Jul 2, 2009 7:36 pm US/Eastern
Knicks Could Splash Out The Cash For PG Kidd
Walsh May Be Willing To Offer Savvy Veteran A Multi-Year Deal
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs on March 4, 2009 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Glenn James/NBAE /Getty Images
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Jason Kidd No. 2 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles against Joakim Noah No. 13 of the Chicago Bulls on November 13, 2008 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images
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Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks puts up a shot in the lane against Francisco Elson #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks at the American Airlines Center February 25, 2009 in Dallas.
Glenn James/NBAE /Getty Images
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Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks sit on the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 5, 2009 in Denver, Colorado.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Donnie Walsh says he will consider giving more than a one-year deal to a free agent, following a report that he plans to do that with Jason Kidd.
Kidd is a nine-time All Star and five-time All-NBA First Team selection.
ESPN.com, citing sources close to the process, reported Thursday that the Knicks would offer a three-year deal to the point guard. The Knicks hosted Kidd and his agent Wednesday on the first day of free agency and are hoping he'll leave Dallas to come to New York.
The midlevel exception is $5.6 million for the first year, and Walsh said last week he wouldn't give a multiyear deal to a free agent unless he could move another contract off his payroll. The Knicks want to be major players in free agency next summer, but still have about $18 million committed to Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries in the 2010-11 season.
Walsh backed away from that a bit Friday.
"I have a little leeway which will leave me in good position for next year," he wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "I know what it is but do not talk much about it."
Also, veteran forward Grant Hill will visit the Knicks on Monday, agent Lon Babby said. Hill played for Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix.
The Knicks have also said they would like to retain their own free agents, forward David Lee and guard Nate Robinson. Both are restricted, so New York can match any deal they receive.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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