Kidd/Mavs/Wow
Jason Kidd to the Mavs is being reported as waiting on league approval as I write this from Nashville at 5:35 pm EST.
Wow.
The trade is said to be Kidd and Malik Allen for Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse (who likely will be bought out of his contract), Desagana Diop, Devean George, Maurice Ager, 2 first round picks (in 2008 and 2010). Antoine Wright is also reported headed to Dallas, although whether it's part of this deal or a separate deal for a second round pick wasn't clear to me.
While I would certainly wish Jason Kidd all the best as the person who single-handedly (along with Rod Thorn) changed the entire mojo of the franchise, this was a deal that had to happen. Lots of carping on the boards thus far about what a bad deal it is, but really, would there have been something better in the off-season? What if Kidd got hurt? He wasn't getting another deal from the Nets, and his value had decreased daily since he publically requested a move. Face it, Netsfans - this situation wasn't going to get better.
Can Harris be a quarter of what Kidd is? Most likely not (and maybe he's going to be moved again - who knows?), but he's a young player with an upside, who it appeared as late as yesterday would stay put in Dallas because Mark Cuban couldn't bare to part with him. At least he can be part of an offense with many different weapons, including Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic, and now even Sean Williams, who is playing a big part off the bench. Now, after being devoid of much talent up front, the Nets have a ton.
Josh Boone and Krstic as the starters - with Sean Williams, Stromile Swift, Diop and Jamaal Magloire (whom I would bet Thorn is actively trying to move as well) as backups up front.
Richard Jefferson, Boki Nachbar and George, a more reliable defensive stopper than Wright, at the small forward.
And for guards, assuming Stackhouse is bought out, you have Carter, Harris, Marcus Williams (who needs more PT, and should get it) and Darrell Armstrong.
That's 13 players right there, plus Maurice Ager, whom I personally know little about.
It will be interesting to see what that group can do, but again, like I said earlier, perhaps the Nets aren't done, and Harris (or anyone else) is a piece to do another deal. Either before the deadline or in the off-season, as Rod Thorn continues to retool for the future.
Will the Nets make the playoffs? Who the hell knows, since this group will need some time re-adjusting to life after Kidd. That's huge - when motivated, you know damned well what Kidd was capable of. Who knows if Carter can now become the focal point for the offense, and keep things moving like they did with Kidd. Harris likes to run, but Carter still doesn't, so...
One last thought - will the NBA "hold up" the trade until after the All Star game, so Kidd can make his final appearance for the Nets playing for the Eastern Conference? You could see that happening as well.
Oh, last night's game, perhaps Kidd's final one in a Nets uniform. Rather uninspiring from what I read, but a win nonetheless. Tonight, a tough back-to-back in Toronto, and next to impossible if Kidd is held out for any reason.
I'll check back in later tonight with the latest and greatest.
Joe
Wow.
The trade is said to be Kidd and Malik Allen for Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse (who likely will be bought out of his contract), Desagana Diop, Devean George, Maurice Ager, 2 first round picks (in 2008 and 2010). Antoine Wright is also reported headed to Dallas, although whether it's part of this deal or a separate deal for a second round pick wasn't clear to me.
While I would certainly wish Jason Kidd all the best as the person who single-handedly (along with Rod Thorn) changed the entire mojo of the franchise, this was a deal that had to happen. Lots of carping on the boards thus far about what a bad deal it is, but really, would there have been something better in the off-season? What if Kidd got hurt? He wasn't getting another deal from the Nets, and his value had decreased daily since he publically requested a move. Face it, Netsfans - this situation wasn't going to get better.
Can Harris be a quarter of what Kidd is? Most likely not (and maybe he's going to be moved again - who knows?), but he's a young player with an upside, who it appeared as late as yesterday would stay put in Dallas because Mark Cuban couldn't bare to part with him. At least he can be part of an offense with many different weapons, including Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic, and now even Sean Williams, who is playing a big part off the bench. Now, after being devoid of much talent up front, the Nets have a ton.
Josh Boone and Krstic as the starters - with Sean Williams, Stromile Swift, Diop and Jamaal Magloire (whom I would bet Thorn is actively trying to move as well) as backups up front.
Richard Jefferson, Boki Nachbar and George, a more reliable defensive stopper than Wright, at the small forward.
And for guards, assuming Stackhouse is bought out, you have Carter, Harris, Marcus Williams (who needs more PT, and should get it) and Darrell Armstrong.
That's 13 players right there, plus Maurice Ager, whom I personally know little about.
It will be interesting to see what that group can do, but again, like I said earlier, perhaps the Nets aren't done, and Harris (or anyone else) is a piece to do another deal. Either before the deadline or in the off-season, as Rod Thorn continues to retool for the future.
Will the Nets make the playoffs? Who the hell knows, since this group will need some time re-adjusting to life after Kidd. That's huge - when motivated, you know damned well what Kidd was capable of. Who knows if Carter can now become the focal point for the offense, and keep things moving like they did with Kidd. Harris likes to run, but Carter still doesn't, so...
One last thought - will the NBA "hold up" the trade until after the All Star game, so Kidd can make his final appearance for the Nets playing for the Eastern Conference? You could see that happening as well.
Oh, last night's game, perhaps Kidd's final one in a Nets uniform. Rather uninspiring from what I read, but a win nonetheless. Tonight, a tough back-to-back in Toronto, and next to impossible if Kidd is held out for any reason.
I'll check back in later tonight with the latest and greatest.
Joe
posted by Joe Netsfan at 5:46 PM
4 Comments:
If anyone hasn't heard, Devean George is at this point holding up the trade by exercising his no-trade rights given to him under the "Early Bird" status of his contract. Right now, the AP reports that "(George's agent) said George's decision was not to avoid going to the Nets. When asked if something might still be worked out, he said, "We're not going to draw a line in the sand." And at this point the status of the deal is not known.
if deal doesn't go through, and jeremaine o'neal gets healthy, AND mike miller comes to NJ, then we would have kidd, miker miller, RJ, o'neal, and krstic/boone.
The trade appears less and less likely, basically they're back to square one at this point.
If you throw out the slop, and forget about who took the biggest cap hit. The Nets just traded
Jason Kidd, Antoine Wright and Malik Allen for Devon Harris and
Desagana Diop. Don't tell me about the first round draft picks (from one of the league's best teams).
Change isn't always good. How about a return to the bottom of the standings, where the pre-Kidd Nets resided forever.
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