Jason Kidd has a reputation as one of the smartest players in the NBA.
He knows the game. And he also knows a good situation when he sees one. That's why he will be re-signing with the Mavericks when free agents can make it official Wednesday. Kidd said Monday that the Mavericks' immediate future was the swaying factor for his coming back rather than jumping to New York.
A few extra million dollars didn't hurt, either.
But Kidd is no less optimistic than owner Mark Cuban when it comes to the Mavericks' chances.
"I think we got a great chance,'' Kidd said. "Mark didn't waste any time in signing a free agent [center Marcin Gortat, a restricted free agent who will sign Wednesday], so I think we're sitting in a good spot. I think we still have a big window to win a championship.''
Kidd said the courting process was a good experience. He met with Cuban a minute after the recruiting period opened last week.
"I knew he was serious,'' Kidd said, "because he showed up in a sport coat.''
Kidd said the run that the Knicks made at him was legitimate and that he needed time to weigh the options. After meeting with Cuban in the wee hours, he caught a little sleep before getting up to meet with Knicks president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D'Antoni.
"The Knicks were great,'' Kidd said. "If I was younger, maybe, playing in the Garden would have been great. But I think the Mavericks have a great chance to win.''
As for the contract he'll sign, believed to be more than $25 million for three years, Kidd said: "I don't know if you get a situation where both sides are happy very often, but we're happy, and I think they're happy, too. It worked out for everybody.''
Next order of business: With Kidd corralled and Gortat to be a Maverick if Orlando doesn't match the offer, the Mavericks' next priority is Brandon Bass.
President of Basketball operations Donnie Nelson and Bass' agent, Tony Dutt, both said the negotiations are ongoing. So far, it appears Bass' desire to earn the mid-level exception has not materialized.
The Mavericks' offer is believed to have been upgraded recently, perhaps to the neighborhood of $3.5 million annually.
"Brandon's still very interested in Dallas,'' Dutt said. "We're making headway. We're just not there yet.''
Bass is one of several power forwards getting interest from several teams, including Orlando and Detroit.
Briefly: A couple of league insiders have said that Orlando will not match the Mavericks' offer to Gortat. But, as Nelson said: "You never know for sure until it happens.'' ... The Mavericks were rumored to have interest in Boston restricted free agent Glen Davis, but Cuban said via Twitter on Monday that the Mavericks are not among the suitors for the power forward. ... The summer league roster has been set with draft pick Rodrigue Beaubois highlighting the team. Also scheduled to play in the Las Vegas Summer League is 2008 draftee Shan Foster.
