Claims that Jason Kidd will visit San Antonio July 6-7 as part of his free agency experience yesterday triggered a chain of questions and denials regarding potential illegal contact before the July 1 negotiating period.

Privately, the Nets must wonder how the fixed dates were determined without contact between the Spurs and Kidd. Teams may negotiate starting Tuesday and then sign free agents July 16. Prior contact is forbidden.

"We have spoken to the Spurs and they have assured us that they have not and will not have any contact with free agents until July 1," a league spokesman said yesterday.

And Kidd's agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, reiterated what he said Thursday night when the report aired on ESPN that Kidd intended to visit on those days, eventually sign on July 16 and also had interest in Dallas, Denver plus the Nets. Schwartz indicated that no dates have been set and there has been no illegal contact.

But you can't blame the Nets for being a little touchy. The Spurs were less than tickled in 2000 when there were reports, prior to the negotiating date, that both Tim Duncan and Grant Hill would visit Orlando on the same weekend.