According to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, the Los Angeles Lakers have a plan to try to acquire Nets star Jason Kidd for a couple draft picks, Kwame Brown's expiring contract ($9M), Jordan Farmar ($1M) and Vladimir Radmanovic ($5.6M with an additional $19.2M over the next three seasons). Not unexpectedly, the Nets aren't interested in assuming Radmanovic's long-term guarantee. There's nothing not to love about Farmar, yet New Jersey already has a promising, young caretaker in Marcus Williams.

According to Vecsey, another source believes the Cavaliers (Drew Gooden) and Mavericks (Erick Dampier) are in better position to provide the Nets with frontcourt help, but neither team nor the Lakers can offer more than the Nuggets - an almost-rehabbed Nene or Marcus Camby vs. Kenyon Martin. Coach George Karl urgently wants Kidd to free Allen Iverson to concentrate exclusively on scoring. Aside from one of the two aforementioned big men, Denver is prepared to kick in Linas Kleiza and JR Smith.

The San Antonio Spurs retired the No. 6 worn by former Spurs' guard Avery Johnson on Saturday night.

The 5-foot-11 Johnson, now the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, spent parts of 10 seasons with the Spurs during his 16-year career and was part of the 1999 championship team. His 18-foot jumper with 47 seconds to play in Game 5 against the New York Knicks was the final basket of the game and led to a 78-77 Spurs' win and their first title.

"I've accomplished a lot during my 16-year career, and I think this is really going to cap it off," Johnson said before the ceremony.

Following a big-screen tribute to Johnson featuring his crucial jumper in the 1999 finals, a gigantic No. 6 jersey was unveiled from behind a black cloth in the rafters of the AT&T Center.

Johnson compared his NBA experience to an apple and thanked all of San Antonio for "allowing me to taste it."

"Thank you for allowing me to do it," Johnson said. "And no matter where I go or what I do, No. 6, I'll still be hanging right there."

Though both teams continue to deny it vehemently, a rival general manager said last week he's still hearing talk of a Nets-Mavs' deal involving Jason Kidd.

Kidd is said to be upset that Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson have better contracts than he does.

Dallas remains Kidd's most likely destination, but the Lakers are frequently mentioned. The Lakers' refusal to give up Bynum for Kidd last winter now looks awfully smart. The Lakers have Kwame Brown's $9 million expiring contract and some young pieces and draft picks that might make sense for the Nets. And, the Mavs have plenty in reserve to make a deal as well.

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have assigned guard Maurice Ager to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

The one-year pro has seen action in seven games this season starting three times.  He has averages of 2.1 points and 0.6 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game.  Against San Antonio (11/5), he finished with a season-high 5 points, 2 rebounds and a career-high 3 assists.

Eddie Jones appears to have passed the test set out by Avery Johnson at practice yesterday and may be in the lineup when the Mavericks take on the Raptors tonight in Toronto, the Dallas Morning News is reporting.

"He worked awfully hard," Johnson said. "This was his best practice. We had some weight goals and conditioning goals, and he made both of those. In the 3-point shooting, he came up a little short, but he worked awfully hard."

Listen up: NBA coaches aren't too pleased about wearing microphones during nationally televised games.

Avery Johnson and George Karl became the first to clip on the little wires when their teams met in a game shown on TNT on Thursday night. Both made it clear they're only doing it because they have to, reflecting an attitude shared by colleagues throughout the league.

"I wouldn't say (I'm) ready. But with the company I work for, it's mandatory," Johnson said before tip-off. "We just have to adjust."

The microphones are only part of some new rules aimed at taking fans a step closer to the action whenever TNT, ESPN or ABC cameras arrive.

Jason Kidd was "on strike," last night several team sources claimed, and he essentially called in sick, perhaps in an effort to force a trade from the Nets or get a contract extension.

According to the New York Post, Coach Lawrence Frank said Kidd phoned him complaining of a migraine yesterday at about 2 p.m. Kidd never showed for last night's 100-93 defeat against the Knicks, also short-handed, in the Meadowlands.

Maybe it was the contract extension he sought and did not receive. Maybe it is the general state of the team. Maybe it is a desire for a trade. Whatever the reason, whatever the cause, Kidd chose a game against the division rival Knicks to state his case. And the Nets certainly proved how much they need Kidd, losing to the 6-11 Knicks who were without Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury.

"He's on strike," on team source said.

Kidd's teammates were tight-lipped, though one claimed, "I can't picture Jason doing that. I would be disappointed if he did."

But another source said the Nets were planning on - if not already - talking to Dallas, the Lakers and perhaps Cleveland about a trade. Kidd nearly was traded to the Lakers last February.

Kidd played 30 minutes Tuesday in Cleveland and chatting with LeBron James afterward.

Devin Harris will play tonight, but there's a chance San Antonio's Manu Ginobili won't.

The Spurs, already without Tim Duncan, will wait until game time to decide if Ginobili can go. Their sixth man, who is averaging 19.4 points per game, suffered a jammed index finger on his shooting hand (left) in Sunday's win over Portland.

Meanwhile, Harris said he felt improved Tuesday after getting a neck strain Monday night at Chicago, when Joakim Noah came down on him.

"Stiff or not, I'm playing," Harris said.