The Mavericks Would Be Better With Devin Harris
Devin Harris (photo. NBA)Mark Cuban is either a liar or he’s clueless. Sure he has to stand by the personnel moves that he’s made, but I just don’t understand how he can say this.
“I’m happy for Devin,” Cuban said. “It is what it is. Jason Kidd has been our best player by far. There’s no question about. It’s a win-win. J-Kidd has just been phenomenal, so it’s been a win-win trade.”
Before even getting into Devin Harris, who has looked phenomenal against everyone except for that infamous British guy in street clothes, let’s take a step back. How can Cuban make the argument that Kidd has been their best player “by far”?
It’s nothing that shows up in the stat sheet – Kidd always posts something close to 10, 8, and 7. But as we saw last night against the Knicks, he really doesn’t pose any threat to take the ball to the basket. In fact, the Kidd-Dirk screen-and-roll could be the duo least likely to get a shot within five feet of the rim of any combo in the League. The one time that Kidd drove to the basket off a screen last night, he tried to lay the ball up with his left hand on the right side of the rim. His lay-up didn’t even draw rim – it clanged off the backboard as if he was trying to alley-oop it to someone, but David Lee was the only guy there.
Simply put, defenses don’t have to play Kidd honestly right now. And that’s a big reason that the Mavs’ aren’t getting good looks at the rim as a team. If defenders don’t have to collapse to stop someone driving to the bucket, they can challenge every jumper. The biggest reason that Dallas was able to pull out the win against the Knicks last night was because New York couldn’t figure out to hit a shot down the stretch, and because the Mavs’ grabbed 18 offensive rebounds. Josh Howard had six of those. How Mark Cuban didn’t call him the best player on the ream right now is mind-boggling – dude is averaging a career-high in points and rebounds right now.
And there’s one more problem with Cuban’s statement. If Devin Harris were playing the way he is, but doing so in a Dallas uniform, there’s a good chance that the Mavs wouldn’t be 3-7. Harris is posting career bests in points, rebounds and assists this season, which is primarily because of his ability to get in the lane. Harris isn’t shooting well from three (28.3% 3FG), which adds credence to the theory that he’s especially effective beating his man to get a bucket or find an open man.
It doesn’t feel like Kidd was the missing piece in Dallas’ championship puzzle. In fact, I’d say that if the Mavericks had Harris right now, they’d at least be a step closer to the playoff picture.
Source: Star-Telegram
November 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Kudabeen says:
What’s up with Cuban and this insider trading business?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3708124
Martha Stewart had to do time for it or was it that she lied about it. Maybe this is why Cuban isn’t able to get the Cubs…
November 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Mamba says:
Well first off Cuban is a liar – he is being ivestigated for insider trading,
Cuban is a clueless putz – he started buying into his own BS a while ago – the Mavs are slowly becoming irrelevant,
Aside of course from when Cuban causes some antics to keep them in the news
November 17th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Dime Magazine says:
Mamba,
Do you think he says something like that to stay in the news, or does the dude actually believe that that trade was a win-win?
- AK
November 17th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
dapro says:
I think Cuban really believes that but Kidd is still an ideal pg for almost any team
Problem is they held on the basically the same team for a few years now
It’s time to move Dirk and bringin a few pieces to rebuild around
November 17th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
E$ says:
As a Rocket fan, I’m glad Devin is in New Jersey! His flopping was getting on my nerves
November 17th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
PALakerFan says:
A lightning quick 24 year old for a slow-footed 35 year old? Of course he’s going to say bullshit like that. What’s he supposed to say? “Yeah, it was a dumb trade but what can I do about it now?”
The Feds love going after high profile billionaires for insider trading – he’s in some deep shit.
November 17th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
CitizenB says:
Cuban reminds me of my CEO: high on his own supply. A lot of people got very rich, very quick in the late 90s/early 2000. The problem is they think they were smart when it was just luck. People were careless with their money back then. Cuban’s a joke.
November 17th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
fallinup says:
The Kidd trade was doomed from the get go. You never get better when you hit the panic button.
November 17th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Mamba says:
AK –
Sadly he probably does really believe that Kidd is better than Harris,
That deal was a head scratcher to me from the start – the comments that he made just seem silly – its almost as if he is trying to justify the trade, when really I think its becoming obvious that it was indeed a bad move,
Looking at Harris you have a guy who is a rising star and now is blowing up – I cant help but feel like the Kidd move was win now, clearly we see that didnt happen,
But I do think Cuban says stuff to keep him and his team in the news – he is a blatant self promoter which can be credited for some of his success, but I think its his downfall as well,
Here with this latest news he is morphing into Gordon Gecko
November 17th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Kobeef says:
Totally agree with the headline.
The problem with the trade is that is narrowed the Mavs window of opportunity to win a ‘chip yet the team didn’t get any better.
There is no way the Mavs are winning a ‘chip with this team.
Dallas should trade Kidd for Nash and at least let Dirk and Nash play the next two years together then opt to become free agents in 2010. PHX moves 1 year closer to rebuilding a young core around Amare. Neither team is goin far as is so they might as well shake things up.
November 17th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Diego says:
Watched both the Hawks vs. N.J. games Friday and Saturday (attended the Saturday one) and Devin looked just GREAT (even his 3-point shooting).
New Jersey absolutlely fleeced Dallas on this trade. Cuban panicked and blew it. Harris has really picked his game up–more than just driving to the well. And, @ AB, Vince was just outstanding Saturday night too.
N.J. is looking like a sleeper in the East this year–and look out if they ever get LeBron in a couple of years!
November 17th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
He couldn’t really come out and say that he got screwed in that deal, especially after they worked so hard to get it through, but also not to show disaproval of J-Kidd.
The whole he’s their best player thing is a huge exageration.
They would be better if they had the Devin Harris thats playing in Jersey this year, but that’s what happens with trades, things change. Harris got the better of it because he’s in a new situation with more freedom and more responsibility, and flourishing this year. For Kidd, the adjustment period was so long that it exposed his ageness and slowness, where in Jersey teams were still worried about Kidd slashing from time to time, or going into his bag of tricks in clutch situations, his explosiveness is no longer the same, he isn’t the same threat anymore, and that really hurts Dallas. His mind is still there, but his body just aint.
November 17th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Ian says:
we all knew this so whats the surprise
November 17th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
raf says:
@Dime
wen are u guys putting up the hit list?
November 17th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
NB says:
I’m really happy that Devin is finally getting the shine he deserved when he was in Dallas. I hated seeing him leave, but I knew once he was out from under Avery’s reigns, he would break free. I think Avery suffocated him and didn’t allow him to make the mistakes he needed to grow. Being in Jersey is the perfect situation for him to blossom.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Flip says:
Come on Dime, talking about the best player on the Mavs and not even mentioning Dirk?
Still, time to trade him for depth and draft picks, as long as he’s still valuable.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Ree says:
Devin Harris is finally unleashed from Avery Johnson’s shackles.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Ree says:
Kidd may not be the best player by far – you got Dirk there – but he has been playing sensational. Sure he misses layups but he does everything else. Most of Dallas’ losses started with opponents making runs while Kidd is sitting on the bench. Kidd isn’t an offensive bonus, but he’s not the weakest link either. Mavs’ main problem is that hole at shooting guard and center. Devin’s great, but even with him Dallas would still struggle.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Mikey says:
On the bright side, how fun will it be to watch Ricky Rubio on next year’s Mavs? Jason Kidd will either leave via free agency or sign to a lower $ contract and teach the new kid.
I’m pretty excited about the ‘09-’10 Mavs.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Justin says:
We are all forgetting about the pick that we gave up that turned into the league leader in 3 point% (Ryan Anderson) and the unrestricted pick in 2010 that looks better and better every day that goes by. This trade was completely horrible. I can’t believe that someone like Cuban would make it..
November 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Diego says:
Rookie Anderson for the Nets is indeed looking solid.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Bryan says:
Panic button indeed, was what Cuban pushed when he pulled off this trade. He basically traded Devin Harris, arguably the quickest point guard in the league averaging 23 points 6 assists and 4 rebounds, Ryan Anderson, a young talented rookie leading the league in 3 point %, a mid-level trade exception which lead to NJ signing Keyon Dooling (averaging 10ppg as a backup PG, near Kidd’s number of 11.2ppg), 2010 first round draft pick, AND 3 MILLION in cash for 35-year-old Jason Kidd in his decline? What a monumental mistake!
At this point, I would take back Devin Harris for Jason Kidd STRAIGHT UP (adding a couple of NJ’s bench players to make salaries work) because Harris is proving himself to be a much better player than Jason Kidd is, though NJ will never give up Harris now. Sure Harris doesn’t have an accurate shot but neither does Kidd. Kidd clearly doesn’t fit in this Mavericks offense. Harris was the PERFECT point guard for the Mavericks. He drives to the lane creating openings for Dirk, Howard and Stack!
Kidd is an up and down point guard playing with a half court team. Let me sum up every Mavericks possession: Kidd runs past half court with the ball, looks for Dirk and passes it to him. Dirk dribbles back to the basket, either takes the fadeaway shot or hands it to Howard or worse, Kidd, who misses the wide-open shot. WHY in the WORLD do the Mavericks need Kidd’s supposed amazing play-making abilities if the Mavericks do a variant of the same slow-paced offense every time?
November 17th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Karl says:
Harris’s potential is off the charts but I like the Anderson kid as well.
This kid is a great shooter, rebounder and has great court sense.
And Nets get another pick and Kidd’s huge salary off the books.
Best trade I have seen for Nets since Milt Pappas for Frank Robinson.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Yeah I’m tired of people knocking Kidd. Yeah he’s not the same player but who is at his age with the miles hes put on. But Kidd can still get you easy buckets and run an NBA team with efficiency. Not many players can do that at a high level. I dare anyone to name 10 players I’m talking true point guards that can do what Kidd does? Right now I have 9 and can’t think of a ten. But even then that’s not a whole lot of people.
I still say surround Kidd with the right players and he can still play at a high level. Just look what he did in the olympics. Yeah he had Chris Paul and Deron backing him up but the US never won gold until Kidd came on board and every player that played for the US said Kidd was the biggest difference.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
But what a lot of people are missing with this trade is the money. That’s the main reason Cuban made this deal. With Kidd coming off the books pretty soon the Mavs will have a ton of cap space.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
JCARR says:
Without a doubt he loves the media and attention… Cuban is worried for the Mavs fans and is going to say anything to make them feel good. Funny how it works, huh?
November 18th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Dave says:
I think they’re better with Kidd.
Two issues though
(1) The rest of the squad (not Dirk/Josh) has declined hugely since they made the Finals
(2) The Mavs didn’t go out and fill their roster full of players that Kidd could take advantage of on. What do you think he’s going to do with Diop? Give him an athletic wing that can score/shoot/finish and suddenly the Mavs are a really interesting team again.
It’s like they’re not even trying to give Kidd a good hand to play with. How do you expect him to change the offense when you give him two isolation scorers and hardly any complementary scorers? He needs tools to make this work and the Mavs haven’t given them to him.
Kidd gives them such a major advantage …. but they’re wasting it.