NEW ORLEANS — I was starting to think Jason Kidd would get back together with ex-wife Joumana before the Mavericks.
While the NBA ensured everything was on the up-and-up (yeah, right!) regarding Keith Van Horn (salvaged from the league's well-stocked mothball fleet of free agents) before approving the Nets-Mavs trade, I'm here to tell you the move on Kidd has as much to do with Avery Johnson's dissatisfaction with Dirk Nowitzki as a leader as with Devin Harris' point guard shortcomings.
According to an infallible source, the Mavericks' coach pressed team owner Mark Cuban to deal Dirk after the NBA's MVP came up shamefully small against the Warriors in last season's upsetting first-round elimination but was overruled.
Johnson's ideal leader is supposed to offer positive guidance and counsel on and off the court, as well as in and out of church. That disqualifies Kidd.
Still, one sphere of influence is better than none. Convinced a championship is otherwise beyond capture, Avery compromised his priority.
Kidd, of course, will provide a stronger presence than Harris, meaning A.J. will allow him to be the point guard instead of trying to be it himself. Therefore, the players will have more comfort and confidence in their point man.
What the Mavs lose is team chemistry, giving up good locker room guys for one who's just as capable of leading young players astray as directing them to The Finals.
They also lose Harris' capacity to move his feet fast. Ten years younger than Kidd, who's more effective guarding bigger people these days, Devin bothered Tony Parker, Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Allen Iverson, if not Baron Davis.
He beats them to the hole, too, second only to Phoenix's Leandro Barbosa.
Four seasons ago, the Mavs had Steve Nash and Harris at point guard. Now they have Kidd and Jose Barea, who isn't competent enough to be a backup on a title contender, and Jason Terry whose mentality is shoot-first, think-pass-last.
DeSagana Diop, by all accounts, has not improved offensively in two years.
At the same time, the Mavs can't help but miss his part-time shot-blocking and rebounding. Erick Dampier's worthwhile contribution once every four games oblige Nowitzki to play center 20-to-30 minutes a game.
This is not good; especially should Dampier go down for the count for any length of time.
The completion of this twisted endeavor acutely demonstrates that two teams will go to any extent to execute a trade if they want it bad enough.
A neutral GM reveals furthers the evidence. Upholding his gluttonous reputation, agent David Falk staged a stickup on behalf of his client in negotiations with the Nets; as if Van Horn hadn't already received excessive compensation (a max deal) from the Nets for a job poorly done.
Seizing the opportunity, Agent Orange demanded a two-year guarantee. When that was summarily rejected he extracted every possible penny and piece of flesh by insisting his $4.3 million, two-month salary be paid immediately in full-upon conclusion of the trade.
So much for being grateful to be receiving an unearned windfall.
"Greed abounds in the Falklands," the GM sneers.
Meanwhile, look for the Nets to continue to wheel until Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline. Sources throughout the league say Kiki Vandeweghe is generating a heated rush of talk involving Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Miller and Nene.
Afterthought: I'd have bet former Gov. Jim McGreevey would've resurfaced on a New Jersey payroll before Van Horn.
Now that Kidd is spoken for, the player drawing the most attention from promising title contenders is the 76ers' Andre Miller.
The Nuggets, Cavaliers and Rockets are sincere suitors — Celtics feel they're first in line for Sam Cassell — but not serious enough to offer more than expiring contracts and first-round picks in the 2020s.
I'M GUESSING Mike Bibby plays more than one game with the Hawks before being traded to the Pistons.
It's a great deal for the Kings, who get three expiring contracts, a year and a half to decide what to make of Sheldon Williams and the WNBA rights to his girlfriend Candice Parker.
You can forget about the Ron Artest rumors, too. Between the lines he's attractive.
What's between his ears makes him unfit to join forces with Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. You can have one wild card, two at the most.
Four and you've got the Pacers of three seasons ago.
Peter Vecsey covers the NBA for the New York Post.
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