Jason Kidd: Nets or Knicks a Better Fit for Veteran Free-Agent Point Guard?

Jason Kidd might not be the same player he used to be, but he's still an experienced point guard with a versatile skill set. The floor general could be a valuable part of the puzzle for a new team when the 2012-2013 season rolls around, mentoring a younger player at his position while providing good minutes off the bench. 

Now, it appears as though Kidd has narrowed his potential teams down to just two choices. According to Newsday's Mike Gavin, it's down to the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets. 

Each team has its own unique appeal, but which one is a better fit for the 10-time All-Star? 

The Knicks boast a cast of very talented players in Tyson Chandler—one of Kidd's former teammates on the 2011 champions Dallas Mavericks—along with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

Kidd has also said (via ESPNDallas.com) that he thinks it would be fun to help mentor Jeremy Lin, a fellow Bay Area native who will almost certainly be back after retaining his "Bird" rights.

On the other hand, Kidd also stated that he would be willing to follow star point guard Deron Williams to either Brooklyn or the Dallas Mavericks. Per ESPNDallas.com:

"

My days of playing 38 minutes are over. For me, it’s the backup role to give him time to rest, but also coming down the stretch to have the chance to play alongside Deron, I think we can be successful.

"

Kidd has the right idea in recognizing that his days as a starter are long gone, but he is choosing the wrong horse in this race. While Williams is clearly the better point guard, the Brooklyn Nets are not contenders right now and—barring a surprising development in the Dwight Howard saga—will not be contenders for a while. 

Frankly, they don't even have a roster that is anywhere near competitive. Of course, this all changes if Williams decides Dallas is best for him, but that's neither here nor there since we are focusing on the New York-based teams. 

The Knicks are actually contenders and will be as long as Melo and Amar'e are in the same lineup. With a healthy Lin, especially one being mentored by a legendary point guard like Kidd, they would only get more dangerous. 

At this stage in Kidd's career, he doesn't just want to have fun. He wants to win a ring and add a second championship to his legacy.  

The Knicks are clearly the best option to make that happen.