HoopsHype.com Rumors

Al Iannazzone: JR Smith credits vets Kidd, Wallace, Kurt, Camby and Kenyon for keeping him in line this year. Twitter @Al_Iannazzone

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Kenyon Martin, Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas, JR Smith, Marcus Camby 

Despite the never-ending list of gaudy statistics he's compiled during his surefire Hall of Fame career, Knicks guard Jason Kidd is routinely credited for his on-court smarts before his God-given talent. "His mind is brilliant," teammate Tyson Chandler said of Kidd recently. "Hopefully we can freeze it, or something like that. Leave it for the next generation." Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd, Hall of Fame 

Jared Zwerling: I asked Doc Rivers about Jason Kidd. Gave a great response. Part of it was, "He beats everybody with his brain." #Knicks Twitter @JaredZwerling

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Doc Rivers, Jason Kidd 

Frank Isola: Woodson wants to keep Jason Kidd, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin as back-ups. Chris Copeland could replace Pablo Prigioni as a starter. Twitter @FisolaNYDN

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Kenyon Martin, Jason Kidd, J.R. Smith, Pablo Prigioni, Chris Copeland 

Two league executives said they believe Kidd, a future Hall of Famer, will be pursued in some capacity once he retires as a player. One said Thomas—who has played for San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, Miami's Pat Riley, Chicago's Tom Thibodeau and former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy—would get looks, too, given his pedigree and reputation. Both Kidd and Thomas fit the typical profile of ex-players who get hired as coaches. The 91 former players who have gone on to serve as a head coach since 1976 stayed in the league an average of 10 seasons and played for about four teams, according to Stats LLC. Kidd has played for four teams in 19 years; Thomas has been on nine in 18. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Coaching, Jason Kidd 

Jason Kidd celebrated his 40th birthday in a Knick uniform on Saturday night. The question now is: will he be celebrating his 41st in orange and blue? Kidd is under contract for another two years, and Mike Woodson believes the 19-year veteran can fulfill the full obligation of his deal. “Absolutely. I really do,” Woodson said. “And I say that because he’s figured out how to train. And I said this [Friday], there's certain athletes that come along in a lifetime and play various sports, I call them freaks man. They just seem to keep ticking, nothing seems to bother them or faze them from a physical standpoint or a mental standpoint. Yeah, I think he can play two more years. Absolutely.” ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Jason Kidd 

Kidd, who turned 40 yesterday, said Friday night he may not play out his entire three-year contract with the team. “We’re going to revisit [it],” he said. “We [would] love to make it to 42, but we have to be realistic. If the body and mind can’t compete at the same time, then I got to move to the side and watch these younger guys play. But I feel great.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd 

If the basketball court was Kidd's personal retreat during boyhood in the East Bay, it has been his movable sanctuary as an adult. So he will delay, for as long as he can, his reluctant entrance into the petrifying uncertainty of life without hoops. ``I signed a three-year deal, never thinking about how long I want to play,'' Kidd says. ``I'll go until my mind and body come to agreement that we have to move on. There are some days when the mind is tired but the body feels good. There are days when the body doesn't feel good but the mind says, `let's go.' They haven't come to agreement.'' Oakland Tribune

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd 

Jason Kidd's days as a starter may be over. Mike Woodson removed the struggling veteran from the starting lineup prior to last night's 96-88 victory over the Washington Wizards and made Kidd the back-up point guard, the role Kidd expected to play when he signed a three year contract last July. Woodson did not say the move is permanent but considering that Kidd had scored a total of 30 points in 11 games last month, the Knicks can't survive without getting more production from the shooting guard position. "I didn't come in this league as a scorer," Kidd joked, "and it doesn't' look like I'm going to leave as a scorer." New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Jason Kidd 

I think there were five Knicks on the court last night who actually payed with or against your dad... Curry: Yeah, there were five on the court. Rasheed Wallace was the sixth on their team but he wasn't there. So Kurt Thomas, Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony I think, Tyson Chandler and other player I can't remember. The Big Lead

Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd, Kurt Thomas, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Curry 

Alan Hahn: Mike Woodson makes a change in the starting lineup for tonight: Jason Kidd out. James White in. Interesting. #Knicks Twitter @alanhahn

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Jason Kidd, James White 

Advanced statistics illustrate that Kidd—No. 3 in NBA history in made 3-point shots—has been getting an abundance of open looks, almost as if defenses are daring to him to shoot while he fights through this cold streak. In November, when made 51% of his attempts and 49% of his three-point tries, he was being left open only 55% of the time. In 10 games this month, he has been left open for a whopping 71% of his jumpers, according to Synergy Sports. He hasn't made teams pay for it: Kidd's connected on just 17% of his open shots in February. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd 

Kidd insists playing time isn't the problem. "The shots I've had have all looked good; felt good—nothing to do with minutes. It's just the game of basketball, where they go in or sometimes they don't," he said, adding that the nature of the misses—short and long, rather than right or left— leaves him confident. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd 

Friday, while talking about his happiness at being a late addition to the Rising Stars Game over the All-Star break, Rubio stated his intention to mimic what Kidd has done as a shooter. "You can work on that," Rubio said. "And you can become a shooter." Kidd is confident that will happen. "You rely on your strengths when you come in the league," he said. "It's just a matter of time. He'll work on shooting the ball and at that point he'll have the total package.'' Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Jason Kidd, Ricky Rubio 

Jason Kidd: Thank u for the congrats. Just been lucky to play with some great teammates Twitter @RealJasonKidd

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd 

The presence of point guard Raymond Felton, who likes to operate out of fast breaks, has helped. Felton and Jason Kidd both have been instrumental in getting Anthony the ball in a position from which he can instantly let it fly—a considerable change from last season, when, until Jeremy Lin came along, the Knicks didn't have a player capable of doing so. "That's part of it," Felton said. "Anybody is going to shoot better when someone's getting them the ball in their sweet spot." Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton 

Woodson can't wait for the return of guard Raymond Felton (fractured right pinkie), who has said he's targeting a return on Jan. 26 in Philadelphia. Felton hasn't played since Dec. 25, and Woodson said the Knicks miss Felton's ability to get to the rim. Woodson complimented the play of Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni in Felton's absence, but it's led to him putting extended minutes on the veterans. "He's a big piece of the puzzle," Woodson said. "I'm not one for excuses but he drives the car in terms of how we run things." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton, Injuries, Pablo Prigioni 

From what Carmelo Anthony saw Friday, he said he believed Kidd would when the Knicks faced the Bobcats. “He’ll be back in the next couple of days,” Anthony said. “I’m pretty sure he will be. I don’t really think it’s too serious.” Tyson Chandler, a teammate of Kidd’s in Dallas when the Mavericks won the N.B.A. title two seasons ago, agreed with Anthony. “Anytime a guy is on the court doing quick-twitch things,” Chandler said, “it’s just a moment before they are ready to come back.” New York Times

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd, Injuries 

Two league executives said they believe Kidd, a future Hall of Famer, will be pursued in some capacity once he retires as a player. One said Thomas—who has played for San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, Miami's Pat Riley, Chicago's Tom Thibodeau and former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy—would get looks, too, given his pedigree and reputation. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Coaching, Jason Kidd 

That Kidd and Thomas would be attractive as coaching prospects illustrates the chasm in thinking when it comes to hiring ex-players. Despite the name recognition a star like Kidd could bring, teams usually opt for ex-players who are more like Thomas: journeymen. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Coaching, Jason Kidd