My Name Is KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDD!

ESPN is reporting that Jason Kidd is going to be traded to the Dallas Mavericks:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3244102

I love this trade.  I do.  I am so thankful that New Jersey is freeing J Kidd from his prison sentence as the team wallows in the ever awkward: 'we could compete for a 7th seed if everone was healthy' phase.  I hate when teams do this.  They settle.  What's the point of having a team?  It's to try and win a championship.  It's not to try and make the playoffs every year.  Win a championship; that's your goal.  The Nets needed to punt on this season and begin anew.  This trade will help them start over and build.

Here's the trade:

Jason Kidd and THE Malik Allen (should we call this the Malik Allen deal?)

for

Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse (who will be bought out faster than 10 cent ocean front property), Maurice Ager, Desagana Diop, and Devean George.

John Hollinger of ESPN.com, who I usally love, hates this trade.  He usues a fancy calculation and metrics to tell you that he wouldn't trade Devin Harris for Jason Kidd.  That's what this trade is about.  He crows about the loss of Diop and Stackhouse like they are Magic and Barkley.

The Mavs are better now because of this deal.  I don't know how you can argue this.   Kidd gives them flexibility (he can defend bigger guards so you can play him and Jason Terry at the same time), he gives them easy buckets (the Mavs play slowly and can go through stagnant times on offense.  Kidd creates shots for people.), and he gives them some much needed toughness.

Kidd is a stud.  He's a future hall of famer.  I have always loved his game.  I love point guards who make their teammates better.  Dallas' offense doesn't really need a PG per se; they basically give it to Dirk Novitzki or Josh Howard in the high post and work from there.  They can still do that, they'll just be doing it deeper in the playoffs now.  Open looks people.  Open looks for guys that can really shoot it.

The loss of Diop and Stackhouse is like losing the sweater your mother in law knit for you and a $3 receipt for store credit at Piggly Wiggly.  You don't worry about it.  Stackhouse cannot be counted on for anything except that you never know when you will see him on the court next.  I'll find you a streaky jump shooter anywhere.  I'd rather 3 guys on that team take those 8 shots per game.  Those shots will be open now because Kidd creates open looks.  More dunks, alley-oops, back-door layups, open 3s, better defense, rebounding, and toughness.  Great trade.