Moderators: dVs33, Cowology, theBigLip, Snakebites
GJense4181 wrote:^and develop*
If we were to pick up PF-C Nick Fazekas, we would pretty much have all bases/roles covered. I would prefer to draft our C of the future in this year's draft, but Fazekas should have been a first-rounder last year and has a super shot.
Jason Kidd is a member of the Mavericks. Again. Finally. A long-discussed, once-scuttled and ultimately reconfigured deal to bring Kidd, 34, from New Jersey back to the team that drafted him was completed Tuesday. He was reintroduced in Dallas 14 years after the Mavericks made him the No. 2 pick. Back then, Kidd was supposed to help turn around one of the worst franchises in sports. Now, as one of the league's best point guards, he's seen as a crucial piece in the Mavs' pursuit of a championship. "There's no bigger reward than to have that championship trophy in your hand," said Kidd, who lost in the NBA Finals twice with the Nets. "That's why I'm here. Because Dallas has its eye on that prize."
The eight-player deal, in the making since before the All-Star break and talked about a lot longer than that, sends Kidd, forward Malik Allen and guard Antoine Wright to Dallas. The primary piece headed to New Jersey is point guard Devin Harris. The others are center DeSagana Diop, swingman Maurice Ager (Michigan State), forward Trenton Hassell and retired forward Keith Van Horn. New Jersey also gets two first-round draft picks (2008, 2010) and $3 million.Van Horn and Hassell replace former Piston Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George in an original trade proposal.
Stackhouse's presence in the deal was muddled by plans to get him back to Dallas -- within the rules, although in a way the league frowned upon -- and George used his veto power to block his involvement. "It's been the most amazing, interesting trade we've ever done, and we've done some doozies here," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. "I've never seen anything like it, but all's well that ends well. We got the right guys."
Jason Kidd will make the Mavericks better, no question. He will bring some much needed toughness -- mental and physical. He will take a ton of pressure off Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard by creating easier scoring opportunities. He will allow Jason Terry to play his natural position -- shooting guard. But ultimately, the Mavs are going to regret making this deal.
Acquiring Kidd does not alter the balance of power in the West. San Antonio and the Lakers (assuming Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum get healthy) are still more championship-worthy. The Mavs are still on that second tier with Phoenix and Utah. They were too thin and vulnerable in the frontcourt before the deal, and they are more so now. On top of that, the deal shortens the Mavs' window of opportunity. They have this year and maybe next, and with owner Mark Cuban already cutting a large luxury tax check to the league (in excess of $10 million), he's not going to have much flexibility to plug holes. New Jersey and Keith Van Horn are the big winners in this deal.
