For Dallas and New Jersey must complete the NBA front office version of the 60 yard hurdles to consummate the proposed Jason Kidd trade, at this point. Devean George stand as hurdle one, now the NBA stands as hurdle two, after Jerry Stackhouse cavalierly commentary about the Nets buyout and his return to Dallas raised red flags with other GM’s and the league office. The NBA prohibits trade announcements over All-Star weekend, nonetheless talks will continue but with the deadline six days away, two huge obstacles in the way with limited workarounds available, the trade looks dead unless a third team comes out of the woodwork.
Although he is well within his rights to block the trade to protect his Bird Exception status, which equates to more potential money next season, it’s likely to backfire. The Early Bird Exception allows a player with veteran status on a one-year contract in his second year with the same team to resign with that team for whichever is higher, 175% of his current salary or the NBA average salary. If traded George loses his rights and his chance at the payday.
George will come to regret the decision because he only benefits if Dallas resigns him, and agrees to pay that salary, an unlikely scenario. Throw in a paltry 3.8 points and under 3 assists in 15 minutes per game on top of the backlash he created with this fiasco, Mark Cuban will personally escort him out of town at his first opportunity – that is, if the fans don’t first. With an entire organization and its fan base turned against him, and not much production to support his case, George has little to no chance of ever cashing in those Bird rights. Why not go play for the Nets? Play being the operative word. Only a few weeks ago, George complained about his lack of playing time with Dallas and requested a trade out of Big D. Despite logging extended action the past week, George will find himself back to the bench when the Mavs get healthy, with little chance to improve his value for next season. By blocking the trade he may preserve future earning potential, but lose actual earnings when free agency rolls around.
The Stackhouse problem stems directly from his immature comments about resting and returning to the Mavs in 30 days. That statement hints at a pre-arranged future deal, a no-no in the NBA, a league already battling ethics questions after the gambling fiasco last season. Reportedly, other GM’s around the league are raising red flags behind the scenes. All indications are the league office will prevent Stackhouse from resigning with Dallas if traded, removing him from the trade since Dallas needs him for a legitimate title run. Ironically, Stackhouse shares the same agent as Jason Kidd. Jeff Schwartz flaunted the Kidd trade demands all season, now his own client shot him in the foot. Can’t blame Rod Thorn for this one.
Dallas had options to workaround the George problem, but Stackhouse and George is too much to overcome. The Nets will not take Trenton Hassell. Unless a third team helps, Dallas is in trouble. They now have two players, Harris and Diop, who have to return to a team that traded them, one player, George, who teammates and fans publicly criticized for blocking the trade. Dirk Nowitzki went as far as calling Devean George “selfish” for blocking the trade, putting himself ahead of the team. The fans booed him out of the building during a sterling 0-11 performance the night he exercised his rights. Stuck with the same team that had little chance of winning the West anyway, the struggling Mavs now have a fractured locker room with potential chemistry issues. Kiss this season goodbye.
Meanwhile, Kidd publicly says he’s OK with returning to the Nets. Kidd has to prove that with his play on the court. Another half season of half-hearted efforts will further diminish his future trade value, and kill the small glimmer of hope the Nets have this season. If he comes back focused, knowing Thorn did his best to accommodate the trade request and will try again in the off-season, Kidd can help the Nets turn the ship around this season. A healthy Kristic, two improving big men, another athletic option in the mix with Swift, Carter, well some nights at least – the Nets have the tools to make another second half run with Kidd. Unless another trade comes about before Thursday, unlikely but possible just like the Dallas trade suddenly came about last week, Wednesday we see if Kidd wears his happy face, keeps playing with the urgency he showed during his “trade auditions”, and start to learn if Kidd really is OK with staying in NJ.
The NBA exhaled after George held up the trade, preventing an unprecedented situation of an All-Star starter switching leagues before the game.
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