It will be an interesting scene for the Mavericks tonight as they come face to face with the subject of current trade rumors, Jason Kidd. Although the Mavericks have repeatedly said they are happy with their team -- and there are those of us who believe them -- the rumors are so prevalent that they can't be ignored. Plus there is a simple reality involving teams and trades. People can change their minds.
That's what happened in Phoenix, where owner Robert Sarver was saying one day that there was no way Shawn Marion would be traded, only to trade him a couple of weeks later. So yes, it is possible for the Mavericks to change their minds.
But it seems unlikely. If the Mavericks were to include two of the players rumored in a Kidd deal -- Devin Harris and DeSagana Diop -- it would be they lose their best defender and someone who can play defensively against the likes of Tony Parker and Chris Paul. And they would also be down to one big man in Erick Dampier. The Mavericks believe they need 12 fouls -- six each from Damp and Diop -- when they are playing against Tim Duncan or Shaq.
Perhaps it is possible to get a third team involved, but in today's Newark Star-Ledger, Nets GM Rod Thorn is quoted saying that he has not received one decent trade offer for Kidd. The newspaper also says the Mavericks have not offered Harris.
So as has been noted in the past, Mark Cuban is on record saying he would happily steal someone but the Nets have to get at least one excellent young player in a deal. Tonight, Kidd will have an attentive audience as he shows the Mavericks what he has left. But even if he gets a triple double, it still may not be enough to convince the Mavericks they should give up Harris or any other promising young player to get Kidd in Dallas.
-- Jan Hubbard
Kidd can't shoot. That doesn't help Dallas at all. If anything, Dallas could use a shooting guard. Kidd doesn't play Dallas's style of ball, and he is way overpaid. A very expensive gamble to take, especially if Dallas would have to part with Harris, which would really be disappointing.
Posted by: Steve | February 10, 2008 at 07:53 PM
That is an incredibly sober opinion. Thank you Steve. Not many realize these simple points.
Posted by: Captain Midnight | February 11, 2008 at 11:52 AM