Full-Court Press

Odds for some oddities

Free agency is tedious. So it's time to take a break and have some fun.

Since we are a public service here, we can supply you with some really crazy betting propositions. As always, these are for informational purposes only.

But really, who comes up with these things???? Well, to be truthful, BetUS.com.

Which team will win a championship first?

Spurs.............5/4 Cowboys........8/5 Rockets.........7/2 Mavericks.......4/1 Rangers..........6/1 Texans..........8/1 Astros...........10/1 Stars.............15/1

Which team will have the best winning percentage?

Cowboys.....5/4 Spurs.........3/2 Rockets......3/1 Mavericks...4/1 Rangers.......7/1 Texans........15/2 Astros.........10/1 Stars............15/1

First manager/coach to be fired Cecil Cooper.......1/1 Wade Phillips.......3/1 Ron Washington....5/2 Gary Kubiak.........7/2 Rick Carlisle.........6/1 Rick Adelman........7/1 Marc Crawford.......8/1 Gregg Popovich......20/1

How many touchdown passes will Tony Romo throw in 2009?

Over/Under 26

Most receiving yards? Roy Williams or Jason Witten

Will Jerry Stackhouse be a Maverick on opening night? Yes......5/6 No.......5/6

Here's a hint on that one: take the "No.''

Who will be the Mavs starting point guard? Jason Kidd......3/1 Someone else...1/5

No hint on that one, sorry.

There's a lot more propositions, but we just wanted to whet your appetite.

--Eddie Sefko

10MM yearly for Kidd??

So how much is it going to take to re-sign Jason Kidd?

The Mavericks will try to keep it around $8 million a year, but Kidd's group is going to shoot for more, of course.

The difference-maker might be length of contract. The Mavericks can stretch it out to three years if they want, but every dollar they pay to Kidd in 2010-11 is that much less they will have to use on the free-agent bonanza next summer.

Without Kidd, the Mavericks can get down to perhaps the $20-million area. That would give them plenty of dough to go after two guys from the group of Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire or even LeBron James or Dwyane Wade.

But if Kidd eats up $8-million or $10-million, it probably limits the Mavericks to one elite player in 2010.

--Eddie Sefko

It was a short night

Mark Cuban said this morning that he had a great visit with Jason Kidd in New York shortly after midnight and that "it's up to us to work on the details, but I'm very optimistic.''

Kidd can't sign anything until July 8, but contracts can be agreed to anytime now that the free-agent period has begun.

New York and other teams are falling in behind the Mavericks, who remain the favorite to keep Kidd. But these things are never easy.

The team also has been in contact with its other free agents: Brandon Bass, James Singleton, Ryan Hollins (restricted) and Gerald Green.

It appears the Mavericks also already have touched base with Quinton Ross, the former SMU and Kimball High standout. The 6-6 swingman played for Memphis last season and spent four years with the Clippers before that. He's a career 4.6-point scorer.

The Mavericks also will hook up today with at least two more free agents, one of whom is believed to be Marcin Gortat, the center who played admirably with Orlando this season and appears ready to cash in this summer. Houston GM Daryl Morey was with Gortat shortly after midnight.

Expect the dominoes to start falling later today as players begin agreeing to deals. Once a couple of the key names sign, a lot of others will follow fairly quickly.

--Eddie Sefko

Say goodnight

We've been keeping tabs during the evening, but so far, nothing has transpired.

Don't think Jason Kidd is going to give anybody an answer about his future until he gets a chance to sit down with everybody, including New York and, perhaps, Cleveland.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

--Eddie Sefko