Five Things You Thought You Thought About The Kidd Trade

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>For the right to get into this exclusive club, these past seven days of trade torture probably don't seem so bad now for the Dallas Mavericks.

Not when bringing back Jason Kidd, complicated and protracted as the process was, puts Dallas right there with the Phoenix Suns on the very short list of teams to (a) give up on the two best point guards of this generation and ( find a way after a few years to get one of them back.

So let's commemorate this special occasion by busting five myths regarding the Mavs' reacquisition of a famous former No. 5:

The Mavericks mortgaged their future for Jason Kidd.

It's a common complaint in Dallas, but I'm still waiting for someone to show me how that's really the case.

As much as the locals (and Cuban) loved Devin Harris, take a scan through the Western Conference. That's where you'll find Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Baron Davis, Tony Parker and Brandon Roy … if you allow us to lump Roy in as a lead guard since he's not a pure point.

How long would Dallas have to wait before Harris is better than any of those guys? Not even Nash, who recently turned 34, is slowing down.

It's true that no one in the NBA has kept up with Parker better than Harris -- and that there's some clear risk with the second of two draft picks Dallas surrendered since it's totally unprotected -- but the West is too deep now for any team to focus on matching up with San Antonio. So it strikes us as a pretty reasonable cost, figuring that the two first-round picks will more likely be in the 20s, to part with two players who helped Dallas win the biggest series in franchise history to bring Dallas an elite floor leader again for the first time since Nash's departure. Harris and center DeSagana Diop were both crucial to the Mavs outlasting the Spurs in seven games en route to the 2006 NBA Finals, and Dallas has created an undeniable size void by parting with Diop that must be filled immediately, but it's better to have someone with the vision and experience up-and-comers like Paul and Williams can't match yet … even at Kidd's advanced age.

"I'd definitely like to see him stay in the East," Utah's Williams said of Kidd during All-Star Weekend.

I contend that Harris would have never reached his full potential in Dallas anyway because of the limited freedom and internal pressures he faced there, making it questionable that keeping him guaranteed any kind of upward arc for this team. Then ask yourself this if you're still doubting that this was all a worthy risk: Why over the past few days did you read so many protests from rival teams about Jerry Stackhouse's comments and how they suggested New Jersey and Dallas had prearranged a side deal for Stackhouse to return to the Mavs after a 30-day wait? Teams were pressuring the league as much as anything to block the deal largely because they didn't want Dallas to get a proven winner like Kidd.

Said coach Avery Johnson, essentially confirming that the organization hasn't forgotten how the Mavs' last two playoff series played out: "[Kidd] knows how to finish games and that's what we are looking for."

This is Kidd's team now.

In terms of spotlight? Sure. But Nowitzki has never been a move-the-needle guy for the basketball public anyway … and has never shown any interest in the needle. He'll happily surrender the spotlight to Kidd.

And Mavs owner Mark Cuban wanted to make this deal as much for Nowitzki's sake and capitalizing on his prime years as any other factor, just as Phoenix committed to the Shawn Marion-for-Shaquille O'Neal when the Suns realized that it would re-energize Nash like nothing else could.

The big German has never complained once about the decision to let his best friend leave for Phoenix, where Nash went on to win two MVP awards. He simply responded by accepting all the changes around him and improving every season to help the Mavs keep winning more often than they had a right to expect, highlighted by an epic Game 7 performance in San Antonio that his critics conveniently forget and a 67-win MVP season of his own as a follow-up.

But Nowitzki is 29 now. Although team insiders insist that he didn't go to management to ask for a new superstar sidekick or the kind of jolt that only newcomers in the Shaq-Kidd class can give a team, Nowitzki's bosses saw for themselves that he needed the help and the boost. They saw that the grind of carrying this club without a teammate who made the game easier for him -- combined with the Mavs' collective doubt that still lingered in the locker room after the playoff collapses against Miami and Golden State -- was taking a toll.

It's a toll, in Cuban's estimation, that extended to his fans, which clinched his determination to get Kidd at (virtually) all costs. He spoke repeatedly Tuesday of a growing "malaise" in Big D, which is hard to detect on the surface with a consecutive sellout streak in the hundreds but something Cuban is convinced had seeped into his locker room and the community. So even when the price for Kidd rose dramatically over the weekend, Cuban didn't blink, convinced that missing his Kidd opportunity and a worst-case-scenario spiral from there could get "a lot uglier" for him in the financial long run.

Kidd can't play in the Mavericks' slow-paced system that relies so heavily on isolations.

I wholeheartedly disagree. Why? Because the reigning MVP wholeheartedly disagrees. "I think he's going to give his style to us," Nowitzki insists.

And I believe that, too. As one high-ranking club official reminded me, there is at least one pretty good explanation for why the Mavs' post-Nash offense has devolved into a system that relies so heavily on isos: "We couldn't pass." Which is no longer a problem.

You could have made the case that, until Kidd's return, Nowitzki was indeed Dallas' best passer and finisher. After just one practice and a flight to New Orleans in advance of Kidd's debut Wednesday, Nowitzki had already seen enough to declare: "He gives me passes that I could only dream about."

The determining factor/biggest uncertainty here, however, will be how much freedom Kidd actually gets from the coach. Has Johnson been so rigid offensively until now because he didn't trust the decision makers on the floor? Or has he been so rigid and iso-insistent with the Mavs' offense because that's just him? We're about to find out if Johnson is prepared to withdraw now that he'll have the sort of point guard you'd assume he's always wanted. Which has to happen for this to work.</div>
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Kidd is a great player. However, there is a word of warning that I kind of poo-pooed when he joined the Nets: On each team he has joined, they made a marked improvement the first year, and then gradually declined until he forced his way out.

In Dallas, the Mavs went from 36 wins to 26 to 24 (Kidd was dealt during that year).

Staring from his first full year in Phoenix, the Suns won 56, 44 (projected due to strike year), 53, 51.

Starting with the nets: 52, 49, 47, 42, 49, 41.

He's a guy who, if he stay interested on a daily basis, he can lead you to a title. however, like Larry Brown, he can't sustain that level of interest. In other words, what you'll get from him the rest of this year and next year will be as good as it will get. Enjoy it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kidd is a great player. However, there is a word of warning that I kind of poo-pooed when he joined the Nets: On each team he has joined, they made a marked improvement the first year, and then gradually declined until he forced his way out.

In Dallas, the Mavs went from 36 wins to 26 to 24 (Kidd was dealt during that year).

Staring from his first full year in Phoenix, the Suns won 56, 44 (projected due to strike year), 53, 51.

Starting with the nets: 52, 49, 47, 42, 49, 41.

He's a guy who, if he stay interested on a daily basis, he can lead you to a title. however, like Larry Brown, he can't sustain that level of interest. In other words, what you'll get from him the rest of this year and next year will be as good as it will get. Enjoy it.</div>

Wow your looking at it way too much. Are you even considering the factors of the decline? I've got one word for you, BITTER. Losing Kidd really hit you bad. Well its not surprising considering the caliber of Kidd.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AMS_ICE @ Feb 21 2008, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kidd is a great player. However, there is a word of warning that I kind of poo-pooed when he joined the Nets: On each team he has joined, they made a marked improvement the first year, and then gradually declined until he forced his way out.

In Dallas, the Mavs went from 36 wins to 26 to 24 (Kidd was dealt during that year).

Staring from his first full year in Phoenix, the Suns won 56, 44 (projected due to strike year), 53, 51.

Starting with the nets: 52, 49, 47, 42, 49, 41.

He's a guy who, if he stay interested on a daily basis, he can lead you to a title. however, like Larry Brown, he can't sustain that level of interest. In other words, what you'll get from him the rest of this year and next year will be as good as it will get. Enjoy it.</div>

Wow your looking at it way too much. Are you even considering the factors of the decline? I've got one word for you, BITTER. Losing Kidd really hit you bad. Well its not surprising considering the caliber of Kidd.
</div>

ha, no, I'm not bitter at all. I'm just repeating what I heard when he became a Net, and it turned out to be prescient. Why the **** would I be bitter? It's just a game, and it's not my money.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AMS_ICE @ Feb 21 2008, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kidd is a great player. However, there is a word of warning that I kind of poo-pooed when he joined the Nets: On each team he has joined, they made a marked improvement the first year, and then gradually declined until he forced his way out.

In Dallas, the Mavs went from 36 wins to 26 to 24 (Kidd was dealt during that year).

Staring from his first full year in Phoenix, the Suns won 56, 44 (projected due to strike year), 53, 51.

Starting with the nets: 52, 49, 47, 42, 49, 41.

He's a guy who, if he stay interested on a daily basis, he can lead you to a title. however, like Larry Brown, he can't sustain that level of interest. In other words, what you'll get from him the rest of this year and next year will be as good as it will get. Enjoy it.</div>

Wow your looking at it way too much. Are you even considering the factors of the decline? I've got one word for you, BITTER. Losing Kidd really hit you bad. Well its not surprising considering the caliber of Kidd.
</div>

ha, no, I'm not bitter at all. I'm just repeating what I heard when he became a Net, and it turned out to be prescient. Why the **** would I be bitter? It's just a game, and it's not my money.
</div>

For someone who says that sure whines a lot.

 

I thought the Mavs were spending a lot of money, and thought they'd be spending more when they got Kidd. But Wow. They're looking at about $25M in luxury tax bills over this season and next in addition to the actual salary they're paying out. And I'd still rate them pretty far down the list to win the West.

 

how old are you, six?

 

nice title there Joker.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>how old are you, six?</div>

Obviously older than you.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (insider @ Feb 25 2008, 09:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>how old are you, six?</div>

Obviously older than you.
</div>

I doubt that

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AMS_ICE @ Feb 21 2008, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kidd is a great player. However, there is a word of warning that I kind of poo-pooed when he joined the Nets: On each team he has joined, they made a marked improvement the first year, and then gradually declined until he forced his way out.

In Dallas, the Mavs went from 36 wins to 26 to 24 (Kidd was dealt during that year).

Staring from his first full year in Phoenix, the Suns won 56, 44 (projected due to strike year), 53, 51.

Starting with the nets: 52, 49, 47, 42, 49, 41.

He's a guy who, if he stay interested on a daily basis, he can lead you to a title. however, like Larry Brown, he can't sustain that level of interest. In other words, what you'll get from him the rest of this year and next year will be as good as it will get. Enjoy it.</div>

Wow your looking at it way too much. Are you even considering the factors of the decline? I've got one word for you, BITTER. Losing Kidd really hit you bad. Well its not surprising considering the caliber of Kidd.
</div>

Uh, have you ever read these boards before? If you did, you'd know that Dumpy has wanted to ship out Kidd for a while.

 

I guess this is what you get for trying to engage someone in rational discourse.

 

I agree with the guy giving Dumpy a hard time.

 

you would ghoti.... hahaha

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 26 2008, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I guess this is what you get for trying to engage someone in rational discourse.</div>

Maybe you should look up the word rational first.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (insider @ Feb 26 2008, 10:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 26 2008, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I guess this is what you get for trying to engage someone in rational discourse.</div>

Maybe you should look up the word rational first.
</div>

Yes! Good post.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (insider @ Feb 26 2008, 10:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 26 2008, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I guess this is what you get for trying to engage someone in rational discourse.</div>

Maybe you should look up the word rational first.
</div>

Ohhh! shots fired!

 

Dumpy: I've observed Kidd for a long time and here are some fact-supported thoughts I'd like to pass along.

#1_Dallas_Mavericks_Fan: You are just a bitter, jealous Nets fan who doesn't know anything.

#1_Mark_Cuban_Fan: What an irrational whiner.


This is a world class thread! I'm just glad to be a part of it.

 

Dumpy, you're just a bitter little kid who is upset that the only Nets franchise player you ever knew or were old enough to remember (Jason Kidd) has been traded. Grow up and learn what words mean before you use them.