As if the NBA’s Western Conference weren’t tough enough …
Several media outlets are reporting that Jason Kidd is on the verge of being traded to Dallas.
The Mavericks are giving up a lot — including promising young point guard Devin Harris and center DeSagana Diop, who would have been good for six fouls on Shaquille O’Neal — but Kidd is Kidd, the West is the West, and Mark Cuban had to do something just to keep up.
In the past few weeks alone, O’Neal, Kidd and Chris Webber have moved from the East to the West — Webber last played for Detroit, remember — and Pau Gasol and Damon Stoudamire have shifted from West dregs to West powers.
The net result of all these moves is that the Western Conference playoffs will be a protracted war, with the winner possibly suffering from attrition by the time it reaches the NBA Finals. As it stands right now, nine teams in the West have winning percentages of at least .608. There won’t be any gimmes.
Meanwhile, in the East, just five teams are above .500. The East’s winner, Boston or Detroit, will have played only one truly challenging series — the Boston-Detroit series. Advantage, Boston or Detroit.
The Lakers might have the most talented roster once everyone is healthy, but in the super-stacked West, there are no guarantees.
The future looks bright, though: Gasol is just 27. Shaq turns 36 next month, and Kidd turns 35.
– Michael Lev, The Orange County Register
This trade is a terrible move for the Mavericks. They trade a 25 year old, super-quick guard that is averaging 14 points, 5 assist, 2 rebounds, a vet-sharp shooter in Stackhouse that gives them 10 points per game, Diop at the crucial center spot who gives them 8 rebounds and a couple of points per game, #1 draft picks and cash for a 35 year old point guard who gives you 11 points, 10 assist, and 8 rebounds per game and shoots 36% from the field.
Are you Jason Kidding me??? What are they smokin’ in Dallas?