For anybody out there who thinks bringing Jason Kidd to New York is a bad idea, I slap you with a ham.

Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why the Knicks MUST bring J Kidd to New York.

10. The Knicks suck. J Kidd is awesome.

9. J Kidd loves New York. New York loves J Kidd. I believe that’s a palindrome.

8. J Kidd fits perfectly into Mike D’Antoni’s run and gun system. Even better than Steve Nash.

7. Jason Kidd is one of the 5 greatest point guards to ever play this game. Say what you want, he’s a beast. The Knicks don’t have many top 5 anythings, except maybe the five worst contracts, or the five most out of shape players. Or the 5 worst draft picks in NBA history.

6. J Kidd still has gas in the tank. And it’s not 87. He’s not a “slasher” like Iverson, nor a half-court guy like Chris Paul. He doesn’t take a lot of abuse, and surprisingly, for a point guard, doesn’t even have the ball in his hands that much.

5. J Kidd pimps mad hoes.

4. I need a Kidd Knicks Jersey to hang to my Michael Jordan Knicks Jersey and Alex Ovechkin Rangers sweater.

3. Lebron James LOVES Jason Kidd. In fact, in an interview last year, Lebron was quoted as saying his two favorite basketball players of all-time are Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd

2. Knicks don’t have time to develop young talent. Knicks need to win, and win now. Signing Kidd to a 3 year deal, at the mid-level price of 5.5 mil a year, is a steal. Then, when the Knicks steal Ricky Rubio from the TWolves, he’ll have a good mentor for a year.

1. Who else we gonna sign?

The Mets took three out of four from a quality Cardinals team last week, and then followed that up by losing five out of six to the Yankees and Milwaukee. They gut out wins, and then at the drop of a hat absolutely fall apart and look like a T-ball team doing it. Their up-and-down play is driving me so crazy I’m having arguments with myself. I almost beat myself up on the way to work this morning with this conversation I had while walking up 8th Avenue.

Me: With all that’s happened to the Mets this year, they’re still only two games out of first place. Ya gotta believe.

Me: The only reason they’re close is because the Phillies are struggling, but Raul Ibanez will be back and you know those guys will get themselves together. And even the Marlins have passed the Mets now. The Mets have been playing like buffoons all season. They’ve lost so many games that had nothing to do with injuries. The only surprising thing about Fernando Martinez falling on his face the other night was that he didn’t break his leg or that his head didn’t just snap off and roll to the wall.

Me: But it’s still early. There’s more than half the season left. There’s plenty of time to make up a few games in the standings. Just wait until they get on a roll.

Me: You’re an idiot. Have you been watching them play? Even their good players are stinking it up. Johan Santana’s not pitching well. He’s even walking pitchers and throwing balls into the outfield. K-Rod walked Mariano Rivera with the bases loaded. Are you kidding me?

Me: Santana’s a second half pitcher. You don’t have to worry about him; he probably won’t lose another game the rest of the year. And K-Rod’s blunder didn’t even end up mattering.

Me: Even if the Mets put together a winning streak, it will come to a crashing halt with a backbreaking, mind-numbing loss that will happen in a nightmarish fashion and will send them reeling again. That’s the 2009 Mets.

Me: But reinforcements are on the way. Jose Reyes will be back. Carlos Beltran will be back. John Maine will be back. Carlos Delgado will be back. And if we’re lucky, Oliver Perez won’t be back.

Me: There’s no guarantee when any of them will be back. They could all linger on the DL for a few more months, and the Mets could be long out of it by then. Plus who knows how efffective any of those players will be.

Me: Jerry Manuel put the whole gang on the team-building bus yesterday and had a team meeting. They then went out and won. Maybe this is the turnaround they’ve been waiting for.

Me: Wasn’t the team supposed to rally around Luis Castillo after the dropped pop-up and spark the team to a winning streak? How many turning points can the team have without actually turning things around?

Me: But no matter who’s been injured or how poorly they’ve played, they’re still hanging around. They’re not even close to being out of contention yet.

Me: It’s all over. Even “Met experts” Steve Phillips, Rick Peterson and John Franco are criticizing the team.

Me: I rest my case then. I must be right. I still have hope.

Me: You’re a moron.

Me: I never did like you.

Me: The feeling’s mutual.

The Knicks plan to meet with Mavericks PG Jason Kidd tomorrow on the opening day of the free agency period. The Mavs can pay him any amount to the league maximum to retain his services ($8 million). The two ways the  Knicks can acquire him is through offering the mid-level exception of $5-$6 million dollars or a sign-and-trade. The team has commodities such as Nate Robinson and David Lee who are on the block.

Kidd, played with the New Jersey Nets for 6 1/2 seasons while leading them to the finals in back to back years. He would be an upgrade over PG Chris Duon and provide the team with heart and playoff experience. In his 14th year he missed one regular season game and he finished fifth in assists (8.7) and third in steals (1.98). The future Hall of Fame point guard has won two gold medals (2000 and 2008) and is known for making his teammates play at a higher level. A scouting director said his value now lies is in his intangibles and high basketball IQ.

A weakness for Kidd is his three-point shooting but he led the Mavs in percentage during the regular season (40.6) and playoffs (44.7). He can still make big shots and is one of the best rebounding point guard sin the league (6.7 for his career). Back In January, Kidd said he would consider signing with the Knicks and here the opportunity awaits.

When I was a little kid, coloring books were still really popular. Nowadays, with the spread of the Internet and new forms of electronic entertainment, it seems like books are taking a real hit. Sad to think that, 20 years ago, a nice new book could be someones prized possession for the week or month or year it takes to complete. In today’s society, kids are using the Internet before they can even understand many of the words on the screen.

But every once in a while something comes along that brings us back, to that stinky paper smell that we love. In 1997 it was Harry Potter, and in 2003 it was The Da Vinci Code. Well another six years have gone by, and there’s a new must read on the shelves. The New York Yankees Coloring & Activity Book by Peg Connery-Boyd and Brendan Fitzgerald is the new feel good book of the year! Talk about a crowning achievement for children’s literature. This is the best coloring book I have ever seen. The crossword puzzles are fun and challenging, and awesome mini games like “You Make the Call”, “Yankees Nicknames Challenge” and the “International Game” provide hours of fun and challenge for sports fans of all ages. The illustrations of current Yankees that you can color in are amazingly life-like. I found myself wishing I still had the 120 pack of Crayola Crayons, because some major coloring action was about to go down.

Peg and Brandon and the people at Hawk’s Nest Publishing have hit a Grand Slam with this book. My little brother is a huge baseball fan and he absolutely loves it.  Go out and get a copy today. It’s a blast!

Jordan Hill (Arizona-8th overall)- With Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio, Johnny Flynn and Stephen Curry all off the board the Knicks selected Hill. The 6′10″ junior  forward averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats last season. He played for three different coaches at Arizona but improved his scoring and rebounding each season. Donnie Walsh  was high on his athletiscm, ability to run the floor and block shots. Drafting Hill also provides insurance if the Knicks make a sign and trade with David Lee.

Toney Douglas (Florida State-29th overall)- The Knicks purchased this pick from the Lakers for $3 million dollars.  Douglas was a All-America Third Team selection and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The 6′2″ guard averaged 21. 8 points (led the ACC). The senior also guided the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade and into the ACC Tournament championship game for the first time in school history. He also provides the Knicks insurance if they decide to make a sign and trade with Nate Robinson. His brother Harry Douglas, was a third round pick by the Falcons last season.

Knicks acquire Darko Milicic for Quentin Richardson- Both players have expiring contracts but Darko gives the team an inside presence. Wilson Chandler led the Knicks with .9 blocked shots per game last season. Darko has a career average of 1.2 blocks per game and can lead the team in this department with enough playing time. He will be known as one of the biggest busts in NBA Draft history( picked ahead of Carmelo Anthony) but at least hes still in the league unliket he Knicks selection that year (Mike Sweetney). He is also just 24-years old and has the potentil to grow in Knicks offense. Last season Richardson averaged just 10.3 points and shot 39% from the field

Overall grade: B-

Marcus Camby (Clippers)- The Clippers are expected to draft Blake Griffin with the first overall pick. With Zach Randolph and Chris Kaman owed a total of $66 million dollars it makes the expiring contract of Camby expendable. By drafting the 6′10″ Griffin it adds more size to the the Clipper frontcourt. The Ex-Knick will make $7.6 million next season and Donnie Walsh should look into bringing him back. Even though he missed 22 games last season the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year pulled down 11.1 rebounds and blocked 2.1 shots per game. The Knicks have ranked last in the league in blocks the past two seasons.

David Lee (Knicks)- Lee has been rumored to being dealt to Portland, Memphis, Detroit and Oklahoma City. Possible scenarios include Lee being dealt in a sign and trade to acquire Ricky Rubio. Lee had a breakout season for the Knicks last season leading the league in double-doubles while averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. However, Lee is looking to sign a long term deal worth $7-9 million dollars per year.

Kirk Hinrich (Bulls)- Reports have swirled that  Hinrich has been telling friends the Blazers want to trade for him. Hinrich is owed $26 million dollars over the next three seasons. Portland’s PG Steve Blake has one year left on his contract at $4.9 million. He averaged a career high 11 points per game and dished out 6.2 assists per game in the first round of the playoffs. However, given the opportunity Hinrich can be more productive than Blake as we saw from his first four seasons in the league where he averaged 15 points and 6.5 assists per game. If this trade happens Rookie of the Year Derek Rose will get all the minutes playing point guard.

Tracy McGrady (Rockets)- McGrady will be one of the highest paid players in the league next year making $23 million dollars. T-Mac missed 47 games last season due to injury and averaged just 15.6 points per game. He is entering his final year of his contract which also means he needs to produce. The 7-time All-Star is just 30 years old and is an attractive option for teams trying to clear cap space. The Knicks and Suns have been linked to acquiring him.

Elton Brand (76ers)- Brand was one of the biggest free agent busts last season. He missed 53 games due to injury and and averaged a career low 13.8 points. He has four years left on his contract worth $65 million dollars. With Thaddeus Young having a breakout season (15.3 points) and the emergence of Andre Iguodala it allows the 76ers the explore trades.

Honorable mentions: Amare Stoudemire (Suns), Nate Robinson(Knicks), TJ Ford (Pacers), Rajon Rondo (Celtics)

ESPN radio and Alan Hahn of Newsday are reporting the Knicks bought the Timberwolves 28th overall pick for three million dollars. The Knicks now have two picks in the first round (8 and 28). Donnie Walsh could be adding picks to move up in the draft. There is a possibility they could trade into the top 5 or use the 28th pick and cash to move into the teens. If they decide to stand pat they should look at these players if they are available: Jeff Teague, Patty Mills, Chase Budinger, Toney Douglas, Danny Green, Tyler Hansbourough and Darren Collinson.

The Knicks were looking to acquire the Wizards 5th overall pick but they traded that to the Timerwolves yesterday. Donnie Walsh said there is a 95 percent chance the Knicks will not make a move before the NBA Draft. The Daily News speculates if Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry and Tyreke Evans are all off the board the Knicks could look at Duke SG Gerald Henderson with the 8th selection. However, they should be looking at Johnny Flynn, Jrue Holliday and Brandon Jennings instead.

What makes Henderson appealing is his high basketball IQ and strong character traits. His father played in the NBA for 13 seasons including a one year stint with the Knicks. The 21-year old worked out for the Knicks back on June 10th. What turned me off about Henderson is he struggled during the NCAA Tournament  knocking down just 1-out-of 11 three pointers in three games. He shot 1-14 in a 23 point loss to Villanova, which marked his final collegiate game.

Possible scenarios:

1. Instead they draft  Flynn, Holiday, Jennings, Demar Derozan, Jordan Hill (If Curry and Evans are gone)

2. Trade up for Rubio or Curry

3. Trade down in the draft and acquire another pick

In other news:  The Knicks extended qualifying offers to David Lee and Nate Robinson. This was an expected move which makes both players restricted free agents this summer.  The team  has the right to match any offer that Lee or Robinson receives on the free-agent market.

Ranger great Brian Leetch was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame today (along with other first-time-eligible players Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille). And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer, classier guy. Leetch played parts of 17 seasons for the Blueshirts, serving as captain from 1997-2000, and finished his career with Toronto and Boston (we don’t need to get into that now). He was one of the best American-born hockey players ever to play the game, and was also one of the greatest defensemen ever to lace up the skates in the NHL.

His list of awards and accomplishments is long: Of course he’s a Stanley Cup winner, Conn Smythe Trophy winner (first and still only American to win that award), two-time Norris Trophy winner (’92 & ‘97), Calder Trophy winner (’89), two-time First Team NHL All-Star (’92 & ‘97), three-time Second Team NHL All-Star and he played in nine All-Star games. He is one of only five defensemen in NHL history to record over 100 points in a season, and his 23 goals in 1988-89 is a rookie record for defensemen. He played in the Olympics and won the Gold Medal in the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 (while captaining the team).

He was the Rangers’ first-round draft pick in 1986 (ninth overall), and joined the team after playing one season for Boston College. He finished his New York career as the franchise leader in assists (741), second in games played (1,129), ninth in goals (240) and second in points (981). For his career, he netted 247 goals, had 781 assists and 1,028 points. He also tallied 97 points in 95 playoff games. And the Rangers retired his #2 on January 24, 2008.

Brian Leetch was mainly known for his offensive skills, but he was an all-around player, who wasn’t afraid to clear the crease or do whatever it took to help his team. He was always humble, and never had a bad word to say about anybody. He’s a no-doubt-about-it Hall-of-Famer, and maybe the greatest Ranger ever, and now he’s in the part of Toronto where he belongs – not with the Leafs but in the Hall of Fame.

The New York Knicks have a discussed a blockbuster draft trade with the Washington Wizards. Rumors have swirled that the Knicks would acquire the Wizards fifth pick and be able to keep there own selection (eighth). The Knicks covet Stephen Curry and there is no guarantee he will be there at eight. Wilson Chandler, would likely be involved in the deal as he has showed his potential last season. The 6′8″ swing-man had a breakout season averaging 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. He is also just 22-years old and is under contract for the next three seasons.

However, the Knicks would rather trade ex-Wizard players Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries. This past season the Wiz tried to trade for Hughes when he was on the Bulls for Mike James and Etan Thomas. They also inquired about Jeffries during the trade deadline. However, moving Jeffries will be difficult since he is owed $13.2 million dollars over the  next two seasons.

Hughes was productive in Washington averaging a career best 22 points during the 04-05 season. The team made the second round of the playoffs that season and again would form a formidable back court with Gilbert Arenas. Hughes has one year left on his contract and is making a team high $13.6 million. James and Thomas have expiring contracts that total $13.7 million for next season. The two players would provide the Knicks with shooting, rebounding and size. If the Knicks are targeting Arizona F Jordan Hill with the eighth pick then they should look into acquiring C Brendan Haywood instead of Thomas. If the Knicks draft Hill it would allow the Knicks to trade David Lee. Haywood also has an expiring contract and will make $6 million next season. The seven-footer is a season removed from setting career highs in points, rebounds and blocks.

Possible scenarios:

1. Peter Vecsey writes the Knicks can trade for the fifth pick and parlay the pick with No.8 for No.2 (Knicks could draft Hasheem Thabeet or Ricky Rubio here)

2. With two picks in the top 8 the team could draft a combination of Stephen Curry and Jordan Hill/Jrue Holliday/Tyreke Evans/Johnny Flynn. However, this all changes if Rubio slips to five.

3. These trades do not happen and the Knicks draft the best available player at 8