4 Reasons Why Kidd Won't Get Traded to LA

By Craig Kwasniewski

The local media here in LA needs to calm the F down! The trade talk du jour has the New Jersey Nets sending Jason Kidd to the Lakers for a bag of shit expiring contracts. I've never been a fan of trade speculation talk, it's time filler for lazy sportstalk radio hosts and it gives a bunch of idiot fans a chance to call in with their suggestions.

Anyway, here's four reasons why the Jason Kidd trade won't happen:

1. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak doesn't make midseason trades. The last time the Lakers franchise made a midseason trade was 1999 with the Glen Rice-Eddie Jones trade, back in the Jerry West era. Maybe the pressure of a trade deadline or simply thinking on his feet, but Kupchak is a no-show every February.

2. The Lakers are going for Kevin Garnett this summer. I read in a Sam Smith article that Garnett can opt out of his T-Wolves contract this summer. He's got a home in Malibu, his favorite team as a child is the Lakers and he'd make the perfect number two to Kobe. Garnett would guarantee title contention in LA for three years. Kidd's contract would lock up the Lakers through 2008-09 and kill the deal.

3. Nets GM Rod Thorn isn't retarded. Rod Thorn is one of the new decent GM's out there an he's very aware of Kidd's value to the Nets. Richard Jefferson alone owes 50% of his paycheck to Jason Kidd creating layups off the break. Unless Thorn gets an enticing offer (Brian Cook, Chris Mihm and a Grammy gift bag is not that!) this deal is dead.

4. The triangle offense doesn't allow for mid-season acquisitions. I keep hearing that Kidd is so good that he'll fit in the with the Lakers system, but isn't that what we heard with Gary Payton back in 2004? The triangle offense takes roughly two years to learn and it best fits spot shooters and slashers, neither of Kidd's specialties.

On Friday, Jason Kidd will still be with the New Jersey Nets.

Comments

[Brett]

Nice photo choice. A couple of things:

- The trade rumor is officially Mihm, Kwame, and Farmar, with Magloire going from Portland to NJ as the third team involved. Expiring contract, serviceable big (in the East) and young talent (Farmar) is a decent return for Kidd's bloated contract.

- I don't think Mitch is smart enough to hold off on this and wait for KG. Remember the "plan" to wait for all those free agents to become available (Stoudemire, etc.), then all those players just signed extensions with their current team and the Lakers got no one.

I think the deal for Kidd is very likely, although I agree with you that it's not the best fit.

[Chris Clarke]

Craig, thank you for keeping level on this. Jason Kidd isn't going to get traded because NJ will miss the playoffs if he goes. No playoffs means less ticket sales. In a few years this team is going to Brooklyn, so rebuilding isn't an option because people are already not showing up to games in Jersey.

This trade doesn't improve the Nets now, but it helps them in the future. Right now, they're fighting for the #4 seed in the East, which is wide open. This summer they lose Carter anyway, so this is their chance at making a playoff push.

This trade isn't happening.

[coach]

but you forgot , what phil wants , mitch gets !

[Craig]

"but you forgot , what phil wants , mitch gets!"

And then Jim and Jerry Buss reject it!

[Dan]

From what I have heard the Laker front office has all signed off on the trade. The thing holding it up is the New Jersy front office. They are holding our for Bynum and the lakes want nothing to do with losing Bynum. If New Jersey is willing to not demand Bynum then the deal will be done sometime tomorrow morning.

I think your right though and the trade will not happen but I would love to see it happen.

[Dan]

From what I have heard the Laker front office has all signed off on the trade. The thing holding it up is the New Jersy front office. They are holding our for Bynum and the lakes want nothing to do with losing Bynum. If New Jersey is willing to not demand Bynum then the deal will be done sometime tomorrow morning.

I think your right though and the trade will not happen but I would love to see it happen.

[coach]

you forgot , what phil wants ...mitch gets ...and jim and jerry bush reject it ...but KOBE INSISTS THAT IT BE DONE PRONTO .
and the lakers hierachy can't do anything but comply .

[Craig]

Maybe that's why the Lakers are very serious about the trade and it's New Jersey that has cold feet. It's just that when Artest and Baron Davis were available, Jim Buss was the one who shot down those deals, despite Kobe and Phil both wanting them.

[australiajho]

often caught it then did accomplish removing

[Tessie]

Now we know who the sneibsle one is here. Great post!