Kidd Speaks, Denies Protest

Jason Kidd said none of what you read today was true.

As expected, Kidd denied the various reports that he staged a protest last night because he was unhappy the Nets weren’t winning or meeting his price on a contract extension.

Although multiple sources close to the team said Kidd was boycotting the loss to the Knicks to prove a point, Kidd said he indeed had a migraine headache. He said suffered from being hit in the mouth the night before in the Nets’ win at Cleveland.

The Nets’ captain said he still had a headache today, but he came in to the Nets’ practice facility to get in a workout. Kidd also said he never asked for a trade, doesn’t want to be traded and hopes to end his career as a Net.

He didn't sound upset, as he said he didn't read any of the reports. Kidd said people called him to tell him what was written. One of the people was his mom.

You will see much more of this on the print side tomorrow, but here are some quick hits from Kidd:

On what happened:
“I had a migraine. I didn’t feel good. I’m sorry that I couldn’t help the team last night, but unfortunately I had a migraine. I followed procedure. I told our trainer after the game. … This has caught me by surprise with all the speculation that if I get sick. I am human. That’s what it was.”

On being unhappy about his contract:
“I am blessed to have the contract that I have. I would never abuse the game of basketball. You always have to do the right thing. For me, I have a contract. I’m very happy with that.

That he’s frustrated:
“I’m not frustrated. I think we’re all disappointed with the way we’re playing as a team. We’ve been very inconsistent and that all falls on my shoulders as the captain. You have to try and get guys to player at a higher level. That’s my fault in that sense and I take that responsibility.

More on his absence:
“I’m human. At the end of the day I’m human. I’ve played with one leg. I’ve played with a broken rib. Yesterday I just couldn’t go. There was no plan on me not going. I just didn’t feel I couldn’t help the team.”

On whether he's upset by the reports:

"I don’t know. It baffles me that I was sick and I couldn’t go yesterday. The only thing I did was have a paid sick day. Everybody here has done that. Everybody’s taking notice and everybody now says I don’t want to be here. I’m having one of my best seasons. Why would I want to ask to be traded? And as a team we’re doing better than last year."

It's unclear at this time what the Nets' next course of action is, whether they will extend Kidd's contract, try and deal him, or try and upgrade the team.

Comments

[Greg]

Everyone take a collective sigh of relief. This could've gotten even uglier. Glad to see Kidd rebuke these rumors and speculation. However, I still think he's unhappy with the current team. I think a move needs to be made. RJ's stock is high, his playing great, now is the best time to deal him. I'm hoping we get something done ON or around Dec 15th, not wait until January.

I thought up a 3-team deal that makes some sense and will work under CBA rules. Everyone is saying RJ to IND won't work cause a third team needs to be involved. Well here we go...

We send RJ to LAC for Maggette/Thomas/Ross we then send Marcus/Antoine/Krstic/Boki/Magloire/Collins to IND for JO.

Think about it for a sec...we get depth at the 2/3 with Maggette/Thomas/Ross. We use our expirings (3 this year, 1 next year in Collins) plus they get future PG and a big in Krstic who could return to form (will need a pay day next year)

We sign a combo guard via free agency because I'm not comfortable with Armstrong/Gill to backup Kidd the rest of the year. Plus we sign a PF/C via free agency to provide depth and insurance. What other team needs a SF like RJ?

[Superbad]

That post above is just freaking retarded.

[Superbad]

We need to honestly think about trading VC if Kidd honestly has a problem with him. Sometimes less is more. I wouldn't mind trading VC for a 40 percent 3 point shooter, a decent role playing big, and probably a pic if we can get one. One trade I like is a trade to the Grizz for Miller and Swift. I'm not a Swift fan. He does have a playing option this summer(which I doubt he uses), and is a free agent in 09. So he, Collins, and probably Kidd all comes off the cap at the sametime. If we can pull a three team trade and send Swift to the Nuggets for Najera who's a smarter and tougher player, I think I would feel much better. I'm a big Miller fan, who's a proven shooter, with great ballhandling skills. He knows his role, plus he has guts. He's not a great defender, but we can go Offense and Defense with Wright on the roster.

[KASON]

WE HAVE TWO TRADE WE CAN DO THE FIRST TRY TRADING VC TO IND FOR JONEAL OR VCTO SIXER FOR THERE THERE NUMBER TWO IG NUMBER 9BECAUSE VC DONT HAVE IT ANY MORE HE OLD IN HURT ALL THE TIME WITH YOUNG GUY KID IN RJ CAN MAKE IT WORK

[Greg]

Your retarded. RJ is the one being dealt. His stock is at it's highest. Obviously you don't know what you're talking about or have any basis to respond, please explain. IND gets expiring contracts and a future young PG. IND doesn't "need" RJ from past reports. So we deal him elsewhere to get depth at the 2/3.

VC isn't going ANYWHERE. The only way VC leaves is if Kidd leaves too. If we deal RJ for a legit PF/C, we're better off than we are now.