Why Kidd?

A lot of fans have reacted to the possibility of acquiring Jason Kidd as either impossible or as the biggest blunder in basketball history.

I don't think such a trade is impossible. The latter assertion is more interesting.

Detractors of Isiah and critics of acquiring a 35 year old point guard have one argument in common. That is, that Kidd is too old for a youth movement. The reason they're wrong is simple. A balanced team doesn't need to be exclusively young or seasoned or superstars.

If the Knicks were loaded with young, developing talent such an argument would not only be true but compelling as well. after all, long suffering knicks fans are not masochists nor do they deserve any more pain.

Unfortunately the Knicks are not loaded with young developing talent but they are loaded with trade bait. A number of Isiah's calculated risk trades have run their course.

Curry, once expected to blossom into a top five center for the Knicks, has not developed as expected and, more disturbingly, a fan sitting close to the NY Knicks bench observed Curry mockingly rooting for his teammates after being asked to do something, anything to contribute to the team.

Curry is not yet a bust nor is his contract prohibitively unreasonable for someone to take a chance on him.

Likewise, Jamal Crawford has become a teaser in New York - showing an occasional flash of greatness only to vanish on the defensive end of the court and then for games at a time on the offensive side as well. Lots of teams would love having Crawford as a pseudo-superstar who will provide a weekly video clip that amazes but in NY he cannot and will never have what it takes to lead the team up the standings.

The rest of the team consists of largely tradable assets. Players who border on being starters, most just role players.

Given the reality of the situation, only David Lee,Nate Robinson, and our first round pick would be hard to part with. And in the right deal even these assets aren't untouchable.

So why the crocodile tears about trading youth for some older players? IMO, there is a contingent of fans who believe that the lottery guarantees a quality player pick. Never mind that it doesn't and never mind that quality players can be acquired as well as drafted, these fans believe that a Knicks crash landing will assure the firing of Isiah as well.

The truth of the matter is that Mardy Collins is a few years away from becoming a starting NBA point guard and there's no other real relief in sight. Jason Kidd would be an excellent trade for NY. Yes, he's 35 and yes his best days may be behind him but the Knicks are not entirely hopeless and a player like Kidd might provide the missing spark and leadership the Knicks so desperately need. And remember I'm saying it could be an excellent trade. I'm not saying its an ideal trade - personally I prefer Andre Miller to Kidd.

As I wrote yesterday, any such blockbuster trade will involve more players than just Kidd and my guess is that Carter and his contract will have to come in tow. The very idea of a NJ/NY trade of this magnitude today seems impossible but it might be exactly what is needed to resuscitate interest in two moribund franchises.

I feel, like most Knick fans, that neither Lee nor the #1 pick would be part of any such deal. Kidd, Carter and the other Nets in play aren't spring chickens nor are their contracts all that desirable per se.

It is delusional to think that the Mavs and Nets have any trade possibilities that would trump what the Knicks can offer. If Thorn traded Kidd for Dampier and Jason Terry's long term contract he'd lose his job. The Mavs will need a third team far more ignorant than the Nets to acquire Kidd.

As you look around the league, few teams are in the market for a huge contract. Thorn will have his hands full trying to get value. All the Knicks have to do is offer good value.

It may cost the Knicks Balkman or Morris but the cost must be weighed against the alarming drift toward chronic mediocrity both teams are experiencing.

If Dave Checketts were still running the Knicks he would not be sitting around like a happy camper. The Knicks need a defensive center and a point guard and his phone would be ringing off the hook.