Nets Get Their Last Shot at Kidd

With San Antonio’s wooing of Jason Kidd complete, the New Jersey Nets will get one final shot at keeping the player who led them to the NBA Finals the last two seasons.

Net President Rod Thorn did not return telephone calls left by Associated Press seeking comment on contract talks with the perennial All-Star point guard.

What is certain is that Kidd wants his unrestricted free agency resolved as soon as possible. The earliest he can sign is July 16.

“Jason is going to try to make his decision by Monday,” Jeff Schwartz, Kidd’s agent, said in a statement Wednesday.

Kidd and his wife, Joumana, had dinner with San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich on Sunday night, visited the Spurs’ training facility Monday and drove around the city with NBA most valuable player Tim Duncan and his wife, Amy.

The Spurs reportedly offered Kidd a six-year contract valued between $90 million and $92 million, but that offer isn’t as much what the Nets can give Kidd.

New Jersey can offer Kidd a six-year contract worth 30% of its salary cap for the 2003-2004 season with annual increases of 12.5%. San Antonio also can offer to pay Kidd 30% its cap value, but can offer only 10% annual increases.

The break Kidd would get with the Spurs is that he would not have to pay state income tax in Texas.

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Two days after Indiana Pacer forward Jermaine O’Neal canceled trips to Dallas and San Antonio, Pacer President Donnie Walsh said the team is nearing agreement on a seven-year deal worth $120 million with its franchise player.

O’Neal, 25, averaged 20.8 points and 10.3 rebounds last season.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, who played in front of 15,000 at the Pepsi Summer League Tuesday in his first game as a professional, played in front of an estimated 150 people Wednesday at Orlando, Fla. -- nearly all of them media or coaches.

James had 17 points, two rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes against Miami, which beat Cleveland, 82-78.

Afterward, James said that he won’t play the final three games of the Orlando summer league.