<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MINNEAPOLIS -- Devean George said Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has yet to offer a high-five for mucking up the original deal for Jason Kidd. He probably should. In one of the weirdest months a player could imagine, George has gone from disgruntled bench-warmer to trade bait to trade pariah to a suddenly valued asset as the Mavs' 6-foot-8 backup point guard. That's right, point guard, er, point forward. The acquisition of Kidd -- a deal that initially included George until he unexpectedly blocked it -- has empowered coach Avery Johnson to relieve Jason Terry of his duties at point guard, freeing him to play exclusively at shooting guard, where he started Friday in Memphis. With undersized and under-experienced J.J. Barea as the only other point guard on the roster, George, a reliable ballhandler, allows Terry to stay at shooting guard, which makes George more valuable than ever. "It's bizarre," George said with a grin.</div> Source
