Devin Harris: "I have a new future to look forward to"
By JEFF CAPLAN
Devin Harris is set to board a flight at 7:05 this morning. Destination, New Jersey, as the new point guard for the Nets.
“I have a new future to look forward to,” Harris said. “I’m looking forward to having a little bit more control, a little bit more freedom over there. I love my teammates here, so it’s mixed emotions, but I’m excited about the new challenge.”
Harris had yet to hear from Mavericks owner Mark Cuban or any front-office executives, but an airline ticket purchased Monday night and a scheduled noon appointment today with the Nets’ medical staff had finally transformed a surreal week of back-and-forth emotions into black-and-white reality.
The protracted negotiations between the Mavs and Nets that at times seemed like a Keystone Cops caper that might never materialize, has indeed brought Jason Kidd back to the team with which he started his career 14 years ago.
Joining Harris as new members of the Nets will be DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager and the lynchpin, the semi-retired Keith Van Horn, who will pocket $4 million to make traded salaries match.
The Mavs also will deliver to the Nets $3 million and two first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010. Forward Malik Allen and swingman Antoine Wright, a former Texas A&M star who has been slow to develop as a pro, are headed to the Mavs.
Cuban did not confirm the deal was nearing the finish line for good this time, but he did suggest a teleconference with the league executives and lawyers for review was likely forthcoming.
Nets president Rod Thorn, who seemed to again grow leery of the trade’s direction late Monday afternoon, changed gears once the Van Horn situation had finally been addressed, and a few hours later Thorn said, “It appears to be a go.”
Kidd could arrive in Dallas today to take his physical, increasing the possibility that he’ll be in the starting lineup Wednesday when the Mavs resume play against the Hornets in New Orleans.
The remaining Mavs, including Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse, both in the original trade proposal, return from the All-Star break for a 3 p.m. practice today.
And for the stretch run in an ultra-competitive Western Conference -- where the Mavs are two games from the top seed and two games from the lottery -- the Mavs now have the veteran point guard they’ve desired ever since refusing to match Phoenix’s bid for Steve Nash four years ago.
Kidd makes $19.7 million this season and $21.4 million next season in the final year of his contract.
The Mavs liked Harris’ potential enough to award him a five-year, $43 million extension before the season, and coaches and teammates named him a co-captain with Dirk Nowitzki.
Coach Avery Johnson tabbed Harris the starting point guard after last season’s playoff debacle to Golden State. Johnson even handed over play-calling duties to the fourth-year guard and former No. 5 pick out of Wisconsin.
But Johnson later rescinded those duties. Harris, a quick, slashing point guard, struggled at times, but he had been playing his most consistent basketball of the season before suffering a bone bruise to his left ankle on Jan. 27, which turned out to be his final game as a Mav.
“I have no problem with Avery,” Harris said. “I tried to do what he asked me to do. I read a lot about him taking away the play-calling from me, but he really called the plays anyway. Still, he’s one of the most influential people I’ve had in basketball.”
The Mavs’ brass believes Kidd’s ability to read the floor, anticipate player movement and deliver precision passes will make the offense more fluid and make it easier for Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jason Terry to get scoring opportunities.
“I look at myself as an easy fit no matter where it’s at because you don’t have to run plays for me, you don’t have to call my number,” Kidd said. “It’s just a matter of me getting guys the ball at the right time, play defense, do the little things, rebound and play hard, and that’s my game.”
Harris, who turns 25 on Feb. 27, is averaging 14.4 points and shooting 48.3 percent. His 5.3 assists are on pace for a career high as are his 30.4 minutes a game. Kidd, who turns 35 on March 23, is averaging 11.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
While Kidd’s shooting a career-low 36.6 percent, with the Mavs he’ll be looking to create, which should make for interesting theater. Under Johnson, the Mavs have consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in assists. They finished last season 24th out of 30 teams. They’re 25th this season, averaging 19.9.
The Mavs do much of their scoring off half-court isolation sets. Give it to Nowitzki or Howard and let them do their thing.
“It’s tough because they kind of play differently than I do,” Harris said when asked recently to measure his game against some of the league’s top point guards, such as Nash, Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Kidd. “They’re getting 15, 16 assists some games. I dream about getting 15 assists. It’s just not possible with the team I’m on.”
Kidd and, ultimately, Johnson believe that can change.
“I think Dirk or Josh or anybody else,” Kidd said, “it’s just a matter of being ready to catch the ball and score.”
The first time Kidd puts on a Mavs uniform will be his next shot at recording the 100th triple-double of his career. Only Magic Johnson (138) and Oscar Robertson (181) have more.
He might or might not notch that by March 8, just 10 games away, when Harris, Diop and company return to American Airlines Center for the Nets’ lone appearance this season.
“That’s crazy,” Harris said about returning so quickly. “I’m more about trying to get healthy and help the team. I hope to be back by then.”
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Devin Harris: "I have a new future to look forward to"
