Donnie Nelson's thoughts on the trade

President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson catches up with mavs.com on the trade:

Reasoning behind the deal.
“Plain and simple, this gives us the best chance to win a championship. That’s really what it comes down to. It wasn’t based on anything else or what other people were doing. It was the right time to make a move based on the internal needs of our team.”

How strange have the last six days been?
“This is hands down the most unique transaction that I’ve ever been involved in. Ever.”

What is it about Jason Kidd?
“Anyone who had ever played with Jason knows he’s the ultimate winner. There isn’t anything he won’t do to put his team in position to win. Not just the obvious statistical accolades, but the intangibles are what make him special.”

“We’ve got a quarterback now. It’s very difficult to achieve your goals in this league without a true quarterback and Jason is one of the best all-time.”

“He’s one of the fiercest competitors in the history of the game. His toughness and his ability to take a team to the Finals, like he did in New Jersey, are pretty remarkable.”

Worried about his age?
“If you look at his production, it hasn’t dropped off that much. His body looks great. Obviously, you’re different at 35 than you are at 25, but there hasn’t been a significant drop-off. Maybe he was sipping from the same water cooler as Darrell Armstrong. He’s a unique physical specimen.”

Tell me about Malik Allen and Antoine Wright.
“We feel they have the potential to be contributors. With Antoine, he can play the 2 and 3, he’s athletic and defensively he can be an impact player. We’re familiar with him from his days at Texas A&M and the Global Games. Malik Allen is a nice frontline piece that can make an outside shot. All the guys that we got in this transaction are quality young men.”

How does this make Avery Johnson’s job easier?
“Avery is not going to have to dictate every play. He’s going to make Avery’s job easier. He’s going to make Dirk’s job easier. He’s a perfect running mate for Jet. He straightens out the rotation in many respects. Never underestimate the ability of a superstar.”

How tough is it emotionally losing Devin Harris and Gana Diop?
“We owe an incredible debt to all players that we’re losing. They were a huge part of our success. Devin is going to be a star in the future. There is no question about it. We’re going to miss Gana, too. This is the toughest part of our business. Those are two young guys with extremely bright futures. We wish them nothing but the best. Mavs fans and family owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”