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Phil Jax on Kidd: ‘I was a Devin Harris fan’

February 13th, 2008, 4:48 pm · 3 Comments · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM

MINNEAPOLIS — Phil Jackson and I agree on one thing: Devin Harris is a feisty, talented player who is really good now and just getting better. So there’s no way to love what the Mavericks are doing in trying to trade him and plenty else to New Jersey to get Jason Kidd … if Devean George ever lets the deal go through.

“I was a Devin Harris fan, so I’m happy to see him go to the East, personally,” Jackson said before word of George’s veto of the trade was reported by ESPN. “He’s a good player, he took a lot of charges and is an improving player. He was one of those young kids with good energy and got the ball back for his team a lot. I know they’ll miss him. But this is a trade that brings a lot of veteran leadership to Dallas.”

Jackson ultimately suggested the trade could help both teams, but he doesn’t understand why Dallas would mortgage its future by giving up Harris, 24, to get Kidd, who is about to turn 35. Jackson said he was asking his assistant coaches if Dallas is thinking its championship window is closing because Dirk Nowitzki is turning 30 in June.

“I still think he has three or four good years in his play,” Jackson said.

What the Mavericks would get in Kidd is another experienced defender against Kobe Bryant to go with Josh Howard, but Harris has proved capable to sticking with Bryant also despite a size disadvantage.

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Posted in: 2007-08 • Phil Jackson • Pregame notes |

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3 Responses to “Phil Jax on Kidd: ‘I was a Devin Harris fan’”

  1. Jeffs Aho Says:
    February 14th, 2008 at 1:06 am

    Devin Harris was also one of the players in the league that can keep up with Tony Parker. Not contain, but at least slow down TP’s penetration.

    -Jeffs Aho

  2. jhazard Says:
    February 15th, 2008 at 10:17 am

    To me this was a just because trade. The Lakers picked up Gasol for next to nothing, though I think Crittenton will be a great player some day. Then Phoenix trades for Shaq. So Dallas gets nervous and is willing to give up Harris for Kidd. Kidd will help Dallas but over all it isn’t going to make them that much better. The Lakers came out on top of the trades in the west and should be in the dog fight the Western conference is going to have come playoffs. The question is will Kobe be healthy and will anyone be good enough to beat a healthy San Antonio team? To me you have to beat San Antonio to get to the championship.

  3. DeShaun Son Says:
    February 20th, 2008 at 11:06 pm

    Bad Trade.
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