August 4, 2004 -- Having acquired Jason Terry in a deal for Antoine Walker yesterday, the Dallas Mavericks may be gearing up for a run at Jason Kidd, league sources maintain.
No deal could be done for 60 days after Terry's trade, and the Mavs actually welcome the time as a better way to gauge Kidd's recovery from left knee surgery. The Nets and Mavs had spoken in recent weeks on a deal involving Kidd and Walker, a trade that became moot when Walker went to Atlanta. However, the Mavs apparently feel Terry would be a better fit in any proposal to get Kidd.
Both sides feel that the next move belongs to Kidd, who has adopted a wait-and-see approach. Kidd, who was angered by the Nets trading Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles for draft picks, met with team brass, then agreed to assess the situation after a cool-down period.
On other fronts, the Nets' courtship of free agents Ron Mercer and Eric Williams continues, with Mercer seemingly closer to getting done. "We're still working at it," said Mercer's agent, Andy Miller.
But with Williams, the 6-8 Cavs free agent who the Nets feel could replace some of Martin's lost rebounding and defense, negotiations that were moving smoothly may have stalled. The Nets have offered three years at $11.5 million and "we're just waiting to hear back on a few things," said Williams' agent, Mark Bartelstein.
"Everything is about where it was," said Nets CEO Rod Thorn.
This article has helped ease my burning hatred towards Don Nelson Jr.
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