Jason Kidd chose the Knicks
Only in the NBA, and in this nutty offseason, would spurning the Dallas Mavericks for the New York Knicks actually feel like a good idea. And though the Knicks aren’t about to set the Eastern Conference ablaze, something about veteran Jason Kidd deciding to leave the Mavericks as a free agent and join New York just feels right. Even if the Dallas Mavericks might be a few tweaks and trades away from being better next year. Even if the Mavs are led by a billionaire who actually thinks things out. Even if the Knicks are the Knicks.
Jason Kidd lives in the New York metropolitan area. He’s enjoyed two stints with the Dallas Mavericks with the latter culminating in an NBA championship in 2011. But he’s also shot just over 36 percent from the field his last two seasons. He turned the ball over on nearly a quarter of the possessions he used up last year, his defense has faded significantly, and his 3-point shooting has dipped down to the ranks of below average. And yet two teams wanted him, badly, enough to potentially pay him until he turned 42 — even if we’re currently unaware of just how many years this three-year deal is guaranteed for.
And he chose the Knicks!
Jason Kidd.
In an unforeseen reversal, Jason Kidd has decided to leave the Dallas Mavericks to join the New York Knicks.
“I think I can help” – Kidd told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher, adding that he felt the Knicks have more “pieces to work with.”
With the Mavericks confident they were closing in Thursday on a verbal agreement on a three-year deal with Kidd worth $9 million, sources told ESPN.com that Kidd – after all-day deliberations with both teams – has decided instead to leave Dallas to join the Knicks for a similar deal.
The contract can’t be signed until July 11, which is the first day new NBA contracts can be signed. It’s also possible, one source said, that Kidd ultimately could move to the Knicks in a sign-and-trade deal.
Sources briefed on the matter told ESPN.com that Kidd ultimately was swayed to take the Knicks’ offer to go to New York, and take on the challenge of trying to help the Knicks move into the Eastern Conference elite and mentor fans’ darling Jeremy Lin.
He could rotate in with Lin or inherit the point guard role full-time if the Knicks reverse course and decline to match an offer the Houston Rockets made to Lin, a restricted free agent whom the Knicks have said they intend to keep.
Kidd averaged 6,2 points and 5,5 assists last season, his 18th in the NBA. Kidd ranks second all-time with 11.842 assists, trailing only John Stockton (15,806).
The Knicks have said they will match any offer sheet signed by Lin, a restricted free agent.
Roy to T’wolves: “Guard Brandon Roy, who retired before last season because of chronic knee issues, agreed to terms on a two-year, $10.4 million deal with Minnesota. The Warriors were among the teams interested in Roy.”
Batum, too: “Restricted free-agent Nicolas Batum agreed to terms on an offer sheet with the Timberwolves and is hoping that the Trail Blazers either do not match the offer or execute a sign-and-trade to get him to Minnesota. The deal reportedly is for four years and $45 million, with bonuses that could push it past $50 million.
Portland has been adamant that it will match any offer for the swingman and is not interested in trading him.”
Clippers grab guards: “The Clippers have agreed to re-sign point guard Chauncey Billups and to sign unrestricted free-agent Jamal Crawford, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Billups, who played only 20 games because of an Achilles injury last season, will sign for one year and $4.3 million. Crawford will sign a three-year, $15.7 million deal.”
Briefly: “Point guard Jameer Nelson, 30, agreed in principle to a deal to return to the Magic, a week after opting out of the final season and nearly $8 million of his contract with Orlando to test free agency. … Brandon Bass reportedly has agreed to a three-year deal with the Celtics. Bass was Boston’s third-leading scorer with 12.5 points per game last season. … Center Hasheem Thabeet, the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, agreed to a two-year deal with the Thunder.”