RealGM

Looks more and more like this trade is becomming a total disaster for Mark Cuban. ESPN.COM is reporting Stackhouse, because he spoke about returning, can not go back if traded.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3247183

This sounds (Please Use More Appropriate Word) to me. Stack never said "Hey Mark Cuban promised me half the MLE if I come back to Dallas", he just said he didn't want to play anywhere else.

I understand the league wants to avoid the Gary Payton situation, but the new rule fixes that for the most part. If the player is willing to:
1. Give up a piece of his salary in a buyout (benefiting NJ)
2. Then sit out 30 days w/o collecting a paycheck
...then let him play wherever the heck he wants!

I could see the union fighting this big time if there is no evidence of tampering on the part of the Mavs.

Yes this is a bit ridiculous. If New Jersey buys him out then he has the right to go to any team he chooses. I don't see how the NBA league offices have the right to not allow a player once bought out to sign where he wants to sign.

I still think Dallas benefits from anything that makes this deal slightly less likely to happen. If they want mental toughness, they can land it without trading for Kidd. They've already got a mentally strong leader in their coach. If I'm Mark Cuban and looking for mental toughness, I might consider trying to trade Stackhouse/Barea/Diop for Andre Miller and Calvin Booth (Philly has Louis Williams and a thin front court). Even something like Hassell/George for Malik Rose (Juwan Howard plus championship experience) would IMO be far better than the Kidd trade.

I agree with the ref. It's almost like they need help in not making this deal.

The trade you proposed is interesting. I am not sure Philly would do that deal since they don't get Harris back in the trade but it is an interesting option for Dallas.