More Kidd musings

According to NY Post columnist Peter Vecsey, Mark Cuban would be willing to give Jason Kidd the $20 million extension the Nets won't, which would take Kidd through 2009-2010 when the point guard would turn 37 years old at the tail end of that final season.

If Cuban is willing to do that and the Mavs make the deal for Kidd, then in each of the next two seasons, Cuban would pay between $57 and $60 million to Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Kidd, so it would be practically impossible to stay anywhere near the luxury tax threshold.

So if Cuban is indeed willing to pay Kidd, then he and Donnie Nelson must believe that Kidd can deliver the franchise a championship in a three-season window. But, if Cuban's willing to pay an aging Kidd then why didn't he just keep Steve Nash and Dirk together four years ago?

Has Nash's ability to stay mostly healthy convinced Cuban that Kidd won't break down either? Or has Kidds longevity proved that already? He is playing a ton of minutes this season and has missed only one game, with a migraine -- although it was widely reported that he skipped the game in protest of the franchise.

Devin Harris turns 25 at the end of this month. He's shown progression, but maybe the Mavs aren't going to be that patient. The Mavs are 1-1 against the Spurs, 1-0 against the Suns, 1-1 against the Hornets and 1-0 against the Lakers, who just made a shrewd deal for Pau Gasol. No one is running away with the West. So, the Mavs (31-14) either trust what they've got or must go at least four-deep on the roster, including a young and improving Harris, to get Kidd.

-- Jeff Caplan

Comments

[Captain Midnight]

Peter Vecsey is a moron who writes half truths and uses the most questionable "sources" I have ever seen. I can't tell you how many times I have read something by him that turned out to be unsubstantiated and just downright false. If Cuban is willing to give any extension to Kidd after this supposed trade (that will never happen anyway), I'll believe it when someone credible writes it.