Jason Kidd Traded to Dallas. Seriously.

Text Size A A A

In the end, something convinced Keith Van Horn to take the four million dollars to come out of retirement and "play" for the New Jersey Nets. Whether it was his love for the Mavs and Nets and Mark Cuban and Rod Thorn, respectively, or whether it was the four million dollars ... well, who can really say? Either way, it appears that the deal is [finally, almost!] sealed and Jason Kidd, who did not practice with New Jersey on Monday, will be heading to Dallas.

The Nets and Mavericks had to pass an unprecedented series of challenges by the NBA, but the final hurdle was cleared tonight, when Keith Van Horn consented to sign a $4 million contract that makes the trade work financially and report to New Jersey for what is estimated to be 30 days of work.

All that's left now is an official rubber stamp from the league.
The Nets will send Kidd and Malik Allen to the Mavericks for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, Trenton Hassell and Van Horn.
In a separate deal, the Nets will dispatch Antoine Wright to Dallas for a $1.6 million trade exception to create the necessary roster spot for Van Horn.

So, in the end, Cubes gets the point guard that he thinks will put the Mavericks over the top. He also grabs, in what I think could end up being a sneaky steal, Wright from the Nets. The Nets get to reload on their point guard situation with the youthful Harris and pick up some cap flexibility. And Kidd doesn't have to remember 2008 as the most awkward year of his life. Is it a good deal? Well, the Nets got a good deal because Kidd wasn't taking them anywhere. As has been commonly observed over the last few days, though, the deal only works for the Mavericks if they win a title.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-18-2008 @ 11:32PM

nickstoli said...

Stern said he wouldn't allow the Stackhouse trade to go through, so why is he allowing this? It's no different. A sham is a sham.

Nice for Van Horn, though. Money for nothing. Considering the questionable ethics here, I'm just shocked that Bill Belichick and Isiah Thomas aren't involved.

2-18-2008 @ 11:54PM

DM said...

All i can say is, bad deal for Mavs, a better one for the Nets.

2-19-2008 @ 12:04AM

Rick said...

I agree 100%-this makes an absolute mockery of the NBA! How do you allow a team to include a player in a trade that has been retired for 1 1/2 years "just to make it work financially!" Plus this is another example of the Nets giving away a future hall-of-famer, franchise player to make them an economically viable franchise-do I hear the ghosts of Dr. J? On top of all this the Nets had to separately trade a quality young player to create space on their roster for that "retired" player. RIDICULOUS! The Comissioner let's this one go through but bitches about the other deal-nothing like talking out of both sides of your a-s!

2-19-2008 @ 12:45AM

brian said...

ok, so lets get this straight. the nets give up 3 players, one being jason kidd who wasnt go re-sign with them any way. and in return they get 5 players, 2 draft picks, and 3mil? does this make any sense for the Mavs?? i hate the Nets cause im a Knicks fan, but they def got the better part of that deal. i don't understand the whole Van Horn part either.

2-19-2008 @ 1:00AM

imintune777 said...

Why should we attempt to make guesses when none of the sports world makes any sense what so ever these days. These guys make a ton of money while we sit back and whine about why this stuff is occuring. Let it be and enjoy the changes. The ones suffering are us fans who get caught in the middle of something to distract us from what we need to be doing as individuals. Love God, Family, Job, then let the rest of this B.S. Go. Bless all of us.

2-19-2008 @ 2:12AM

Al said...

The Mavericks are giving up too much. Good for Kidd only. Two first round draft picks too. I`d have more faith in selections of draft picks than a player who is 35 yrs old.

2-19-2008 @ 4:23AM

jose said...

to brian, I think the reason they brought keith van horn into the mix was because jerry stackhouse refused the trade which he was part of in the beginning and was not going to report to the nets so stackhouse was going to just sit out for 30 days and then resign with the mavs, instead they "signed" van horn for the 4mil to take stackhouse place in the trade.. fishy, but when you have the kind of money cuban has,anything goes....

2-19-2008 @ 7:17AM

LEW said...

THE NETS WERE NOT GOING ANYWHEREND KID ISNT GETTING ANY YOUNGER. GOOD DEAL FOR THE NETS. VAN HORN I DONT KNOW.

2-19-2008 @ 7:53AM

frank said...

NOT is not happening to much b/s learn from boston last year LAST this year KG,Ray Allen,Posey and 2 new drafts=1st place or Lakers = Pau Gasol quietly, there you go,Done.

2-19-2008 @ 7:59AM

bryan said...

WHO REALLY CARES,SEASON WILL BE OVER BY THE TIME THEY GET THE DEAL DONE.

2-19-2008 @ 8:53AM

ted said...

ITS THE SALARY CAP IN BASKETBALL THAT MAKES NO SENSE. THIS PREVENTED KOBE FROM GOING TO CHICAGO, AND MAKES DEALS IN GENERAL SO DIFFICULT. JASON KIDD NEEDS TO PLAY NEXT YEAR TO REACH 10,000 ASSISTS AND PASS 7000 REBOUNDS. NOT EVEN MAGIC JOHNSON DID THAT. AND OSCAR ROBERTSON JUST MISSED THE 10,000 ASSISTS.... THIS COULD BE A GOOD TRADE FOR DALLAS, AS LONG AS KIDD STAYS HEALTHY... AFTERALL CUBAN IS PLAYING TO WIN IT ALL AND D. HARRIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT GUY...

2-19-2008 @ 10:18AM

mrintimidashun said...

Hell if they needed to give someone $4mil up front, I would have signed a 10 year contract. Van Horn has made over $110mil in his career. Something is definitely wrong in the world.

2-19-2008 @ 10:27AM

robhurd said...

This moves gives Dallas the best chance at winning now. The two draft picks they gave up will likely be bottom five in the first round. I agree they are taking a risk by making the move......However, the core of this team is not getting any younger. If they are going to win it all, they need to do it now. The reason Van Horn is in the deal is New Jersey wants expiring contracts. Once Devean George Vetoed the trade, Dallas had to become creative in order to make it happen. What is Dallas really giving up???? Devin Harris- not even a top 10 point guard in the league. Trenton Hassell- Spare. Dsagana Diop- Double Spare. Maurice Ager- NBDL Stud (AKA Spare), Keith Van Horn- don't need to say anything here. Dallas is also going to pick up Malik Allen in this trade. They also have a separate agreement with New Jersey to acquire Antoinne Wright for their 1.6 Million dollar salary exception.

In summary, I'm not crazy about the trade.....but I do understand where they are coming from. The way the team is currently configured is not enough to win the title. Jason Kidd will bring leadership and mental toughness to the table. Having Kidd at the point puts Dallas in better position to win it all.

2-19-2008 @ 10:54AM

Chuck said...

Keith Van Horn is, and always will be, a "bum" (I use quotes because afterall, he's still a professional) basketball player. I don't want Van Horn anywhere near my state, let alone representing our basketball team. AND getting paid 4mil to do so, is the most absolutly ludicrous thing I've ever heard. Stay in retirement old man, the Nets don't need your worn-out, lanky ass on the court. Warm that bench b!tch, get me my towel, where's my gatorade™?

2-19-2008 @ 12:47PM

atoniolittleton said...

This trade does nothing for Dallas. They still win not win a championship. The finals will showcase: Lakers/Suns v. Boston/Pistons. The Mavericks will not even get to the Western Conference finals. They will have to go through Golden State again, and we know what happened last year!!!

2-19-2008 @ 1:31PM

walter said...

Great Great deal for the Nets, Jason got them to two championship rounds and now it's time to move on. Two number one picks now trade Vince for another number1

2-19-2008 @ 6:55PM

Mavsfan41 said...

To nickstoli the stackhouse trade wouldn't go through because the nets were going to release him and he was to sign with the Mavs again. Stern wouldn't allow that.

2-19-2008 @ 8:04PM

mike3847 said...

Still don't understand the whole expiring contract bit. Also wonder why Van Horn was no longer playing. Granted, people felt he was "soft" but when he played regularly he always put up double figures in points and rebounds. Mavericks could have used his scoring at times.