The San Antonio Spurs captured the NBA championship they wanted Sunday, now
they are chasing the season's other big prize -- New Jersey Nets free agent
Jason Kidd.
Despite having won two championships in five years, the Spurs have made no
attempt to hide their interest in Kidd, who is rated among the best playmakers
the NBA has ever seen and is the current standard by which all point guards are
measured.
Now having wrapped up the title with an 88-77 Game Six win Sunday, the Spurs
are expected to focus their attention on Kidd and uniting him with their
two-time league MVP Tim Duncan giving the Spurs a one-two punch that would rival
Lakers' duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Nets, however, are not likely to let the 30-year-old get away without a
fight.
"Everybody knows how important he (Kidd) is," said Nets coach Byron Scott.
"He's the engine to this team, he makes us go.
"This is going to be a big summer for us.
"J. Kidd is a basketball player but he is also a businessman, so he's going
to explore his options.
"He's going to see what's best for him and his family. Hopefully when he
comes to his conclusion, it will be New Jersey."
KING'S RANSOM
A magician with the ball and a natural born leader at the peak of his skills,
Kidd will be certain to demand a king's ransom for any team coveting his
services.
But the Spurs will have $15 million of salary cap money to toss around with
the retirement of David Robinson and indications are they are ready to throw it
Kidd's way.
After being swept from last year's final by the Los Angeles Lakers and coming
two games short in this year's championship against the Spurs, Kidd has made it
clear his focus is on winning a title and his decision might come down to what
team he believes can provide him with the best opportunity.
"Hopefully the bridesmaid thing will come to an end if I do return back as a
Net," said Kidd.
"You hate losing. It hurts just like last year. Last year was more of an
embarrassing situation in that we were swept in the finals.
"This year we tried to win a championship. We felt we could do that,
unfortunately we came up short."
One of the intriguing sub plots throughout the championship had been the
head-to-head matchup between Kidd, a six time all-star, and the Spurs' young,
talented guard Tony Parker.
The 21-year-old Frenchman was both brilliant and brutal in the final.
Through the first three games, Parker averaged nearly 20 points, his play
occasionally eclipsing Kidd's causing some to wonder why the Spurs would throw
millions at the Nets player.
But a woeful 1-for-12 shooting performance in the 77-76 loss in Game Four,
Parker was chastized by veteran leader team David Robinson for poor shot
selection proving he still has much to learn.
Acquiring Kidd, however, may not mark the end of Parker's days in San
Antonio.
Partnering the smooth shooting Frenchman with the gritty Kidd would give the
Spurs a formidable backcourt and allow Parker time to mature and develop at the
foot of the master.
