<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jason Kidd agreed to a six-year, $99 million deal to stay with the New Jersey Nets on Friday, rejecting an offer from the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. Since arriving via trade two years ago, the All-Star point guard transformed the Nets from an also-ran into a two-time conference champion. This is a major reversal of fortunes for the Nets, who experienced the low of lows Thursday, when word leaked that Kidd reportedly wanted coach Byron Scott fired. From the various reports that have surfaced in the past week, it's pretty clear Kidd wasn't entirely happy with the status quo in New Jersey. Now that it appears the Nets have locked up Mourning and Kidd is expected to stay. However, they still need to deal with the coaching situation. What is that situation? Insider has the full story ... Become an Insider "After great thought and consultation with the important people in my life, I have decided that I want to remain a New Jersey Net,'' Kidd said. His decision came the same day that word emerged that center Alonzo Mourning would join the Nets as a free agent. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in an e-mail that Mourning wouldn't sign with Dallas and instead had chosen New Jersey. A Nets spokesman would not confirm the deal, and a call to Mourning's agent, Jeffrey Wechsler, was not immediately returned. Mourning -- out of the NBA last season because of a kidney ailment -- can't officially sign with the Nets until Wednesday, nor can Kidd. Kidd and his family visited San Antonio this week, and his agent said Kidd would make a decision by the start of next week. But the player made his choice known sooner -- and just 24 hours after there were reports he wanted the Nets to get rid of coach Byron Scott. On Thursday, Nets president and general manager Rod Thorn denied published reports Kidd demanded Scott be fired. "I have enjoyed being here the past two years, I have worked hard with my teammates and believe in our future,'' Kidd said Friday. "I've been fortunate to have had significant interest from other great organizations, but ultimately I want to finish what we started here and bring a championship to the Nets.'' Spurs general manager R.C. Buford confirmed Kidd pulled out of talks with his team. "While it is disappointing news for us, we are happy for Jason and his family and wish them continued success,'' Buford said. Kidd averaged team highs of 18.7 points and 8.9 assists, plus 6.3 rebounds, and made his sixth All-Star game appearance this season. He also averaged 20.1 points, 8.2 assists and 7.7 rebounds in the postseason, helping New Jersey reach the NBA Finals. The Nets lost to the Spurs in six games. In 2001-02, the Nets were swept in the championship series by the Los Angeles Lakers. New Jersey had won just one playoff series in its NBA history until Kidd arrived in a trade that sent Stephon Marbury to the Phoenix Suns. The Nets were 26-56 the year before Kidd came, and they have gone 101-63 with him running the team. Kidd was wined and dined in San Antonio. He ate with coach Gregg Popovich, toured the Spurs' practice facility and went for a drive with NBA MVP Tim Duncan. The Spurs offered Kidd the most they could, about $90-to-$92 million. "Our goal in San Antonio is simple. We want to win championships and win with players our fans are proud of -- both on and off the court,'' Buford said. "We will do everything in our power to put the Spurs in a position to make a run for another championship ring.'' </div> http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0711/1579469.html
damn. He's a rich rich guy either way he would've gone. That's awesome that he stood with the Nets...it would've sucked for the Nets if he left.
YYYYYYYYYYEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! sooo happy bout this, nets are one of my favorite teams, second behind the hometeam raptors, mostly because of kidd and the style of ball he leads the team to play...im so glad there will be more nets ball to watch next season, couldnt be happier! :thumbsup:
false story just like the one about kidd damandingthe firing of scott kidd is gone unless he changed his mind about wnating a ring
sorry it's true olskool. the spurs are done and the lakers will be the champs once again. i can't wait to see phil break red aurebach's record. hopefully we can win 2 or 3 with this team.
it just goes to show that even when the spurs won it this year ,there not the team free agent want to sign to to win it next year.......lakers are the most reliable team for a ring anyway,, im SO HAPPY htat jkidd is with th e nets ,w/o him the truely f***ed yyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiippppppppppeeeeeeeeee
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "truemaster14":</div><div class="quote_post">the lakers have no bench..............so they can be beaten</div> fisher, george, horry, kareem rush...thats not such a bad bench...plus whoever else they sign...im sure theyll add at least one impact player off the bench
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "dj_premium_plus":</div><div class="quote_post"><div class="quote_poster">Quoting "truemaster14":</div><div class="quote_post">the lakers have no bench..............so they can be beaten</div> fisher, george, horry, kareem rush...thats not such a bad bench...plus whoever else they sign...im sure theyll add at least one impact player off the bench</div> george will probably start. the lakers probably won't have any money left to sign someone besides GP and Malone. Fisher will be good off the bench.. Fox could be too, but he'll be out because of his foot. Kareem Rush won't get too many minutes because he'll be playing behind Kobe. I agree with Truemaster. They won't have much of a bench.
