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Kidd Daydreams Of Playing With LeBron In Cleveland?
"I always keep in touch with LeBron," said Kidd, who became friends with James while they played for USA Basketball last summer in Las Vegas. "I think the sky's the limit for him. We hung out a lot this summer in Vegas, and I appreciate the work ethic, that he doesn't just rely on his talent and that he wants to get as much information as possible. Me being on another team, I don't mind cheering for somebody because I want him to be the best that he can be" Kidd admits that he and James daydream about contending for championships together in Cleveland. "There's a little talk," Kidd said. "But I told him, 'What-ifs can get you in trouble. You go out there and do your thing, and if I don't get to play with you until this summer [at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing], then that's the way it's meant to be. But the big thing is for you to go out there and lead your team.' And that's what he's doing." Kidd told SI.com Tuesday that he has no plans to publicly force a trade -- an attempt that failed three years ago. So long as he keeps playing at a high level, Kidd is convinced he'll wind up playing for a contender, whether in New Jersey or elsewhere. "In this business; it always works out somehow, some way," he said. "And if you start to manage stuff, it tends to go the opposite way and it doesn't help you. I've been there, done that." "So you just play it out. This is my job. That's what you have to do. You learn from what you've gone through early on in your career, and you tend not to make that same kind of mistake." New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Teammates Say Jason Kidd's Criticism Helped Turnaround Road Trip
He also said the team had a "glass jaw" and that he felt there was "no light at the end of the tunnel." Kidd's harsh assessment gave some the impression that he eventually would ask to be traded if the Nets didn't turn things around. But by the time the final game of the trip ended late Sunday night, Kidd was everything a captain is supposed to be. Several teammates credited Kidd with jump-starting the team, which had lost five straight going into the first game of the Western swing in Utah. "Every time the captain speaks up, and the guys know about it, it's like a wakeup call for you," said Bostjan Nachbar. "It was for me. And since then, everyone has stepped up." Since Kidd's comments, the Nets have won three straight to reach .500 (7-7). Mentally, they are in a much different state than they were one week ago. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Krstic 'Lost And Confused'
Krstic has done a poor impression of the player who shot over 50 percent in his first two-plus seasons. With his conditioning lagging, his reaction time increasing, his numbers plunging, Krstic said he realizes he has a long way to go following surgery for a torn left ACL. "I really am not helping the team at all. They can do without me so maybe it's just better to shut down and work out and get ready in a couple weeks, maybe more," Krstic said. "I don't know how long it's going to take." Coach Lawrence Frank has tried bringing Krstic along slowly. He's tried the work-him-hard way. Neither has worked. But they're going back to intensive work. Which means Krstic likely will play even less in the short term. "Right now we're going to give him very intense workouts, individual workouts, to build up his cardio and game rhythm. Then we'll give him a taste during games, see if he's going well, let him in. If he's not going well we'll get him out," Frank said. "Hopefully, over the course of the next couple weeks due to these workouts, he'll be able to pick up a little steam." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Nets Nov 2007 Archive
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Jason Kidd has voiced some concern with the prospects of the Nets and also has a budding relationship with LeBron James, begging the question of whether or not the two could eventually team up.
"I feel lost," said the Nets' Nenad Krstic. "Confused. I don't know really what to do right now to get really back."