BOSTON – If Jason Kidd can get the Nets to take a $22 million gamble on Alonzo Mourning, surely the Nets’ superstar can twist GM Rod Thorn’s arm and ensure his best buddy Donny Marshall has a spot on the 15-man roster.
“I’m cheap,” Marshall cracked.
After Marshall’s dazzling summer-league performance this week at UMass-Boston, the Nets’ little-used 6-7 free-agent shooting guard won’t need Kidd’s lobbying. Marshall, who turns 31 today, asked to be on the summer team to show the Nets what he can do since he played just three games last season.
“This is my way of showing that even though I was there, I wasn’t there on a free ride,” Marshall said. “I can play the game.”
As the Nets scour the free-agent market for another perimeter shooter, Marshall has been draining them in Boston. He’s averaging 20.3 points on 56 percent shooting, making 3 of his 7 3-pointers. Last time he was here, Marshall, not on the playoff roster, served as Byron Scott’s bodyguard – by his side – when the Nets’ Boston-bashing coach came onto the FleetCenter court for Games 3 and 4.
“I want to be in Jersey,” the former UConn star said. “I love Kenyon [Martin]. I love Jason. I love all my teammates. I hope I can go back, I really do. Hopefully, they’ll find a spot for me. My goal is just to be there from the start to the finish.”
The Nets were off yesterday and resume today at 4 p.m. against the Knicks.
“I’m 30, but my legs are 25,” noted Marshall, who has played in 23 games in his two Nets’ seasons. “My legs are 25 and my mind is 30.”
Marshall has spoken to Kidd every day for the past week. Kidd is at a charity golf event in Lake Tahoe. Marshall says Kidd has been inquisitive about how Tamar Slay, Brian Scalabrine and his probable new backup, first-rounder Zoran Planicic, have looked. The impressive Planicic squares off against Knicks’ Frank Williams today.
“For the players who were there before two years ago, this is wonderful,” Marshall said of the signings. “The only thing now is, we’ve created a monster. We have a standard that’s much higher than I think anyone who’s a Nets fan believes it every would be. We don’t want to just get to the playoffs or the Finals. We want to win a championship.”
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