EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AFP) - Dallas finally completed an eight-player trade which will see star point guard Jason Kidd join the highly-ranked Western Conference National Basketball Association team.
The Mavericks also received promising swingman Antoine Wright and veteran forward Malik Allen from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for guards Devin Harris and Maurice Ager, centre DeSagana Diop, forwards Keith Van Horn and Trenton Hassell, first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010 and cash considerations.
"I'm just very happy that this deal is done," Kidd said Tuesday. "I'm happy to be back here in Dallas.
"I'm happy that (owner Mark Cuban) and (coach Avery Johnson) believe in my talent and my teammates' talents - that we can help the Mavs in pursuing that ultimate goal, and that's to win a championship."
Financial terms of Tuesday's trade were not disclosed, but American broadcaster ESPN reported that New Jersey was given a three million dollar consideration for parting with Kidd, a nine-time all-star who piloted the Nets during their transition from a perennial non contender into a two-time Eastern Conference champion.
"Jason Kidd has been the best player to wear a Nets uniform during my current tenure with the Nets," said president Rod Thorn.
"He was the toughest competitor with the fiercest will to win, and he was the main component in the most successful period in the Nets' NBA history."
The blockbuster deal originally was reported last week before hitting a snag when Mavericks swingman Devean George used a clause in his contract to block the deal.
But the revamped deal was completed courtesy of the inclusion of Van Horn, who hasn't played since the 2005-06 season but was never taken off Dallas' payroll.
In acquiring Kidd, 34, the Mavericks (35-18) have indicated their desperation to keep up in the increasingly competitive Western Conference.
Dallas, which currently is sixth in the conference standings, lost to the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals and claimed the top seed in the West last season before being ousted by the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
Kidd, 34, will make 40 million dollars over the final two years of his current contract - a price tag that Cuban was more than willing to pay for a player who attracted the passionate owner to purchase his first season ticket over a decade ago.
"He was exciting to watch then and he's exciting to watch now," Cuban said. "I think we've really taken a step forward to making (the Mavs) a real contender for a championship."
Tuesday's trade is the third blockbustre deal involving Western title contenders this month.
The Suns acquired future Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal from the Miami Heat on February 6 while the Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their frontcourt by trading with Memphis for Pau Gasol on February 1.
