J Kidd to Mavs?

[ftwspursfan]

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

The Dallas Mavericks are in serious discussions to acquire Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets, an NBA source confirmed Wednesday.

The deal, which has been shot down in numerous forms by management members from both teams, has been rekindled in the last few days and apparently has a legitimate chance to go through. ESPN.com is reporting that the teams have agreed in principle on a deal.

The Mavericks would acquire the soon-to-be-35-year-old Kidd, who has been among the NBA's top point guards for a decade. They may also receive other pieces, such as Darrell Armstrong, like Kidd another former Maverick.

The Mavericks would have to send Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse and others to the Nets in the deal.

The deal is not done, but the sides may simply be quibbling over ancillary pieces at this point, which could include Devean George, DeSagana Diop, draft picks and a signed-and-traded Keith Van Horn, a contract that would expire after this season, giving the Nets increased salary cap flexibility.

Another NBA source said, however, that the likelihood of Stackhouse being traded, then bought out by the Nets so that he might return to the Mavericks, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The Nets would be on the hook for his $7 million salary for the next two seasons.

We'll see how this turns out but as a Spurs fan, I would love this!!:thumb Tony Parker can run circles around Kidd. Deron Williams of the Jazz would school J Kidd also. Go ahead, Cuban, make it easy for us!! Do it!!!:thumb:pound

[theroc]

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

The Dallas Mavericks are in serious discussions to acquire Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets, an NBA source confirmed Wednesday.

The deal, which has been shot down in numerous forms by management members from both teams, has been rekindled in the last few days and apparently has a legitimate chance to go through. ESPN.com is reporting that the teams have agreed in principle on a deal.

The Mavericks would acquire the soon-to-be-35-year-old Kidd, who has been among the NBA's top point guards for a decade. They may also receive other pieces, such as Darrell Armstrong, like Kidd another former Maverick.

The Mavericks would have to send Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse and others to the Nets in the deal.

The deal is not done, but the sides may simply be quibbling over ancillary pieces at this point, which could include Devean George, DeSagana Diop, draft picks and a signed-and-traded Keith Van Horn, a contract that would expire after this season, giving the Nets increased salary cap flexibility.

Another NBA source said, however, that the likelihood of Stackhouse being traded, then bought out by the Nets so that he might return to the Mavericks, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The Nets would be on the hook for his $7 million salary for the next two seasons.

We'll see how this turns out but as a Spurs fan, I would love this!!:thumb Tony Parker can run circles around Kidd. Deron Williams of the Jazz would school J Kidd also. Go ahead, Cuban, make it easy for us!! Do it!!!:thumb:pound

Awesome news for us spurs fans...first the suns trade away and get worse and now the mavs.
This is one awesome season.

[ftwspursfan]

I'm w/ya, Roc. If Sagana Diop goes, then the Mavs are right back to being the _allas Mavs, No D! :pound GO! SPURS! GO!

[C. Little]

Cuban's still try to buy a championship. That rarely works. Let's see who else just tried to buy one, uh maybe the Patriots.

[ftwspursfan]

Deal looking more done by the minute
5:42 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008 | Permalink
Eddie Sefko E-mail News tips
The Mavericks have recalled Nick Fazekas from the D-League, a sure sign that the Jason Kidd is imminent, if not completely done.

They are going to have only eight healthy bodies for tonight's game against Portland, so bringing back Fazekas at least gives them a spare body if needed.

Don't expect a deal to be announced tonight, at least not officially. But this thing appears to be legitimate and on the lip of the cup.

Get ready for the new generation of the Three J's, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard and Jason Terry.

Diop is in the deal, and Stack supposedly will be cut by the Nets and then go back to the Mavs.

[ftwspursfan]

'What trade?' Avery asks; Nets coach answers
6:51 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008 | Permalink
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Avery Johnson played dumb during his pregame press conference when asked about the Jason Kidd trade.

"What trade?" he said, trying to keep a straight face. "We've been hearing a lot of stuff. We've been hearing a lot of stuff for awhile now. But Mark and Donnie haven't informed me that anything has been completed."

Avery also informed the media that all the Mavs that aren't injured will be in uniform tonight, including Devean George and Gana Diop. However, Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright are inactive for the Nets' game in Toronto. And New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank has accepted that Kidd is no longer a Net.

"We're giving up a Hall of Fame point guard and two very good role players," Frank told reporters tonight, "and we've traded that for getting a young point guard with huge upside and some good complementary players as well as some future draft picks."

Mark Cuban declined to chat with the media. Nobody with the Mavs has talked yet with the reported centerpiece of the package headed to New Jersey, either.

"I'm just a spectator in the madness," Devin Harris said. "I can only wait to get told what to do."

[ftwspursfan]

Deal is blocked by Mavs' George
8:29 PM Wed, Feb 13, 2008 | Permalink
Eddie Sefko E-mail News tips
Blame it on Larry Bird. Or at least the Larry Bird exception.

Mavericks' swingman Devean George is schedule to be an early Bird free agent next summer, which his agent described this evening as "an important tool in free agency.''

That fact allowed George to squash the Mavericks' potential acquisition of Jason Kidd, because George would have had to give up his Bird rights had he been included in the deal, which is dead at the moment because he refused to give up those rights.

"We're not trying to block anything,'' said Mark Bartelstein. "But just like teams have to make tough decisions, my job is to protect Devean and sometimes we have to make tough decisions. Right now, he feels good about his situation in Dallas.

"The whole thing is uncomfortable. But this is a right Devean has.''

The deal, which would have sent Devin Harris, George, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop and Moe Ager, along with cash and two first round picks, to New Jersey, was on the lip of the cup, with both teams agreeing, multiple insiders have said this evening.

Now, it's dead.

Not that it cannot be resuscitated, of course. But rebuilding it without George's expiring contract won't be easy.


:tsk

[mbtcforJesus]

Not a fan of either team but it sounds like the Mavs trying to keep up with the Jones', so to speak. With the Lakers acquisition of Pau Gasol, the Suns getting Shaquille O'Neal, I think the Mavs are trying increase their chances by getting Jason Kidd. If the trade goes down they'll be getting themselves one heck of a point guard. Is it enough to put them over the top? Time will tell. I think the Spurs are still the team to beat.

[ftwspursfan]

Deal or no deal? It's no Kidd to Dallas Mavericks deal - for now

Mavericks' George blocks trade that would have brought Kidd to Dallas


11:51 PM CST on Wednesday, February 13, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

Jason Kidd was a Maverick for a moment.

And he may yet be a Maverick before next week's NBA trading deadline.

But for now, the intricate trade that would have brought the star point guard to Dallas on Wednesday was squashed even quicker than it took life over the course of a few tantalizing hours.
The Mavericks and New Jersey had signed off on the swap that would have sent Devin Harris, four other players, draft picks and cash to the Nets. If it wasn't a done deal, it was on the lip of the cup.

And then, it wasn't.

Devean George, one of the other players in the deal, and his agent elected to use a clause in his contract to block the trade. George would have had to give up his early Larry Bird rights, which in essence means he would have given up leverage in this summer's free-agent period, for the trade to go through.

After the Mavericks waxed the Portland Trail Blazers, 96-76, in a game that George started and missed all 11 of his shots, he explained the situation.

"There's a lot of stuff going on and, really, my agent wants to wait until I talk to him. I don't think the trade will go anywhere. It's right there.

"All the fingers are pointing at me. I'm the bad guy now that is holding things up. But I'll be that."

The Mavericks, via coach Avery Johnson, admitted that a lot of trade talk transpired Wednesday. The deal apparently was ready to be sent to the league office for approval when George's camp made its intentions known.

However, an NBA source said late Wednesday that the deal still had a chance to be resuscitated in its current form. That would require a change of heart by George.

The 6-8 swingman said he sees this situation as part of the job, that nobody thinks twice about a team trading a player or waiving a player. But when the situation is reversed, and the player has a right to certain leverage, sometimes that doesn't get the same respect in a court of public opinion.

George said he heard some catcalls from the home fans at American Airlines Center.

"Yeah, I heard, 'Quit being selfish. Come on. We want Kidd.' It was disruptive for everybody, not just me," he said. "I don't know when it will happen."

George's agent said the situation had nothing to do with George wanting to stop a trade for Kidd. He just didn't want to be part of it.

"We're not trying to block anything," said Mark Bartelstein. "But just like teams have to make tough decisions, my job is to protect Devean, and sometimes we have to make tough decisions. Right now, he feels good about his situation in Dallas.

"The whole thing is uncomfortable. But this is a right Devean has. He had to give up his Bird rights to allow the deal to go through."

That isn't happening. It became apparent before the Mavericks' game against Portland at American Airlines Center tipped off that the deal had hit a snag. George and DeSagana Diop, who was also expected to be included in the deal, were in uniform, with George starting. That wouldn't have happened if the deal were only awaiting league approval. The Mavericks wouldn't have taken a chance on either player getting injured and hurting the deal.

Jerry Stackhouse, who is injured, also would have been in the deal although there's a chance he would have returned to Dallas as part of a buyout. Moe Ager, first-round draft picks this summer and in 2010, along with cash (a maximum of $3 million) would have completed the deal from the Mavericks' end. They also would have acquired Malik Allen and Antoine Wright with Kidd.

Harris, however, was the key piece. Now it will have to be rebuilt, which is not impossible. There are other players from both sides that might be substituted to satisfy both parties.

But it's like starting over at this point.

When owner Mark Cuban was asked before the game if the deal could be resuscitated, he said: "No, I don't think so."

George is working on a one-year contract, his second such deal with the Mavericks. That will make him an early Larry Bird exception this summer, meaning the Mavericks could offer him more money.

That is "an important tool in free agency," Bartelstein said.

However, that now seems unlikely. George, in fact, could face a chilly reception on the open market after his refusal to let the trade go through.

Interestingly, Kidd talked after the Nets' game at Toronto like his days in New Jersey are over.

"I had a great time here in New Jersey," Kidd told New Jersey writers. "It [Dallas] is where I started. Hopefully, I'll be a piece of the puzzle to help win. There's been mention of a snag, but everything works itself out at the end of the day."

He then added that "I'm a Net until otherwise told."

For now, that won't change unless George has a change of heart or the Mavericks retool their offer.


POSSIBLE TRADE'S UPSIDE
• Gives the Mavericks a player who can impose his will late in games.

• A future Hall of Fame point guard who can run the offense and get easier shots for Dirk Nowitzki.

• Gives the team 100 games of postseason experience, more than Josh Howard and Jason Terry combined.


THE DOWNSIDE
• Removes Devin Harris' speed and hurts the team's perimeter defense.

• The loss of DeSagana Diop would hurt in matching up with San Antonio, Phoenix, Houston and the LA Lakers.

• Gives up nearly 11 years at the point guard position to win this season.

David Moore

:kickcan :idunno Cmon Cuban get this thing done. The Spurs will luv ya for it!!:aha

[ftwspursfan]

Trading places
9:30 AM Tue, Feb 19, 2008 | Permalink
Eddie Sefko E-mail News tips

NEW ORLEANS _ The Jason Kidd trade is becoming reality as involved players began hopping on jets today to get to their new teams, even before the deal received the NBA's blessing.

Executives from both teams were scheduled for a conference call this morning to go over details of the blockbuster, which was believed to be free of any hazards and likely to be completed by this afternoon.

The Mavericks pushed back an originally scheduled 2 p.m. practice until 3 p.m., presumably to give some extra time for Kidd to get from New Jersey to Dallas.

"It looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling,'' Kidd said Sunday night before he started his roundabout, which took him from the All-Star weekend in New Orleans, back to New Jersey, then to Dallas and, presuming the trade is finalized, back to New Orleans tonight in preparation for the Mavericks' game against the Hornets on Wednesday.

The trade will send Devin Harris, who already is on his way to the Nets, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Moe Ager and a re-signed Keith Van Horn to New Jersey along with first-round draft picks this summer and in 2010 and $3 million in cash.

Joining Kidd in Mavericks' uniforms would be Malik Allen and Antoine Wright, who technically is arriving in a separate deal for a $1.6-million trade exception.

NBA executives could not be reached to comment about when the trade might be announced as completed.

Finally, it's done!:yeah. Two of the main guys the Mavs used to match up w/the Spurs are now in NJ, Harris and Diop! Go! Spurs! Go! :thumb:heh