played in tight eastern conference series. Jason Kidd with his feet set, is also a decent 3 point shooter. If they are not set, he is screwed. At least he isn't screwed all the time, like Miller, where it doesn't matter, if the shot is behind the line you are in deep shit. The facts are, if the game is on the line, and you need a 3, Andre Miller will not get it for you. I will guarantee you that the playoff series the Blazers play in the future, there will be times where they need a bucket from deep in crunch time. I have seen Kidd hit those shots all through his career, including last year. Andre Miller will not hit that shot.
I voted for Jason Kidd. I haven't ever really Andre Miller. Kidd has more playoff experience by far then Miller. Kidd actually shot 45% from 3-point land this last season, so his shooting is better. Kidd was once a great defender and still has the smarts. Miller wasn't ever known as a defender. They are both a pipe dream, though. Portland isn't going to be able to sign either guy.
I've been vacillating back and forth on Kidd, Miller and Hinrich lately. I think Miller would likely have the most drastic impact on the roster top to bottom which could be a mixed bag of good and bad things, I really like Hinrich's defense, but I think Kidd's is of a comparable nature (both are more predicated on smarts and funneling into help defense than lock-down man defense) but I give Kidd the edge because of his play-making ability and the fact that he now actually has a high percentage set-shot 3-pointer. I guess I'd give the nod to Kidd ... ask me tomorrow and I might have a different answer ... give me any one of the above and I'll be a happy camper.
For a year, maybe two - there is a good chance that Kidd would be a slight upgrade over Kirk - if we assume that Kirk has permanently declined from his all-NBA defensive team years. However, if there is a chance that Kirk, playing his natural position and not wounded will regain his defensive acumen - he will be a better player than Kidd. Add the fact that if the new PG experiment actually works - Kirk would be a long-term solution - and I would go with Kirk over Kidd.
One thing you have to take into account is who these three guys actually guarded. Last season, Kidd was almost exclusively used to cover the SG. Hinrich goes back-and forth. Miller defends PGs. Seems to me, the latter is what we need!
I would suggest that you look at Hinrich's production by position and see his offense/defense net gain on the PG position. It is eye opening how efficient he was playing that position. Was it because he only played it against backup PG's? I do not know - but - let's remember that when he played the position with the 2nd unit - their offense was nowhere as efficient - so, overall - his +10.2 vs. Blake's +8.6 playing with better offensive play-mates and on a better defensive team - is quite impressive. Andre Miller - on the other hand, has a +1.8 rating playing the PG position - honestly, I am just not a fan, I think some of this Miller-lust is a case of the lawn being greener elsewhere. Kidd's +5.3 probably shows us how much he declined defensively...
I'm more intrigued with Kidd. I think he'd have the respect of the younger guys, and would be a good influence on Jerryd like what was said already. No way I'd give him a four-year contract but a two-, or at most three, wouldn't be that bad..
