Regardless of what Mark Cuban or Donnie Nelson might say, there is no doubt that they are interested in getting Jason Kidd. What contender would not be? Even San Antonio at this point -- with Tony Parker having problems with a bone spur in his heel (he was sent home from a road trip in Seattle yesterday for an MRI) -- you think the Spurs wouldn't be interested?
Cuban is on record as saying that any time he can steal someone, he's interested. So there is little doubt that as we go towards the Feb. 21 trading deadline that the Mavericks will be closely watching and inquiring about Kidd.
But here's the problem with most of these proposed trades. Jeff Caplan in a previous post linked to one story that had a five-for-one deal with the Nets. Here's one of the problems. The Nets have 13 players on their roster. If they make a five-for-one, they will have 17 players, so they would have to cut two players and also pay them.
Another thing -- because of the one-year veteran contract that he signed, Devean George, who has been mentioned as part of any deal involving Kidd, would have to give his approval for a trade. I'm guessing here, but playing for the Nets rather than a championship contender would not seem to be appealing.
If the two teams are interested in making a trade, it can happen. But more than likely, a third team would have to be involved to take salary and a roster spot. However, in this day of blogging and mindless chatter on talk radio, we'll be hearing and reading plenty of scenarios in the next month.
-- Jan Hubbard
Comments