Jason Kidd staying with Mavericks.

[cruzg24]

DALLAS (AP)—Jason Kidd(notes) isn’t going anywhere.

The free agent point guard has agreed to sign a three-year contract for more than $25 million to remain with Dirk Nowitzki(notes) and the rest of the Mavericks. The New York Knicks were among Kidd’s suitors.

“We are excited that JKidd and the Mavs have reached an agreement to have Jason return to the Mavs,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said via e-mail Monday. “We look forward to him continuing to take a major role with the team.”

With the contract, the 37-year-old Kidd could end his career in Dallas, which is where he started in 1994. The Oakland, Calif., native was the No. 2 overall pick out of California, and he has also played for Phoenix and New Jersey.

Kidd’s return helps the Mavericks as they pursue a supporting cast around Nowitzki, from not having to find a replacement to recruiting players. Kidd, who is third on the career assist list, also will continue to mentor J.J. Barea, who emerged as a solid backup last season, and raw rookie Rodrigue Beaubois(notes), who is coming over from France.

The deal—which can’t be signed until Wednesday—was first reported by ESPN.com.

The Mavericks also plan to send an offer sheet Wednesday to Marcin Gortat(notes), a 25-year-old center who backed up Dwight Howard(notes) in Orlando last season, according to a person with knowledge of negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of NBA rules against commenting on deals before the signing period opens.

Gortat is expected to receive the full midlevel exception of about $5.6 million, which means any more big moves Dallas makes this offseason will come through trades.

The Mavs can dangle the expiring contract of Erick Dampier(notes) and the trade-friendly contract of Jerry Stackhouse(notes) in front of other teams. Pretty much everyone but Nowitzki could be dealt, too, as the Mavericks explore ways to keep up with the changes made by top rivals in the Western Conference, especially the defending champion Lakers and division foe San Antonio.

Just great..... 3 years is insane. 2 max, but 3... This is just a move for Mark Cuban to try to justify that the Jason Kidd trade wasnt bad. Atleast we are getting Gortat who is a really good backup C.

 

[elcheato]

Gortat will be starting, wouldn't he?

 

[RipCity32]

Yeah I heard Gortat is going to start.
And your right FPS, about justifying the trade.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Gortat is starting. We're looking to trade Damp and Stack's large expiring combined for a nice 2-guard.

It's a good thing to keep Kidd. If we didn't sign him JJB and Beaubois would be running the show and that wouldn't be good for a team that still wants to be competitive. Kidd will mentor and make Beaubois the future PG of the team along with Barea.

Only thing I don't like is that the 3rd year is guaranteed,

 

[dez]

Im just glad he isnt coming to NY lol

Kidd is one of the best minds at PG, I would only put CP3 ahead of him, but we need young talent not older players with miles already on them, especially if we expect them to run like we do.

But as for Dallas, they needed him back, like Maple said, JJB and Beaubois arent ready to start yet. They should let him orchestrate the offense more though to get the most out of him.

 

[cruzg24]

Because this team has loads of cap flexibility, starting next summer. Starting this summer, actually. Heaps of cap flexibility. Room to move. Beaucoup de options.

If rumors are true and Kidd signed a three-year deal in the $25 million range, then he's overpaid. No way around it. But the team also has Erick Dampier turning in with an unguaranteed deal worth about $13 million for 2010-11, a contract that figures to be worth its weight in gold on the trading market. Same for Josh Howard, who has a team option for a little under $12 million for 2010-11. Those are huge, huge chips.

Chips bigger than any combination of unguaranteed deals we saw shift hands during this offseason, and this offseason saw guys like Richard Jefferson and Shaquille O'Neal switch teams for the pittance of unguaranteed deals and expiring contracts.

It doesn't end there, either. If the Mavs pick on Jerry Stackhouse's option, he then has an expiring deal worth over $7 million. Jason Terry is coming off a sublime season, and if you assume that no team (Mavericks or otherwise) will guarantee the last year of his deal at $10.7 million during 2011-12, then you can more or less consider this guy on an expiring contract to play with during 2010-11.

Source: yahoo.com

Make a move!!!