Jason Kidd-Devin Harris discussion sure is tired

[HMFFL]

The Jason Kidd-Devin Harris comparisons will continue for the next few years, so I don’t think it will make a difference that I am officially declaring a cease-fire in the discussions.

A kind of humorous sideshow developed after the trade and even continues to this day. It’s basically this: Were you for it or against it when it happened?

I was thoughtful enough to cover myself in both directions, declaring myself for it in a radio interview but against it in this newspaper. So I’m right no matter what — and also wrong.

But in declaring the cease-fire, I’m saying this. It doesn’t matter whether you were for it or against it. It does not make you more or less of an expert. Who could possibly care?

The pertinent point is this. It’s over. It happened. Kidd is a Maverick. Harris is a Net. The Mavericks have a better team with Kidd right now. The Nets will benefit in the future.

And didn’t everyone know that at the time the trade was made?

I’m bringing the issue up today because Harris has been on a roll in New Jersey, and that’s great. You would be hard pressed to find a nicer, more cooperative NBA player than Devin Harris, and anyone who has spent even a little time around him can’t help but to enjoy his success.

In a victory the first week of the season over the Pistons, Harris had 38 points and was so aggressive to the basket that he went to the foul line 24 times and made 20.

He then missed three games with a sprained ankle and the Nets were outscored by an average of 14.7 points a game.

When he returned, he played a back-to-back series against the Hawks and annihilated veteran Mike Bibby. Harris had 63 points and 18 assists in the two games and Bibby had 22 points and nine assists.

In a span of six games — three with Harris and three without him because of the ankle — the Nets’ stats looked like this.

Record with Harris: 3-0

Without Harris: 0-3

Avg. points with Harris: 112.3

Without Harris: 87.0

FG pct. with Harris: .481

Without Harris: .425

Free-throws attempted with Harris: 37.3

Without Harris: 20.3

The Nets, of course, are ecstatic.

"He’s gotten to the line 36 times in his last two games," Nets president Rod Thorn said last week. "That’s a lot of times. If he’s got you in an open court, he’s unguardable."

Harris said part of his success is because Nets coach Lawrence Frank has given him free reign.

"It’s just being in attack mode," Harris said, "and commanding that paint. Whether it’s getting to the free throw line, finishing at the basket, starting the fast break — it’s full-out attack mode all the time. If we stay in attack mode and stay within ourselves, with the guys we have to space the floor, and our ability to get in the lane and create havoc — me and Vince [Carter], both — this is the way the offense was designed to work."

If there is one bit of fascination left, it’s how Harris would have functioned in Rick Carlisle’s up-tempo offense. But, again, it’s now pointless to get into that because Harris will be back in a Mavericks uniform no quicker than Steve Nash.

At age 25, Harris is going to be around much longer than the 35-year-old Kidd, so ultimately the Nets will have something to show for the trade and the Mavericks won’t. But if you talk in private to the Mavericks players, who all admire Harris, they’ll tell you that they are much more optimistic about their chances for success right now with Kidd.

Link

[DDansby123]

She's right about one thing: the trade's over and done.

What's so woeful from the Mavs' perspective isn't the idea of Harris-for-Kidd; it's just management's complete incompetence prior to, during, and after the trade. I don't have time to detail every misstep.

[JES12]

Articles like that just urk me inside because I hated the trade with a passion and do not think the Mavericks are better right now like the author said. It totally infuriates me anytime I read an article because I feel robbed again and again. But somehow, keep putting it in the back of my head and route for Kidd as if that never happened. Everytime I think it is completely in the past some poster will talk about how good Devin is doing (and make me hate Avery's coaching even more). But I try to forget about it and then an article comes out. I soon forget about it and then it is rubbed in our face on the trade and general forums. And guess what, when Harris is in the All-star game and Kidd isn't this year, it will happen, once again.

STOP BRINGING IT UP ALREADY!

Trading Kidd to Phoenix was a mistake
Letting Nash walk was a mistake
Trading Harris was a mistake

But they are all in the past. The mavericks will always be known for how dumb they are handling the PG position....but it is in the past!

[studcrackers]

i dont think it was a mistake letting nash walk

[GermanFan120]

Let Don Nelson walk is the biggest mistake on top of everything!

Anyone feels like ever since Nelson is gone, Mavs FO basically didn't do anything about Scouting? Remember, it is Nelson who gave us Dirk and Jho. Look how Nelson does with GSW, how does he scout so well and his son cannot?

[Deus]

If I'm mistaken, Nash still hasn't won a title in Phoenix, and didn't even make it to the Finals, unlike Harris who made it 3 years ago.

As far as the Harris-Kidd trade, yeah, now it looks like a mistake. But remember, Harris was the third or even forth option here behind Dirk, Josh, and Terry. In NJ, he's the first option and thrives. He needed a new environment to be a goto scoring PG.

The Ross Perot Jr. trade 12 years ago is beyond discussion. What a waste.

[Pointguard01]

Yea I think we need to forget about it becasue Harris is tearing it up in New Jersey. Lack check he's top 15 in scoring in the entire year at 23/game averaging 6assists/game and not turning the ball over nearly as much as usual. Oh and his team has a better record than ours. But we're still contenders, dont worry...

[2011Champs]

The mistake was not giving up Harris for Kidd. The mistake was giving up the two first round draft picks when the Mavs need to get younger.

[DDansby123]

Yea I think we need to forget about it becasue Harris is tearing it up in New Jersey. Lack check he's top 15 in scoring in the entire year at 23/game averaging 6assists/game and not turning the ball over nearly as much as usual. Oh and his team has a better record than ours. But we're still contenders, dont worry...

I think we all expected Harris to improve his scoring/assist numbers given (a) more minutes, (b) free reign in an offense, and (c) fewer offensive options beside him. Most of us just didn't see a way for that to get done in Dallas with Terry and Howard still here. Of course, management created that problem long before it decided to trade Harris.

Like I've said, the front office screwed up on Harris from the moment they contemplated drafting him.

[crucifixx]

Making comparison with Devin now is kind of pointless because he's one of those good players in a bad team, like Al Jefferson, or Rudy Gay, or Danny Granger. Devin could never be as good as he is now if he is still in Dallas. With that said I really like Devin and I hope he's gunning for the East Allstar this February.

[studcrackers]

he was our 2nd best player til he was traded last year

[crucifixx]

he was our 2nd best player til he was traded last year

I think JHo was our second best player. Remember he was so good at the beginning of last year?

[JES12]

We had a pole where we most all agreed Howard had more trade value, but Harris was our MVP (even over Dirk) til his injury.

[DDansby123]

^ This, we agreed on.

[Chris Morris]

I'll never get sick of it.