Jason Kidd Trade: Devean George Delays Deal

The heavily anticipated trade between the Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets has hit a major speed bump in the person of Devean George.

The proposed deal that would send G Jason Kidd and F Malik Allen to the Mavs for George, Devin Harris, Desagna Diop, Maurice Ager, two first round draft picks, and $3 million is being denied thanks to a clause in George’s contract allowing him to veto any trade he does not find suitable.

This new development definitely hurts the chances of acquiring Kidd. The two teams can try to restructure a deal without him, but that will complicate the matters more. Devean may soon be the man single-handedly responsible for destroying Dallas’ chances of pursuing a ring come June.

Then again, he is not solely to blame. Who would give George that kind of power in his contract to begin with?

Mark Cuban, that’s who.

Cuban has a history of making bone-headed choices—not re-signing Steve Nash, letting Michael Finley go to San Antonio, taking Nick Fazekas when he could have gotten Big Baby, Taurean Green, Chris Richard, Jameson Curry, or Rayshawn Terry—and this was one of them.

Since when do you give a 5.9 career scorer that kind of privilege? George signed a two-year $4.2 million deal in 2006 and will now either be waived or traded away, provided that he gives the thumb ups.

Whatever happens with George, he has made a lasting impression on the Mavericks. He may have crippled the Mavs franchise for now and certainly in the near future.

By the way, George went 0-11 last night, the worst shooting game by a player this year. Kidd did not play for the Nets last night because of the anticipation of the trade.

With the deal being voided, it now puts teams like Denver, Boston, Chicago, the Lakers, Orlando, and Cleveland back in the mix for the Hall of Fame guard.