The Nets' owners made a bold financial commitment to sign center Alonzo Mourning, taking a risk on a player who has a rare kidney disease because they knew it would persuade Jason Kidd to stay in New Jersey.

Several league officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Nets guaranteed Mourning's four-year contract, worth about $22 million, despite knowing that it is quite likely the team will not be insured if Mourning has a relapse.

They signed Mourning because other teams, notably Dallas, were also believed to be willing to waive an injury exclusion from a contract, according to two league officials.

Mourning missed all but the last 13 games of the 2000-1 season because he had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. He missed all of last season before being cleared to play in May by his doctors. "There's no doubt it's a risk," Donnie Walsh, the Pacers' chief executive for basketball, said. "It goes back to risk-reward and if that reward is great."

The Nets will see when the season begins. The team has scheduled a news conference for tomorrow to announce a "free-agent signing," one that is intended for Mourning. Kidd is planning to be out of town, playing in the Celebrity Golf Classic in Lake Tahoe, Nev.

Phone calls to the Nets' president, Rod Thorn, were not returned. Jeff Wechsler, Mourning's agent, said he would not comment.