Revisiting Harris for Kidd

[soap07]

A couple years ago, Mark Cuban was lampooned by many for trading a young stud in Devin Harris for broken down Jason Kidd, who had bad knees, couldn't shoot or play defense, and on top of all that, was a malcontent. Sabremetric types almost universally lampooned Cuban for the trade, including John Hollinger, who actually did it to his face at the Sloan Sports Conference

This was further emphasized when in Harris' first full year as a Net, he made the All Star team and averaged, as a 25-year-old, 21.2 points, 6.9 assists and had a 21.6 PER.

Since then, Harris bounced from a terrible Nets team to being Deron's replacement in Utah, and since 2009, his numbers have taken a pretty big downturn - although last year he averaged a career high 8 assists, but only shot 42% from the field.

Jason Kidd, on the other hand, became a key role player for a championship Mavericks team, starting to shoot 3's at a better clip, playing decent defense in the playoffs and averaging between 8 and 9 assists a game.  While his rebounding has slipped since his prime, he still remains one of the best rebounding guards in the league (3 years in Dallas with around a 10% rebounding rate, only this past year with a sub 8 rate).

So, obviously, Mavs wouldn't take the trade back now because they won a ring.

However, would the Mavs still have been able to win a ring if Devin Harris was still their point guard?

Keeping in mind: This was the whole trade:


February 19, 2008: Traded by the New Jersey Nets with Malik Allen and Antoine Wright to the Dallas Mavericks for Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Keith Van Horn, a 2008 1st round draft pick (Ryan Anderson) and a 2010 1st round draft pick (Jordan Crawford).

Thoughts?

[throwedoff]

couldn't shoot or play defense?? nah Kidd is in the top 5 in steals and 3 pointers made the reason why he was traded if im not mistaken cuz they regressed nd knew they wasnt goin anywhere at that point

[Marcus13]

They did the right thing because with Dirk it was win-now and Kidd was the better fit.

But New Jersey did the right thing too, it wasn't like they were playing for anything of importance and Kidd was just playing his career to a close - they moved him for the better player.

[Kane3387]

Harris tunrned into Deron Williams... Doubt Kidd and Favors would have gotten that deal done.

[indeedproceed]

They did the right thing because with Dirk it was win-now and Kidd was the better fit.

But New Jersey did the right thing too, it wasn't like they were playing for anything of importance and Kidd was just playing his career to a close - they moved him for the better player.

Also let's not pretend that Kidd's stay in Dallas up until this point was far from an out and out success. Before now he'd had one second round exit and 2 first round exits in Dallas...so I find it hard to believe that it was kidd in his third year in Dallas that pushed them over the top.

On top of that, who is to say that Devin Harris couldn't have done as well as Kidd did? I'm not saying its an obvious 'yes'..but its not really an obvious 'no' either.

[BballTim]

They did the right thing because with Dirk it was win-now and Kidd was the better fit.

But New Jersey did the right thing too, it wasn't like they were playing for anything of importance and Kidd was just playing his career to a close - they moved him for the better player.

Also let's not pretend that Kidd's stay in Dallas up until this point was far from an out and out success. Before now he'd had one second round exit and 2 first round exits in Dallas...so I find it hard to believe that it was kidd in his third year in Dallas that pushed them over the top.

On top of that, who is to say that Devin Harris couldn't have done as well as Kidd did? I'm not saying its an obvious 'yes'..but its not really an obvious 'no' either.

  I didn't watch the finals wall to wall but from what I saw Kidd's ability to guards Wade and James was pretty useful. I wouldn't expect that from Harris. Still, I agree it's not a clear yes or no.

[indeedproceed]

They did the right thing because with Dirk it was win-now and Kidd was the better fit.

But New Jersey did the right thing too, it wasn't like they were playing for anything of importance and Kidd was just playing his career to a close - they moved him for the better player.

Also let's not pretend that Kidd's stay in Dallas up until this point was far from an out and out success. Before now he'd had one second round exit and 2 first round exits in Dallas...so I find it hard to believe that it was kidd in his third year in Dallas that pushed them over the top.

On top of that, who is to say that Devin Harris couldn't have done as well as Kidd did? I'm not saying its an obvious 'yes'..but its not really an obvious 'no' either.

  I didn't watch the finals wall to wall but from what I saw Kidd's ability to guards Wade and James was pretty useful. I wouldn't expect that from Harris. Still, I agree it's not a clear yes or no.

Right about Kidd's ability to guard Wade. Harris couldn't do that...which would've limited JJ Barea's usefulness.

[Who]

I don't see Dallas winning a title with Devin Harris.

They needed Kidd's decision making and composure under pressure to win a title. I can't see them winning with a PG who can't run an offense and fails to deliver the ball to where it needs to go.

[hardlyyardley]

Originally thought Dallas gave up too much....Harris and two #1s...Harris has done little since and Dallas got the title

[housecall]

After Game#6,NBATV crew asked Cuban about trading Harris for Kidd working out,Mark reply was i love D.Harris and his game but he wasn't ready(developed)to do the things Dirk and the team needed to get them over the top.He went on to say how Kidd developed into the type of pg that could lead a team to a championship with his ability to get Dirk the ball in the right places at the right times and know when to take over the offense when things aren't going well and calm them down.In other words its not anything wrong with Harris accept more time to develop and grow into becoming a veteran type pg,according to Mark Cuban.
  From the conversation between M.Cuban&NBATV i got... Mark  would go down the Devin Harris road again,just at a later date in time.