Watched the Net game tonight

[Rand10]

Yes it looks like a bad trade, but some people make it seem like the Mavs were winning a championship with Harris. Let me remind you, this was the same team that lost to GS and Mia in consecutive playoff embarassments. To me, that signifies a problem.

Yes, it looks like we were better off with Harris, but honestly, I would be happy if this offseason meant major changes b/c this team has needed that since they failed in the postseason twice in historical ways.

Terry was the starting pg when we lost to both Miami and Golden State. I think a Harris-led team could have won a championship, and I know some don't agree with that, but we never gave that team a chance to see what they could do. That's a big mistake imo.

Let's say we kept Harris and had another letdown in the playoffs. Kidd is still there and he still wants out. Do the trade then. Don't make the trade with less than 30 games left in the season and try to make Kidd fit what we were doing previously, rather than fit the team to Kidd.

[myconsumerclub]

Dirk is still here and if I am not mistaken Kidd is a HOF PG that is in the top of the statistic race for assists and a bigger less injury prone playmaker that makes Dampier play like Shaq.

The improvement in others more than makes this trade work for me pluss Wright is looking good and shooting better here than in NJ. Lue comes to this team because of the chance to play with Kidd on a contender. Magliore was a piece that we got for nothing basically and Malik Allen is contributing quite nicely and I actually like him at PF more than Bass.

Howard took a step towards improving his game we need to see if he continues to do so tonight and if Kidd and Howard can lead this team to victory without Dirk I will be very impressed and have a renewed sense of hope in this team.

I still want Avery fired and a better coach brought in. Unless he PHHO and start running lineups that make sense and don't hamstring the team. More Wright and develop Magliore or release him and get another center. No more Bass at center.

Harris is looking good but the intangibles Kidd brings are making the team improve. I think that the trade was good for both teams.

We need to win now and if we can tread water till Dirk gets back we have as good a chance as any team in the deep west of making it to the finals. Injuries can happen to other teams to. You have to compete and play the games and at the end of the day pray you are the one that is still standing.

[Da big3]

the reason why Dallas did the trade is a benefactor of all the other trades.......

[JES12]

the reason why Dallas did the trade is a benefactor of all the other trades.......

Seriously man, I read this thing like 5 times and still have no clue what he is trying to say.

[SaintofKillers]

I think he means that it was a kneejerk reaction to the other trades which was later proven false as insiders confirmed that we were indeed in serious discussion with the Nets (and Portland) as early as late January -- pre-dating the Pau Gasol and Shaq deals by days.

Besides, we've been linked to Jason Kidd since time immemorial so it's not exactly an idea that mushroomed suddenly.

[Pointguard01]

Yes it looks like a bad trade, but some people make it seem like the Mavs were winning a championship with Harris. Let me remind you, this was the same team that lost to GS and Mia in consecutive playoff embarassments. To me, that signifies a problem.

Thats ridiculious. If management was willing to make such a risky move, then there is no reason why we shouldnt have made the smarter "risk" and take on someone like Ron Artest for cheap. Add Artest to this team, and they very well could be on their way to a championship.

Yes, they are. The Knicks of a few years ago, but their fate is the same.

Wow, Ive actually been in this thinking for a while too, but trying to stay positive. I can already picture where this team is headed. We've made ourselves older and traded our picks to add youth, no cap flexibility, and management isnt actually showing us in the first place they know what they are doing.

Its just going to get worse and worse. I dont think we will be as bad as the Knicks, nor do I think that we are going to be as dumb or embarrassing as the Knicks, but I feel like we are headed down the road of being mediocre, not bad enough to get a top pick, not good enough to get out of the first round. And thats, IMO, the absolute worse status to have, when you dont have youth that will get better and in turn, make you better. We lost any chance of that with Harris.

[DDansby123]

I don't think the Knicks are a fair comparison. We still have a solid team with players other teams would like to have (even with their salaries). If we really wanted to blow this thing up, we could get a few quality draft picks and some expiring/2-year contracts for all of our big salaries.

I don't know what team would be a comparison for us now. I think we need to take a look at the Heat after their championship run (if we miss the playoffs, our downward spiral will be sort of similar to theirs: overachieved one year, ousted early the next, and out of the playoffs altogether two years removed from the Finals). The other comparison is the Kings after 04-05 when they traded C-Webb. Dirk's still in his prime, so the comparison's faulty in some ways, but there are some similarities: several years as a potential champion but no rings, aging team with long contracts, underperforming, etc.

The season's not over yet, and I still have hope we can turn this around. But if we don't, it will be a very interesting offseason, and the Mavs need to choose one direction or another and stick with it. For a time, I thought they were smart by trying to rebuild and win at the same time. Thusfar, it's failed miserably. We can't make the same mistake again.

[JES12]

The Kings dwelled in mediocracy because they thought they can re-tool instead of re-build. We don't need a renovation.

We have this year and next year. The summer of 2009 needs to be an active one. Either we make killer trades and compete another year or we rebuilt (no middle ground).

- Stack is only 2 mil guaranteed which could come in handy to get a better 1 year player in a salary dump or we can waive him all together and only cost us 2 mil.
- Howard has a team option and if he stays a 1st half jumpshooter and 2nd half dissapearing act, the possibility of it not being picked up is better. Still think we should trade him and Stack for Marion to make our 2008-09 push.

- Dampier becomes an expiring because we or the team he is traded too can control how many minutes he gets.

- Dirk has an ETO, but Dirk can be traded for an expiring, a prospect and a couple of picks the way Kidd was traded. (We have to trade him this summer if we want a lotto pick).

- Kidd will have already expiried along with everyone else except Jason Terry who needs to be traded before then

[DDansby123]

The Kings dwelled in mediocracy because they thought they can re-tool instead of re-build. We don't need a renovation.

Exactly.

We have this year and next year. The summer of 2009 needs to be an active one. Either we make killer trades and compete another year or we rebuilt (no middle ground).

I personally think whatever plans we have for the summer of 2009 ought to be moved up to the summer of 2008 if this thing implodes and we miss the playoffs. Obviously, some things will have to wait, but I think we have to pick a direction ASAP. Even if we miss the playoffs, I think it might be worthwhile to see what Howard + our pick would net us on draft night. I'm not sure there's that much out there, though.

[JES12]

I personally think whatever plans we have for the summer of 2009 ought to be moved up to the summer of 2008 if this thing implodes and we miss the playoffs. Obviously, some things will have to wait, but I think we have to pick a direction ASAP. Even if we miss the playoffs, I think it might be worthwhile to see what Howard + our pick would net us on draft night. I'm not sure there's that much out there, though.

I agree that we need to do something at the swing to kelp Kidd, Dirk & Damp this summer, but what I was calling a complete rebuild in summer 2009 includes Dirk for a high lotto pick & expirings. This summer, I would concider Dirk off limits unless an complete irrisistable offer comes along.

Last summer I would not do Howard for Pierce in the system we had (with Harris) and concidering the age difference & the defensive difference. I have done a complete 180 because of Pierce's improved defense and Howard's decline in defense. Too bad Boston would never do that now.

[Basileus777]

There isn't much point in blowing up the team immediately if you miss the playoffs, New Jersey will own your lotto pick next year.

[floppymoose]

Go to 82games and check what Harris and Kidd have done with their respective teams. It's interesting.

It's too soon. And I say that without having looked at the numbers. We need a lot more time before the +- becomes at all reliable.

[Pointguard01]

There isn't much point in blowing up the team immediately if you miss the playoffs, New Jersey will own your lotto pick next year.

There's almost just as much thought that needs to go into blowing up the team if we do make the playoffs. If the thought crosses our mind barely missing the playoffs by 0.5 a game as the 9th seed, then it should also be considered squeezing into the playoffs by 0.5 games for the 8th seed.

If we make the playoffs this season, we would get out 2009 pick, which is the key in rebuilding, having a top pick and knowing what to do with it. If we missed the playoffs this season, our pick is gone in 2009 and really it would only make sense to give this team one more year at trying to win.