Hoops Habit
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Trade Deadline: Contenders Deal For Point Guards At Their Own Risk

By Phil Watson

Jan 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks for an opening around Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks for an opening around Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jason Kidd #5 of the New Jersey Nets leans into Jose Barea #11 of the Dallas Mavericks during their game at the Izod Center February 10, 2008 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Jason Kidd #5 of the New Jersey Nets leans into Jose Barea #11 of the Dallas Mavericks during their game at the Izod Center February 10, 2008 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

The Deal: Early Returns Not Great For Mavs Or Nets

Dallas Mavericks Get: Jason Kidd, Malik Allen, Antoine Wright
New Jersey Nets Get: Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, Keith Van Horn, Dallas’ first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.

The New Jersey Nets were still in the thick of the playoff chase with a 23-30 record, but they were not the team that had made back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.

The Dallas Mavericks were still stinging from being the best team ever to lose a first-round series the previous spring as their 67-15 club was upended by the Golden State Warriors.

Dallas was hanging around at 35-18, in fifth in the West but just two games behind the conference- and division-leading New Orleans Hornets.

So on Feb. 19, the Mavericks rolled the dice, sending young point guard Devin Harris and a collection of spare parts to the Nets for future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd.

Kidd averaged 9.9 points and 9.5 dimes after the deal, but the Mavericks stumbled down the stretch to a 16-13 record and lost to New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs.

That led to the firing of Avery Johnson as head coach in Dallas. Kidd would help lead the Mavs to their first NBA title three years later.

More hoops habit: 25 Greatest Shooting Seasons in NBA History

Harris, meanwhile averaged 15.4 points and 6.5 assists for New Jersey, which was just 11-18 after the deal. He would earn his lone career All-Star berth the next season, but would eventually be dealt to the Utah Jazz for another superstar point guard, Deron Williams, in 2011.