s_knight8

http://nypost.com/sports/nets/37617.htm

July 10, 2003 -- In a bombshell demand to Nets ownership, Jason Kidd
has asked the team to fire coach Byron Scott if they hope to keep him
from jumping to the Spurs as a free agent, The Post has learned.

The All-Star point guard, according to several league sources,
delivered his request during a midtown meeting Tuesday night with his
agent, team owners and club president Rod Thorn.

Scott, contacted last night, sounded stunned by the development.

"I have no reaction," said Scott, who won three title rings as a Laker
player. "It surprises me."

Asked if he sensed any ill feelings or animosity from Kidd in their
two years together, Scott quickly said, "No, not at all."

The Nets took the ultimatum very seriously but likely would not move
against Scott until Kidd commits to stay. Team brass is expected to
start reviewing possible coaching candidates, such as 2001-02 Coach of
the Year Rick Carlisle, Mike Dunleavy, Doug Collins and Mike Fratello.

In addition to his demand on Scott, Kidd also wants an upgrade in
talent, so the Nets are seeking to lock up his friend, free-agent
center Alonzo Mourning.

The Nets, after the Spurs' whirlwind, two-day courtship of Kidd and
his wife, Joumana, in San Antonio, are prepared to make every attempt
beyond the six-year, $99.225 million maximum contract to keep him in
New Jersey. Kidd presented his side at Tuesday's meeting, the first of
several sitdowns planned for this week.

Kidd would receive a management-level position with the Nets after he
retires. There were other issues discussed, such as job opportunities
in TV for his wife. More than one source maintained that Joumana,
while admittedly impressed by the Spurs' presentation, is leaning
heavily toward remaining in New Jersey. While the Spurs also can offer
TV opportunities, San Antonio and the Riverwalk are not New York and
Madison Avenue.

citizen-y

Ok, it's in the post....how ****ing reliable is this shit?

dwjones

what should rod thorn do. should he acquiesce tot he demands of one j kidd.
or tell him trhat lord byron is the coach of the team if u do not like it u
can go play else where. now kidd is a nice player but he is in no position
what so ever to be determining who should or should not be coaching the
team. the nets are NOT going to win an nba title in the forseeable future
with or without kidd. now how would u think the new coach would feel if
kidd does get his way and scott is fired. would he be always looking over
his shoulder thinking that kidd has the power to likewise get him fired.
therefore in order to keeep his job the new coach would have to constantly
be kissing jason's ass. this is simply not right and i just hope that thorn
thinks long and hard and does the right thing by keeping byron scott as
coach of the nets

1) It's in the POST people - the paper that plagerized the National Enquirer
(true!) - there are few grains of salt large enough to take with Post
articles, OK.

2) Assuming it is true - I was sitting near a guy at the NBA Draft who
swore that EJordan was the "real" coach of the Nets and Kidd was leaving
because he hates Scott. My take then, and now, is "Rod Thorn is smarter
than that." If there was a real feeling that Byron blew the finals, Thorn
would have fired him right after game 6 and elevated Jordan. In Rod We
Trust.

I hope this isn't true. I hope Kidd stays, Byron stays, we pick up a nice
free agent, peace breaks out everywhere, and Jennifer Garner calls and says
"I want you now!" At least one or two will be determined 7/16.


Ken S.

redschism

What's wrong with you, bro? Conservatives never lie.

topcat

If this report is true, and admittedly since it's the Post it may not be, I
don't think the NETS should even consider firing Scott to keep Jason. As
dwjones said (the first time I agree with him on anything :-), it's sets a
bad precedent.

Having said that, I don't know any NETS fans that haven't questioned some of
Byrons in game substitution patterns. But, I don't think its all his fault.
Really, all three of the off-season acquistions proved to be big to
mid-sized busts. Childs is gone, Deke was hurt and the NETS motion offense
suffered with him in the game and Rodney Rogers looked out of shape and slow
to me all season. Byron even played Scalabrine ahead of Rogers during one
stretch of the season.

It would be great if the NETS can get Zo and if he stays healthy, but they
also desperately need a better backup point guard for Jason. Someone who can
play some real minutes without the offense becoming totally stagnant. Childs
was supposed to be that man, but it didn't pan out.

I also feel the jury is still out on Rodney Rogers. I don't like his game at
all. If he's not hitting threes, he's really not much of a threat.

So, I guess what I'm saying is let's see what Byron can do with all the
right tools before he gets canned.

Also, Byron strikes me as the kind of person who would try to contact Jason
and speak with him directly about this report. Let's hope this happens and
they can clear the air.

TC

dave parker

*Supposedly* the particular reporter who broke the story has been
reliable in the past. At least that was the opinion of a sports guy on WNBC.


I've heard that Eddie Jordan was the brains behind the Nets offense for
several years. I think his loss is significant. I wouldn't necessarily
go as far as to say Byron blew the finals, but the way he kept Martin
and Kidd (and Kittles when he was hot) on the bench was very suspect.


I hope you get 2 of 3 and Byron is the one you don't get! ;-)

I don't like the idea of the inmates running the asylum, but there is no
doubt in my mind that Byron Scott would be much easier to replace than
Kidd. I believe Scott has just one year left on his contract and was
making noises about getting an extension. Thorn certainly hasn't rushed
to give him one. Coincidence? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

bozak

tabloid...

bozak

you must not know how riley got his job coaching the lakers...

topcat

No, I do know. Magic ran Paul Westhead out of town.

I think the situations are different. As I said, Byron hasn't done a bad job
given the players he's had.

If Jason wants to blame Byron for the finals loss, maybe he should go back
to the tape and watch Tony Parker blowing by him time after time the first
two games. Or maybe he should look at his own shooting percentage. Or maybe
Rod Thorn should take some blame for the Childs fiasco.

There is a lot of blame to go around, so in this case, I don't think
singling out Byron is the answer.

TC