The Dallas Mavericks Have a Golden Opportunity in Front of Them

On February 19, 2008, the Dallas Mavericks pulled the trigger on a trade that sent up-and-coming point guard Devin Harris, Keith Van Horn, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, and DeSagana Diop (first round draft picks in 2008 and 2010), and $3 million to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for veteran point guard Jason Kidd, Antoine Wright, and Malik Allen. The Mavericks made the trade in what seemed like a last-ditch effort to win a championship by adding Kidd to the core of Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. The Nets made the deal as a part of the rebuilding process, turning the team over to the then-25-year-old Harris in favor of the then-34-year-old Kidd. Dallas finally made the deal after weeks of deliberation and rumors, even after the first iteration of the trade was nixed when Mavericks' forward Devean George blocked it, saying he wanted to stay in Dallas. The Mavs found a way to make the trade happen without involving George, and the rest is history. The Mavericks were eliminat...