Mavericks were no more than bait in the Devin Harris deal

The Utah Jazz’s trade of Deron Williams to New Jersey
doesn’t really impact the Mavericks one bit – other than tonight
when the two teams meet.
 
The Mavericks were never going to get Devin Harris back.
That’s a fact that became crystal clear after he was traded to the Jazz.
The Mavericks weren’t even in the ballpark. As Jules Winfield in Pulp
Fiction would say, they weren’t even playing the same sport when it came
to a trade offer for Harris.
 
The Nets made out quite nicely. And it’s entirely
possible that the Mavericks helped drive up the price they fetched for Harris
and Derrick Favors. That’s OK. That’s the way this game works
sometimes.
 
But the Jazz did well, too, with two good, young players and
two perhaps-lottery draft picks.
 
For those of you who believe the Mavericks missed out on
maybe getting Williams when he becomes a free agent in 2012, that also was like
saying that I missed out on Kim Kardashian when she met Kris Humphries.
 
The Mavs and Williams wasn’t going to happen, either,
although, by the way, he’ll still be a free agent after next season and
if the Mavericks clear the right amount of room for him, it doesn’t kill
that possibility. But again, don’t hold your breath.
 
Anyway, when it comes to tonight, the Jazz will have Earl
Watson at point guard tonight and virtually nobody else, with Ronnie Price
uncertain because of a toe injury.
 
Then again, Jason Kidd knows better than to be fooled by a
wounded animal.
 
“You can’t overlook them,’’ he said.
“Those guys are going to be prepared to play. They always play hard. We
played them up in Utah a few years ago and they didn’t have any of their
starters and we still lost. So we got to come out and take care of
business.’’
 
Eddie Sefko