Kidd Blockbuster Finalized, Western Conference Power Struggle Continues

Dallas did well for itself by getting Jason Kidd. At 35 years of age, he's not nearly the player he used to be, but 11 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds per game is still pretty close to freak nasty. Getting him from the Nets for (essentially) Devin Harris--a promising, still undeveloped point guard---along with two first round picks and $3 million is a pretty fair shake both ways. The Nets get a guy who should help them for the long term, while Dallas picks up the player who they feel can put them over the top right now. (Ironically, Kidd started his career in Dallas in the mid '90s as a #2 overall pick . . . Remember how the three J's---Kidd, Jamaal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson---were supposed to turn the then-sorry Mavericks around? R&B singer Toni Braxton dated all three of them, in turn ensuring a Dallas turnaround would not happen.)

Unfortunately for aggressive Mavs' owner Mark Cuban, I don't think this deal wins Dallas a championship. Does it make them better? Absolutely. Despite shooting a career-low 36% from the floor, Kidd will create more good opportunities for studs Nowitzki, Howard and Terry. But Dallas is still extremely soft down low. And we've seen time and again how that just doesn't work in the playoffs. You throw in the fact that the NBA's Western Conference is just ridiculously loaded this year and it's hard for me to see how the Mavs even come out of their side of the playoff bracket.

With Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol also relocating in mega-trades over the last few weeks, let's take a look at the core seven players for all the Western Conference contenders. (I'm in a good old-fashioned NBA mood today, what can I say?)

Here's Dallas.

PF-Dirk Nowitzki
SF-Josh Howard
C-Erick Dampier/Juwan Howard
PG-Jason Kidd
SG-Jason Terry/Jerry Stackhouse

Not bad at all. But this is the Lake Show.

PF-Pau Gasol
SF-Lamar Odom
C-Andrew Bynum/Vladimir Radmanovic
PG-Derek Fisher /Jordan Farmar
SG-Kobe Bryant

Even better in my book. Now for Phoenix.

PF-Amare Stoudemire
SF-Grant Hill
C-Shaquille O'Neal/Boris Diaw
PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell/Leandro Barbosa

Awfully scary. Next up, San Antonio.

PF-Tim Duncan
SF-Bruce Bowen/Michael Finley
C-Kurt Thomas
PG-Tony Parker/Damon Stoudamire
SG-Manu Ginobli

The Spurs are a dynasty for a reason. And don't forget Utah.

PF-Carlos Boozer
SF-Andrei Kirilenko
C-Mehmet Okur/Paul Milsap
PG-Deron Williams
SG-Ronnie Brewer/Kyle Korver

Straight phenomenal.

Make what you want out of it, but I put Dallas at fifth out of five in that group. And that's not taking into account Denver (with 'Melo and Iverson) or New Orleans (best record in the conference with should-be MVP Chris Paul) or Golden State (the speedy team that dismantled Big 'D' in last year's first round).

After the Kidd trade, all I know for sure is that Dallas is better than Houston (T-Mac aside, way too slow) and Portland (a bit young and Oden-less). But couldn't you make that argument before the deal? Probably. In fact, throw in the four legitimate contenders in the East---Boston, Detroit, Orlando and Cleveland---and I still only put Dallas ahead of two of them.

Who knows, maybe J-Kidd finds the fountain of youth in the heart of Texas and Devin Harris never becomes anything in the swamps of Jersey. Then I'll have to eat my words. Doubt it though.

Josh's Updated NBA Power Ranking Leaders (as of 2/20/08)

1- San Antonio Spurs: The champs till proven otherwise
2- Phoenix Suns: The Diesel Experiment begins
3- Utah Jazz: Officially loaded at every position
4- L.A. Lakers: Literally stole Pau Gasol from Grizzlies
5- Boston: K-Jigga should be healthy again soon
6- Detroit: Old tried and true group hanging tough
7- Dallas: J-Kidd must limit three point attempts
8- New Orleans: Can't get any respect, Chris Paul for MVP
9- Denver: Need J.R. Smith to stay strong from downtown
10- Orlando: Dwight Howard is unknown monster no more

-JAB