Jason Kidd: Move should 'lift' Nets

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DALLAS -- Jason Kidd, who guided the New Jersey Nets to two NBA Finals appearances a decade ago, said he expects the now-completed move to Brooklyn to lift the franchise to "another level" starting with a big splash in free agency this summer.

Kidd

That splash could include the 39-year-old point guard and free-agent-to-be if the Nets are successful in retaining perennial All-Star point guard Deron Williams. The Nets expect the Dallas Mavericks, ousted in a first-round sweep Saturday by the rising Oklahoma City Thunder, to be their primary competition for Williams' services.

"I think going to Brooklyn brings a lot of attention," Kidd said. "The last professional team there was the Dodgers, so I think they're going to be very excited. And then with the Russian owner (Mikhail Prokhorov), I mean, he's not short on money so I think they're going to go out and make a splash."

Kidd, who ended this season on a personal high with 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in 38 minutes, said he would like to sign a two-year contract to take him through a 20th season at age 41. He reiterated his interest in taking a backup role to the 27-year-old Williams, who hails from the Dallas area. Kidd and Williams share the same agent, Jeff Schwartz, and Kidd said he and Williams would get together on the golf course during the offseason.

"What's wrong with that? That's not a bad guy to help out," Kidd said. "If it comes to that would not be a bad situation. I know I wouldn't have to play 30 minutes."

Kidd said he would listen to Mavs owner Mark Cuban first and that he expects to agree to terms with a team shortly after the July 1 start to the free agency period.

There has been some speculation that Kidd could return to his hometown of Oakland and play for the Golden State Warriors. Kidd said he's aware of the speculation of a homecoming, but couched it by saying he will discuss teams with interest with his agent.

After Saturday's game, Kidd said he told teammate Dirk Nowitzki, who pushed the Mavs to trade for the future Hall of Famer in 2008 when he was still with the Nets, that he would "go to war with him and go through another season to help him win.

"So being here would be very nice," Kidd continued. "At the same time business comes into play. So we'll see what happens and we'll see what the Mavs are talking about first and we'll go from there."

Kidd completed the worst statistical season of his career, averaging 6.2 points, 5.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds. He played in a career-low 48 games in this condensed 66-game season after dealing with three separate injuries. He failed to record at least one triple-double for the first time in his career.

In the four playoff games, he averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds and hit 10 3-pointers in the last two games.

He dressed after possibly his final game of his second stint with the team that drafted him second overall in 1994, saying physically he's prepared to get back to a full 82-game season.

"I feel great," Kidd said. "Again, hopefully I can help a team win in some aspect of the game. If it's coming off the bench I don't have any problem with that, so we'll see."

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