New Jersey Nets Have A Decision: Extend or Trade Jason Kidd?

CNNSI’s Paul Forrester reports on why Jason Kidd could once again be angling for a trade out of New Jersey before the February 21st deadline:

Though he chalked it up to a migraine, Kidd’s one-game no-show earlier this season, at a time when the star point guard reportedly was angling for a contract extension, couldn’t have pleased the New Jersey front office. And although the Nets are in playoff contention, they don’t have the depth to compete with the Celtics and Pistons in the East, let alone any number of teams out West. For someone as competitive as Kidd is, playing for the right to be playoff fodder isn’t something he is looking to end his career doing.

My Very Quick Take: The New Jersey Nets must make a decision. Do they extend (sign him to an extension) or trade Jason Kidd?

It’s a simple question that’s lingered for too long. Nets’ management can answer with one word. Extend or trade?

Everything in-between is unhealthy. Franchises create a destructive atmosphere by leaving their superstar in limbo. This, in turn, creates speculation and rumors (see the New York papers on a daily basis).

Good teams have a plan. Right now, the Nets’ plan looks like it was drawn on the back of a cocktail napkin or forged through consultation with the psychic hotline.

First, they overpaid Carter, signing the one-dimensional scorer to a horrendous contract which they can’t get rid off. And now, the Nets are going back-and-forth on whether to deal or no deal J-Kidd.

With all that’s going on off-court, it’s hardly surprising the Nets have lost six straight games, and sit at 17-23 in the Eastern Conference.

So it’s time. Extend Kidd and re-tool or deal him and rebuild. Everything else is a waste of time.

What should New Jersey do with Kidd? Extend or trade? Get at us in the comment box below or hit us up in our fan forum. Click here to read and subscribe to Oly Sandor’s NBA Blog.