PHOENIX – Antonio McDyess, gearing up to face the Knicks last night, said he would love to take his game across the Hudson River next season and play with old buddy Jason Kidd if the Suns decide not to re-sign him.
Though his basketball career never took off in the Big Apple, McDyess enjoyed living in Manhattan, despite being from a small town in Mississippi. A free agent July 1, McDyess first must prove he can still be a productive power forward across Phoenix’ final 24 games in his latest return from the injured list.
“That would be great, definitely would be great,” McDyess said after yesterday’s morning shootaround at AmericaWest Arena. “Who wouldn’t want to play with Jason Kidd? I’d say he’s the best point guard in the league. To play with him again would be great. To get up the court with him, getting easy baskets, it just makes things so much easier. It would be good if it ever happens.”
McDyess has something very big on his side – Kidd’s mighty influence with management. Kidd and McDyess are former teammates in Phoenix. “I don’t want to say anything I would regret but I definitely wouldn’t mind playing with him again,” McDyess added.
If the Nets lose Kenyon Martin to free agency, they’ll be desperate for any frontcourt help. They are expected to have Yugoslavian big man Nenad Krstic, their first-round pick two years ago, next season but could use an experienced backup. The former All-Star likely will come cheap, probably settling for the lower exception ($1.5M).
Still having a bitter taste in his mouth about the treatment by Isiah Thomas, it’s extremely unlikely he’d ever want to play for the Knicks again. He’s called the Knick prez “sneaky” in a Post interview to which Thomas responded by saying McDyess was just “frustrated” at his low level of play.
McDyess said yesterday he couldn’t understand why Keith Van Horn was traded, proving a theory he advanced last month that Isiah wants all Scott Layden players gone.
“I couldn’t believe it,” McDyess said. “But I wouldn’t put it past him for anybody getting traded on that team. I was pretty surprised it was Keith.
“Especially after I heard he was trying to make a deal with Kurt [Thomas], [Dikembe] Mutombo and those guys, I really think he’s trying to get rid of all Layden guys,” McDyess added. “I don’t hold anything against him but it’s how it looks.”
“I like Keith. He’ll have a great year. I’m surprised they traded him. He was really playing well. To see him go, I was just definitely shocked.”
The sore-kneed McDyess returned last week from the injured list during which he strengthened his quads and missed 15 games. When he got to Phoenix after the Jan. 5 Stephon Marbury blockbuster, his knees were a mess – the Suns noticing his gimpiness immediately.
“Man, I feel a lot better,” McDyess said. “I could tell the difference when I’m in practice and when I’m in the game. Reaction-wise, stopping, running, all that feels a lot better than when I got there.”
He still hadn’t scored since his return, blanked in 11 minutes vs. Memphis and logging a DNP vs. the Lakers.
“I’m definitely not in game shape,” McDyess said. “It’s going to be a little while. Hopefully I do get more time. And things will progress better than it’s going now. I don’t know where my future lies, here or wherever, but I’ll be on some team next year.”
Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said: “We’re going to play him. He’ll gradually get more minutes because we want to see what he’s got. They have to make a hard decision on him and hopefully it will be a good decision because he deserves it.”
