Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: Jason Kidd to the Mavs…for ALL That?
Date: February 13, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: My reaction to the Dallas Mavericks’ acquisition of Jason Kidd for quite a large package that included then-rising-star Devin Harris.

So the NBA has it in for me. Ever since the site relaunched I’ve planned on doing a running diary of the NBA trade deadline, which happens to be next Thursday. Apparently, NBA teams didn’t get the memo.

First Gasol. Then Shaq. Now Kidd.

ESPN.com is reporting that the Mavericks and Nets have agreed to a deal in principle that would send Kidd and Malik Allen to Big D for a ridiculous package of Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, Maurice Ager, and two expiring contracts in Desagna Diop and Devean George, plus the $3M maximum allowed trade cash and first round picks in 2008 and 2010.

Umm…what?

Have Mark Cuban and his band of front office puppets not been paying attention lately? The Lakers got Gasol for 30 cents on the dollar, and depending on how you look at it, Miami got Marion for something even worse than nothing, a 320-pound $60M contract. And the Mavs gave up all that for a 34 (soon to be 35) year old point guard who shoots 36% from the floor? Really?

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know it’s Jason Kidd, but you would have trouble convincing me that he is a better option than Devin Harris right now, let alone worth Harris and all of those other pieces. This trade reeks of a panic deal, something Cuban wanted made because he felt left out with the West getting mightier in recent weeks, and possibly bored and jealous of other teams getting big-name stars. I’m not saying that’s the most likely reason, but it has to have been a motive.

Jason Kidd for all of that? Kidd may well still be one of the best point guards in the league. Averages of 11.3-8.1-10.4 are absolutely insane. He is a triple double machine, the best rebounding guard in the NBA, and is a playmaker in the ilk of Nash and Stockton. He’s also a decent defender and is one of the top post-up guards in the league. On the other hand, the guy shoots 36%, has an albatross contract, has worn down in recent years, and averages just 11.3 points a night.

You’re right, the Mavericks aren’t brining him into score. And yes, a Kidd-Terry-Howard-Nowitzki lineup is scary regardless of who the fifth is. But Devin Harris may be just as good. For my money, he is the best defensive point guard in the league, is an underrated scorer (14.4), shooter (48.3%) and playmaker (5.3), and most importantly, he’s 24 years old. Like it or not Dirk, Harris is the leader of this team on the floor, and his motor is the only thing that lets your team handle the Suns or any other quick guards (Spurs, Hornets).

I was shocked when I saw the specifics of this deal. There is also a report that the teams will make a second deal, sending ODC favorite Antoine Wright to the Mavs for a second round pick, but not even scoring Bostjan Nachbar could have made me sing a different tune here.

This is meant to be a quick reflection, so I won’t get too carried away on why moving Harris for Kidd straight up makes no sense (contracts, age, defense, fit on the team, chemistry, and the fact that this team is young enough [Dirk is just 29] that having a good young point guard and draft picks makes a lot of sense), but let’s look at what the Mavs gave up, for real.

Two first round picks. Sure, they’ll be late firsts, but they have trade value and rotation player potential. Jerry Stackhouse averages close to 10 points a game and is one of the best 6th men you can find. Desagna Diop actually played well in the playoffs last year and is a huge shot-blocking presence, and the other two (Ager and George) are bit pieces. But Harris? Come on. The Nets got a great haul here, probably one the Cavs or Lakers could never have matched, and kudos to them for selling the face of the franchise for 1.05 on the dollar.

Does this trade make the Mavs look like a bigger playoff threat on paper? Sure does. Does the move make Cuban and Dirk happy? You bet. Does it give the Raptors a better chance of winning tonight with New Jersey in town? You know it, champ. But does it really make the Mavs better, now and moving forward? I just don’t see it.

The deal makes the Mavs older, limits their ability to make moves in the summer (Kidd has another year left on his deal, and indications are his agents are working out an extension for once the deal becomes official), and severely thins out their bench. Dirk and Howard, and even Terry and Kidd, will improve, but the team as a whole hasn’t gotten much better.

They’re still not on my Western Conference Champions radar. No Kidding.

Oh and a side note to Gilbert Arenas: This move takes Kidd out of the All-Star game, leaving the East a guard short. Looking at the list…hmmmm…