In one of the weirdest turn of events in recent NBA history, Jason Kidd finally got his wish. He’s no longer a member of the New Jersey Nets. However, the Nets got plenty of talent back in the deal and have started to put a team together that should be able to put out a consistent performance on the court every night.

The question remains if they will be consistently good or bad though.

By trading Kidd, the Nets have passed the torch to Richard Jefferson. Vince Carter’s numbers don’t indicate it, but he’s not the guy that has to go out and bust his hump on the court for this team to win, Jefferson is. Having a career season, averaging almost 24 points a game, Jefferson cannot take a nap down the stretch and is going to have to especially strong for this team to make the playoffs. Currently in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference, the Nets can kiss the playoffs goodbye if they take their time gelling with their new teammates.

How long it takes for the new Nets to get on the same page of their teammates remains to be seen though. Without a doubt, their arrival changes the dynamics of the team completely. While no one knows when Keith Van Horn will make his return to New Jersey [this time free of Stephon Marbury] or if he’ll ever finish the retirement paper work he was supposed to start in 2006, Maurice Ager is a youngster that could develop into a solid player and Trent Hassell has proven to be a solid guy off the bench that can do a little bit of everything. DeSagana Diop gives the Nets a big man off the bench that can rebound a little and play in the post.

While the aforementioned players will definitely play a role in determining this team’s playoff chances, Devin Harris will be the key to determining if this trade was a good one for New Jersey. Less of a creator than Kidd, Harris will be asked to shoot more and play more minutes than he ever has before. No one knows how he’ll respond to that type of pressure. Some feel this will be the opportunity the youngster needs to escape the shadow of the players he played with in Dallas. Others feel the deal will expose him to the rest of the league and won’t allow him access to the lanes and room on the court he got while playing with Dirk Nowitzki.

Still nursing a bone bruise on his left ankle, Harris and the Nets will have to wait for an answer to that question.

  E-mail this story |  Printer-friendly |  Discuss