If the past week has taught us anything, it’s no trade is final until the NBA gives its approval and changes each player’s team logo on the league Web site.
But once again, the Nets and Mavericks are imminently close to completing a deal that sends Jason Kidd to Dallas. They have an agreement in principle but still need league approval after some creative re-arranging. The deal is expected to be forwarded to the league today.
“It’s been agreed to, it’s in place but it’s definitely not done,” one exec claiming knowledge of the talks said. “The league has to sign off.”
Kidd, after starting in the East’s 134-128 All-Star victory in New Orleans last night, said he heard in the afternoon “they were very close.” But Kidd has been here before and noted, “anything can happen with physicals.”
Dallas is where a disgruntled Kidd told the Nets he wanted to be. No offense to New Jersey, but he wanted to get the heck out and head back where he started.
“The nicest thing is being given a fair shot going back to Dallas,” Kidd said. “I just want to give a team a chance to win . . . There’s no guarantees. You’ve got to be healthy and have the ball bounce your way . . . I look at myself as an easy fit. You don’t have to call my number. It’s just a matter of me getting the ball to them at the right time and doing the little things.
“Jersey is a great city. It doesn’t get its just [due]. The state itself. The golf is great. The fans were wonderful. I wish them the best of luck,” he said.
A key to the deal is a familiar name in Nets circles: Keith Van Horn. The one-time No. 2 overall pick has been inactive since 2006 but he will be re-signed for $4.3 million by Dallas and shipped to New Jersey. But the NBA, annoyed at the Jerry Stackhouse affair that became one of the killers in the original Nets-Mavs trade, still must approve.
Van Horn may have to report to New Jersey, take a physical, practice, suck some oxygen. He can refuse but he would lose the money.
“You see why no one can say this is a done deal,” another source said last night.
The revised deal has the Nets sending Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright to Dallas and getting back young point guard Devin Harris. The Nets also get DeSagana Diop and his expiring contract, guard Maurice Ager, swingman Trenton Hassell, Van Horn, two first-round picks (this June’s and the Mavs’ pick in 2010), a second-rounder, $3 million cash and a sizeable trade exception (a trade credit that can be used up to one year).
Van Horn and Hassell replace Devean George and Stackhouse. George stalled the original deal by using his veto power to block the trade rather than lose his early Bird rights. Then Stackhouse popped off about how he would be back in Dallas after 30 days, insinuating an illegal pre-arranged deal to buy him out was in place. The Nets then reluctantly agreed to substitute Hassell for Stackhouse. Hassell has two more years at $4.35 million apiece remaining.
The use of Van Horn in the deal makes it far more costly for Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who resisted the move because of the considerable luxury-tax implications.
– Marc Berman contributed to this report.