Links: Why Portland Needs Jason Kidd
And how much does the new Blackberry cost?
• First of all, New York City is amazing. Sam and I just ran outside to the deli next door to get some coffee, and on the way back a man who appeared to be homeless approached us. I say “appeared to be” because he was very dirty, was missing most of his teeth, had long hair and a shaggy beard, and he was wearing an L.A. Rams winter coat. So either he was homeless or a hipster.
Anyway, the dude walks up and says, “Hey, do you guys know how much the new Blackberry costs?”
Sam and I looked at each other and then back to the guy, shocked at the question. “No idea,” I said.
“A few hundred dollars…” the man mumbled, then he turned and walked away.
Of all the questions he could have asked us, that was about the last thing I expected to hear from him. If he had asked us how much, say, an apartment costs, or maybe how much a shave and a haircut costs, I wouldn’t have been surprised. But the new Blackberry…wasn’t expecting that.
• I was watching the Hawks/Clips game late last night, and Wifey was dozing in and out next to me on the couch. At one point she watched for a second and then came with this:
WIFEY: Why doesn’t Skip To My Lou play so much anymore?
ME: Rafer Alston?
WIFEY: Skip To My Lou. He doesn’t play very much anymore, does he?
ME: Well, he’s not in the game. He plays on Houston, but he does play a good amount. Are you sure you mean Skip To My Lou? You mean Rafer?
WIFEY: I think so.
We were quiet for a second, and then it hit me.
ME: Do you mean Tyronn Lue?
WIFEY: Whatever. Yes.
• Now, to business…
To me, the question is not where is Jason Kidd going, but rather, where should Jason Kidd be going?
Because I have no idea where he’s going. I spoke to a few people who generally know about things like this today and yesterday, and they had no idea either. Dallas seems to be coming up a lot in media reports, but that doesn’t really make sense to me. Dallas runs a lot, but I can’t see Dirk running the floor like K-Mart or Sean Williams. More importantly, Dallas’s guards always talk about defense-first (never a strong suit of Kidd) and in the halfcourt offense the guards also seem to shoot a lot of outside jumpers (Terry and Harris combine for almost 7 three-point attempts a game), the other glaring flaw in Kidd’s game. Kidd will improve the players around him, surely, but I’m not sure he’d improve Dallas as a team. (Unless Mark Cuban hires Toni Braxton to sing the National Anthem in perpetuity.)
But there are a lot of teams who could use Jason Kidd right this second. But the team that could really use Kidd, more than any other team?
The Portland Trailblazers.
I know, the Blazers are hot without Kidd, but every time I watch Portland play and see them shuffle through their eight point guards, I wonder what they’d be like with a veteran running the team, someone who could free up Brandon Roy to play off the ball a little more and allow him to get more rest. (By the way, the other day I said something about how I always think Brandon Roy is too slight, and someone argued me up in the comments section. But did you see LeBron brushing Roy off like a gnat last night? I know Bron is superhuman and all, but still, Roy has to put on some muscle if he wants to improve.)
I don’t understand the argument that the Blazers shouldn’t break up this team. They’re going to radically change next season anyway when they add Greg Oden to the mix. Plus, if they don’t make any moves at all, as Henry Abbott pointed out, the Blazers will have 22 players on their roster this summer. So that’s ostensibly seven guys they could move and still be at the NBA roster limit. Plus, they have a lot of young, talented guys that the Nets should be interested in, and they have the big contracts of Raef LaFrentz and Darius Miles that expire next summer to throw in and help make a deal work.
One other thing working in Portland’s favor is that Travis Outlaw’s stock is at an all-time high. Outlaw works well with these Blazers, but he would be at best a fourth option with Aldridge, Oden and Roy next season. Even though he’s under contract through 2010 at an affordable $4 million a year, I wonder how readily he’ll accept playing a back-up role for all that time. And like running backs in football, swingmen who specialize in scoring are probably the easiest NBA commodity to find. Big guys and point guards, not so much, but scoring swingmen grow on trees in the D-League and overseas.
THE TRADE:
Jason Kidd for Travis Outlaw, Jarrett Jack, Channing Frye, Raef LaFrentz and the rights to Rudy Fernandez.
Portland basically gives up an entire starting five to get Kidd, but they could have a starting lineup next season of Kidd, Roy, Darius Miles, Aldridge and Oden, with a bench of Martell Webster, James Jones, Steve Blake, Sergio Rodriguez and Ghostface Przybilla. And they have a first rounder next year they could use to add someone like Kevin Love (says nbadraft.net). That team wouldn’t have a better chance at winning a title than the current Blazers?
(And I understand that Darius Miles is a huge question mark, but I think if put him out there with Kidd and tell him to run the floor, he’ll suddenly be a whole lot happier than he ever was before.)
Jersey, meanwhile, would have an influx of guys who can run, shoot and jump. Plus Raef LaFrentz. And their team will be young enough to listen to Larry Frank without tuning him out.
• Finally, if you haven’t seen this yet, you should check it out.
68 Responses to “Links: Why Portland Needs Jason Kidd”
Jan.31 at 5:08 pm
Ahmed says:
every body else sucks on there team
the might be good to sum other people but not
to me
and jason kidd should stay with new jersey
they good
and way better than portland
Jan.31 at 5:10 pm
RM # 0 says:
first
Jan.31 at 5:12 pm
RM # 0 says:
ROTFLOL on the skip/lue anecdote ( no disrespect ‘wifey’)
Jan.31 at 5:13 pm
Ryan Jones says:
“Dosing”? Lang, you need to get I—– some help.
Unless you meant dozing…
Jan.31 at 5:17 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Also, I didn’t know Boomer was so religious.
Jan.31 at 5:20 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
@Ryan: Whoops. Fixed.
Jan.31 at 5:20 pm
Captain America says:
Lang, Portland seems plausible. After the major win campaign, they are 4-6 in their last ten games. Also, they could use a savvy vet like Kidd to help stabilize the (well) kidds.
Jan.31 at 5:20 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Jason Kidd makes no sense in Portland. Is he going to help Roy defend guys like LeBron? No. Are the Blazers going to contend for a championship within the next two years? Doubtful. Is Jason Kidd going to be 37 years old in two years? Yes. I fully understand that they’re going to need to thin the herd at some point, but God, don’t let them do it that way. Heck, I’d rather see them do the three-for-one deal for Devin Harris than go after Kidd now.
Jan.31 at 5:21 pm
white hot eboy says:
I love the Wifey/Lang interaction. My wife, this season, comes up to me after each Heat game and says “did the lose again?” My answer almost every time has been “yeah, they fuc*ing lost again” and her response is “they suck”. Thank’s babe. That’s my existence right now.
Jan.31 at 5:23 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
And Darius Miles? Starting? THE Darius Miles? Lang, you need to stop the seven-martini lunches.
Jan.31 at 5:27 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
I need to start the seven martini lunches first. For real.
Jan.31 at 5:30 pm
Cub Buenning says:
eboy, no doubt, love that exchange. My wife, however, (a college player) comes into my downstairs office last night to tell me that the Memphis game was on, just on CSTV. Love her.
Too bad she has soured so much on her Lakers. Ironically enough, Tyron Lue is one of her least favorite players.
Jan.31 at 5:30 pm
TADOne says:
That Chris Berman clip was f*cking hilarious. I knew he was prick when the camera turned off.
Jan.31 at 5:31 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Glad to hear Ms. G is ok.
Jan.31 at 5:34 pm
Bryan says:
That berman clip was hilarious.
Jan.31 at 5:38 pm
TADOne says:
NBADraft.net had OJ Mayo going 10th?!?!
Jan.31 at 5:41 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Wifey: Whatever. Yes hahaha this made me laugh for real. I love that you made the connection because I did not see where it was going! I guess I’ll know someone is truly date-worthy if I am able to sit down and watch ball with them. I usually can’t hack it and have to watch the game alone. The links about watching the game with your wife last year (?), was one of my favorite of all time.
Jan.31 at 5:42 pm
says says:
so is lang’s wife’s name the new mysterious thing that no one knows? (following mrs. glen rice…)
Jan.31 at 5:44 pm
Jer Boi says:
wait isnt kidd all defense first and second a few times? how is it not a strong suit for kidd?
Jan.31 at 5:45 pm
Ben Osborne says:
OJ is slipping Tad. I was texting about this with Ryan last night, but after all is said and done Bill Walker might end up being the better pro. I won’t be mad at him. And oh yeah, Boomer!!!!
Jan.31 at 5:46 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Incidentally, I’m also not mad we had OJ on the cover in the preseason, when expectations were super-high and reality was unknown. Not that he hasn’t had a decent season or won’t be solid in the NBA, but he would no longer make sense on the cover like he did in September.
Jan.31 at 5:46 pm
mike says:
Defense is never a strong suit of Jason Kidd? Are you a moron? He is considered to be the best defensive PG of this generation next to Gary Payton. He is not what he used to be but he can still shutdown bigger guards. Ask Michael Redd and Turkoglu what he did to them this year. Did you even watch basketball the past 10 years? Jesus.
Jan.31 at 5:47 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
its like noone here has ever worked on tv before,,,,,jesus
Jan.31 at 5:48 pm
TADOne says:
I know he is slipping, but 10?! Really? That is a big slip for someone with so much hype.
Jan.31 at 5:49 pm
Bryan says:
I think OJ will be fine , everyone wanted him to score 30 a game but he’s playing well. We all knew he was not in the athletic class of a Wade or Lebron.
Jan.31 at 5:49 pm
TADOne says:
But I saw Bill Walker last night and he is looking really good playing next to Beasley.
Jan.31 at 5:49 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
langs wife, if i recall correctly, is some type of latina, quite possibly guatamalan.
Jan.31 at 5:50 pm
Bro. D. says:
Lil’ Earl Boykins is a Bobcat. Yea.
Jan.31 at 5:51 pm
poohbiz says:
Haha the berman clip is the highlight of the week, make that the month. Why no mention of the denver scenario lang?
Jan.31 at 5:52 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I so hope they were f*cking with him on purpose.
Jan.31 at 5:56 pm
Kev says:
First of all kid is always considered first team for defense, second devin harris is defintely not that much of a better jumpshooter than kidd, last but not least kidd wants to go to a contender not future contenders buddy. Your crazy man
Jan.31 at 5:57 pm
Cheez says:
“Dallas’s guards always talk about defense-first (never a strong suit of Kidd)” Lang… I know this doesn’t mean he’s Bruce Bowen, but Kidd was All-NBA First Team in 03-04, 01-02, 00-01 and 98-99 and Second Team in 04-05, 02-03 and 99-00. That’s gotta count for at least SOMETHING, right?
Jan.31 at 5:59 pm
Milan says:
I guess Blazers going for Kidd would not be a bad idea, I’m not entirely sure if that’s the move Kidd would be looking for, so it might not have a good effect on his mood.
Also veteran guys wanting to get moved or in any other way want to end up on teams, where they can get their first and usually only ring, annoy me.
Um Holly isn’t it easier to find a guy to watch the games with than to find a girl?
Jan.31 at 6:00 pm
Cub Buenning says:
People in the state of Oregon don’t like the native son Love.
Jan.31 at 6:01 pm
Bro. D. says:
Does no one care that Bogues 2.0 is in Charlotte? I’m fairly certain that this is mentioned in Revelations.
Jan.31 at 6:05 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Is there a better name for a 5-5 NBA player than ‘Earl Boykins’?
Jan.31 at 6:05 pm
biz says:
Nets and Portland would be stupid to make that deal. Nets can just give Kidd away. He’s the centerpiece of their entire existence. Portland has a young team and needs to just keep developing it. But you are right, Kidd to Dallas makes no sense and they are tops in the West with Harris at the point. Why would they ruin it to get a guy almost finished who makes $20 mil a year, can’t shoot, or defend Parker, Paul, D Williams, etc?
Jan.31 at 6:07 pm
biz says:
Sorry, I meant Nets CAN’T give Kidd away. The really are better off waiting to make a deal for Carter or Jefferson.
Jan.31 at 6:18 pm
Jake says:
I just dont agree with trading away 5 people just so you can have Jason Kidd for 2-3 years at the same level he’s playing right now.He IS the ageless wonder but still….his trade value cant be that high.and offering 3 of the best young players the blazers have for devin harris? Whoever came up with that rumor must be smoking some good crack cuase devin harris is a.a point gaurd,someone they have 3 of already and b. doesnt have the skill equal to any of them.Bah Humbug
Jan.31 at 6:20 pm
joe says:
I bet you the homeless man was a sports journalist…..
Jan.31 at 6:32 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Jason Kidd is a human hot potato. Do you want to be holding onto him when the bottom suddenly falls out? And you KNOW he’d want a multi-year extension from whoever traded for him. Then you’re looking at Shaq II.
Jan.31 at 6:37 pm
Darksaber says:
Lang, “brushing him off like a gnat”? Oh come now. Lebron went left without hesitation when Brandon was clearly playing off his right hand, surprised the heck out of him really. He DID brush off multiple swipes at the ball from LaMarcus et al, but Brandon was on the wrong foot on the King’s (that nickname makes more and more sense with every game he plays, unbelievable). And your opening, with the blackberry? Genius story. Thanks
Jan.31 at 6:38 pm
Bryan says:
I dunno if Kidd is gonna fall off the way shaq did.
Jan.31 at 6:40 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I don’t know if he will, either. Actually I doubt he will. But if I’m Portland, do I want to give him, say, a three-year, $45 million extension? I’d imagine he’d ask for at least that much.
Jan.31 at 6:44 pm
Bryan says:
Yeah I don’t think a team like portland should pay that.
Jan.31 at 6:47 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I also was thinking of what happened to the Bulls, and how the addition of Ben Wallace all of a sudden threw them into fast-forward where they had to win NOW or else be a failure. I’d rather see the Blazers grow as a team and let the cards fall where they may. Make decisions when you have to, and play out the string this year. And maybe a younger, cheaper guy becomes available down the road. Adding Kidd means you pretty much HAVE to win a title in the next two years. That’s unfair to everyone.
Jan.31 at 6:54 pm
Bryan says:
That’s what I was going to say, I think Kidd would be better off with a team that has a chance to win a championship without him and he could be another cog, rather than the missing piece.
Jan.31 at 6:55 pm
Gerard Himself says:
Lang: what I would like to know: why do people, like yourself, still have faith in Darius Miles?
Jan.31 at 6:57 pm
TADOne says:
Kidd would be perfect on the team that could have had him last year: the Lakers. Of course, the Lakers aren’t giving up Bynum or even 3/4 of that for him now, but I think he would be perfect on that team.
Jan.31 at 6:58 pm
Wayne says:
Do you think you could give N.J. something of value. Maybe throw in a bag off balls. I’d sooner keep him in N.J. No value for N.J.
Jan.31 at 7:05 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
@Gerard: As Gilbert Arenas told me this summer, “Did you hear about Darius Miles? He’s skinny again.”
Jan.31 at 7:11 pm
TADOne says:
Was DMiles ever NOT skinny? Did he get a new attitude too?
Jan.31 at 7:30 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Darius got all swole for a while (when he was a Cav, I think) and slowed down a lot. The big question is whether he’s actually learned how to play basketball yet.
Jan.31 at 7:32 pm
Esco says:
they got a picture up of Miles on NBA.com…the Portland team photo shoot…
Jan.31 at 7:34 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
The best Miles-related shot is the one of his ridiculous car with Nate McMillan looking at it as if it were a Martian spacecraft.
Jan.31 at 7:47 pm
Bryan says:
I hear Stro Swift to New Jersey , on one hand playing with Jason Kidd will make him look good on the other hand they already have a rich man’s stro swift in Sean Wlliams right?
Jan.31 at 8:22 pm
Bombsquad says:
Great piece Lang, I mean it was the semi-positive thing I’ve read about Dmiles in about 2 years. Dmiles an allstar in 09!!
Jan.31 at 8:44 pm
nothin personal says:
If I was Pritchard I would try to squeeze Hinrich out of Chicago in a three team deal that has Kidd going to the Bulls, Jack, Frye and bad contracts(along with draft picks) to the Nets, for Hinrich and maybe a draft pick.
Jan.31 at 8:55 pm
Phil B says:
this is a horrible idea. whoever said this was just like wallace and the bulls is correct.
Jan.31 at 9:33 pm
dma says:
kidd would be a good mentor for sergio rodriguez. the blazers are high on rudy though and he hasnt even played a minute here.
Feb.1 at 10:07 am
Froggiestyle says:
Chris Berman - Gangsta!#@$%$#!@%^&$%$#% JEZUZ!
Feb.1 at 12:54 pm
Cub Buenning says:
A backcourt vet is a good idea for the Blaze, but i agree with Russ, not one with the cash-demands of a Kidd.
Remember, they are a just a couple years away from opening the vault for their young stars. Oh yeah, they are going to have Greg Oden on their team next year…..
Feb.1 at 5:24 pm
Paniscus says:
To quote the Immortal Walton, this idea is “horrible.” The idea that the Blazers need Kidd to get the ball out of Roy’s hands goes against what led to the Blazers’ success this season: getting the ball into Brandon’s hands. I understand that the team needs to shed some players, but it’d be better to do it by picking up a young guy that’ll help in the future. Kidd would be locker room cancer, which could seriously stunt this team’s growth. No bueno.
Feb.1 at 10:18 pm
Hubert says:
lang whitaker’s wife’s husband. haha
Feb.3 at 3:16 pm
Uhm says:
Lang, I know you live in NYC so you’re not up on all things Blazer, but Travis Outlaw is as popular a guy as they have. They trade him, people burn down the Rose Garden. Oh, and giving up the rights to Rudy before he comes over? C’mon. Let the Blazers grow. They need JKidd like they need someone telling them that DMiles will start next year.
(By the way, that’s how you judge if someone knows anything about P-Town. If they say that DMiles is going to be ANY part of the future, you immediately write them off as Blazer-ignorant.)
Feb.5 at 7:40 pm
orteezy says:
WE DON’T CYCLE THROUGH 8 POINT GUARDS!!!! JUST THREE AND WHY DO YOU THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE FRESH BODIES TO STICK DAGGERS IN OPPOSING TEAMS ***WE DO NOT NEED AN OVERRATED PLAYER LIKE JASON KIDD***
Feb.6 at 6:48 am
bates says:
u can tell kidd wants out of new jersey, he tried 2 throw 1 down on the break!!!!!
Feb.26 at 3:18 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Links: What The Kidd Did says:
[…] A few weeks ago I had an email exchange with Henry Abbott (BTW, I think it’s way past time that we start calling Henry “Hank”) about a Kidd-to-the-Blazers column I wrote, and at one point I had to tell Henry/Hank, “I can’t believe I’m defending Jason Kidd like this.” Because these days, nobody seems to like Jason Kidd. […]