Empty the Bench

It doesn’t matter that Devean George went 0-for-11 last night–he may have saved the Maverick’s franchise yesterday. George refused to waive his Larry Bird Rights, thus putting the kibosh on a massive swap that would have sent promising point Devin Harris, the expiring contract of Jerry Stackhouse, defensive center Desagna Diop (whose contract is also expiring), swingman Devean George, guard Maurice Ager, $3 million and two first-round picks to New Jersey for the services of Jason Kidd and forward Malik Allen.

What was Dallas thinking?

This looks like another move in the West that was precipitated by the Lakers’ theft of Pau Gasol from Memphis. How else to explain such a panic maneuver? It’s nearly unfathomable how Nets GM Rod Thorn was able to squeeze so much out of Dallas when bargaining from a position of no leverage. Thorn had an aging and disgruntled star who had made his trade requests public, didn’t fit into the franchise’s future and had begun to show signs of sandbagging it.

Jason Kidd is undeniably a better point guard right now than Devin Harris, and his veteran leadership and years of playoff experience would certainly serve Dallas well this season and next before Kidd’s contract expires after the 2008-09 season. Over the next three seasons, however, Harris will have more value. He’s one of the best young points in the league, and while it took a few years, he emerged as an impact player this season. He’s quick, unselfish and efficient on offense. On defense, Harris is rangy and has the tools to be among the best defensive PGs in the NBA – and he may already be better than Kidd on that end of the floor. As a Dallas fan, unless I was convinced that Jason Kidd would instantly transform the team into an elite title contender before his contract expires at the end of next season, a Harris-for-Kidd swap alone would give me pause.

More analysis of the trade and what this means for the future of both franchises after the jump…

Desagna Diop is being discussed in this deal as merely an expiring contract, but he’s a lot more than that. The $2.14 million contract is modest, but Diop is a young, cheap, athletic defensive presence in the paint that can block shots and rebound. And while Diop has little to nothing in the way of offensive skills, he’s not going to kill you there on a team with plenty of other scoring options. While Dampier was sidelined at the start of this season, Diop showed that he can be a presence in the defensive paint while Dallas won nine of their first eleven games. He’s also six more fouls to give down low, something that could be huge in the playoffs against a Los Angeles or a Phoenix.

Without Diop, what is the plan in the middle? Rely on the uninspired Dampier for 35 minutes a night, hope and pray he never gets into foul trouble? Run Dirk at the five sometimes? Brandon Bass? And how would they deal with teams that have an actual post presence, like a Los Angeles or a San Antonio?

DeSagana Diop Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Maurice Ager, Devean George and the $3 million are non-factors for me. Those are the types of assets that are nice to have, but you don’t even think about giving up when it facilitates a superstar coming to town. However, the expiring $6.75 million contract of Jerry Stackhouse has some real value, though early word is that Stack will immediately be bought out and resign with Dallas after 30 days. And if New Jersey doesn’t like Diop after their trial run, his additional expiring contract also could help clear cap space. As Henry Abbott mentioned this morning, it’s all about the free agent class of 2010. And with the Nets (and LeBron?) moving to Brooklyn in a couple years, they’re focused on putting a quality product on the floor for their new fans more than this season or next, despite what they might say publicly.

Looking at this from New Jersey’s perspective, this would be a phenomenal move in that direction. As great as Jason Kidd has been for the franchise, his tenure there is effectively over and there is no hope left of winning a title with Kidd in Jersey. This is the maximum return the Nets could have ever hoped for. And while they’re still on the hook for the fat contracts of Vince Carter (until 2011, when it will be $17.3 million) and Richard Jefferson (until 2011, when it will be $15 million), they have cleared the necessary cap space to begin a rebuilding process over the next two seasons. Vince undoubtedly needs to go, and Jefferson should probably be on his way out too, but that can be handled at a later date.

The present is already an afterthought for New Jersey. The most important consideration is that the Nets would actually have a young core and assets to build with. New Jersey would have three young bigs in Sean Williams, Josh Boone and DeSagana Diop that can play defense, rebound and get up and down the floor. They would have a dynamic young point guard. They would have that all-important cap space. They would have multiple first-round picks in the coming seasons to use or deal. And perhaps most importantly, they become one of the most attractive destinations in the league for free agents, with the allure of the Brooklyn spotlight looming just around the corner.