By the time the Knicks take Jason Kidd on a grand tour of Madison Square Garden Wednesday, Mark Cuban will have already made an offer to keep the veteran point guard in Dallas.
Cuban, the Mavs owner, confirmed to The News in an e-mail Tuesday that he planned to meet with Kidd at 12:01 a.m., the official start of the free agent recruiting period. It is believed that the Mavs will offer Kidd a contract starting at $8 million per over two years with an option for a third.
Unless the Knicks negotiate a sign-and-trade with Kidd and Dallas, the club can offer him only its mid-level exception starting at approximately $5.8 million. Knicks president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni are hoping to convince Kidd that he can rejuvenate a doormat franchise the same way he did nearly 10 years ago in New Jersey.
Kidd is intrigued by the possibility of playing and living in New York, which is both good and bad for the Knicks. He would provide leadership, assuming the 36-year-old point guard is committed to the team and not just spending the twilight years of his career enjoying Manhattan.
The Knicks, however, believe the addition of Kidd would bring instant credibility and would strengthen their chances of possibly adding LeBron James or Dwyane Wade when the two superstars become free agents in 2010.
By the time Walsh meets with Kidd he will have already reached out to restricted free agents David Lee and Nate Robinson to officially tell them the team wants to re-sign both. There are conflicting reports on how much the Knicks are willing to spend on Lee, who is certain to attract plenty of interest.
A team source claims the Knicks will offer Lee a four-year deal worth $32 million, which is below his asking price of $10 million per season. The Knicks have the right to match any offer given to Lee, as well as Robinson, but the club wants to remain fiscally responsible as it pertains to the summer of 2010.
"There's no question he'd love to stay in New York," Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein said yesterday. "But you are only a free agent so many times in our career, especially in the prime of your career."
Portland is expected to make a strong push for Lee, who averaged career bests in scoring (16 points) and rebounds (11.7). Detroit and Oklahoma City also have the cap room to make Lee a substantial offer.
It is no coincidence that the Knicks drafted a power forward (Jordan Hill) and a guard (Toney Douglas) as insurance in case they lose Lee and Robinson. Of the two, the Knicks seem more committed to keeping Lee. Robinson could stick around if he were to accept the Knicks' $2.9 million qualifying offer. The Knicks also have the option of working out a sign-and-trade with either Lee or Robinson.
If Walsh can't land Kidd, the Knicks would pursue Milwaukee restricted free agent guard Ramon Sessions, who once played summer ball in South Carolina for Knicks assistant coach Dan D'Antoni.
The Knicks, according to a source, also intend to talk to Suns free agent Grant Hill. However, Phoenix is looking to re-sign Hill, who has expressed an interest in returning to the club.
