Jason Kidd remained in the Nets starting lineup tonight against Milwaukee, as his team attempted to snap a nine-game losing streak, but his days with the team could be numbered now that he’s publicly acknowledged the whispers: He’s frustrated with the plight of the Nets and wants to be traded, as the Feb. 21 deadline approaches.
Whether or not Nets president Rod Thorn can get equal value for Kidd, the team captain, is another matter. Thorn maintains that he won’t give away his starting point guard just for the sake of making a deal, and Kidd is signed through next season.
Kidd avoided reporters at this morning’s shootaround and shunned the media before last night’s tip off. That left Nets coach Lawrence Frank to try putting a positive spin on the latest mess.
Frank said Kidd’s desire to leave won’t affect his playing time, and the team is expecting nothing less than a full effort from its captain.
“There is a reason Jason is going to the Hall of Fame, he is one of the ultimate competitors in the sport,” Frank said.
Some might question how competitive Kidd was in the final 7-½ minutes of Sunday’s loss to Minnesota. Kidd went scoreless over that stretch, with one league veteran to describe the effort as “nonchalant.”
Entrenched in their longest losing streak since November of 2004, the Nets entered last night with big problems all the way around.
“I’m not focusing on what’s going on with J. Kidd,” center Jason Collins said. “I know that when the ball gets tipped up, he’s going to be ready to play and he’s just about averaging a triple double for us out there, so I’m not worried.”
Frank said he didn’t address the team about Kidd’s situation, saying it wasn’t warranted. The Nets have known for awhile that Kidd was searching for an escape – he
was nearly traded to the Lakers last year.
“You can go around the league, [Kidd] is not the first guy to ask for a trade,” Frank said. “The last thing we’re going to do is use this as an excuse, that’s unacceptable. Jason Kidd is a Net. He’s is a Net until he or anyone else is no longer wearing that uniform.”