WE LOVE OUR TEAM!: Coach Avery Johnson said those four cliched words again after the Mavs’ 96-76 win Wednesday over Portland while all the clusterf*&%king was going on. And what was going on? A blockbuster trade that would net Dallas the All-Star point guard Jason Kidd in exchange for Devin Harris and a bag of magic beans – a bag that included a reluctant bean named “Devean George.’’

The thing was on, it was done, Kidd not even suiting up for New Jersey as he anticipated a return to the city where he began his career. And then. … geez. George exercised his Bird Right to block the trade (the best impact he’s made in a Mavs uniform, especially on a night when he shot 0-for-11). … and everything now hangs in limbo.

You know how the Dallas Observer does its annual "Fab Fifty,'' the most powerful sports people in DFW?  Devean George just kicked the asses of Jerry Jones, Tom Hicks and Tony Romo combined. And Mark Cuban's, though that kinda goes without saying.

Assuming George can be persuaded (or an alternative can be created). … Let’s move forward, first figuring out what changed, inasmuch as the Mavs really did mean it when they said, “We Love Our Team’’ as of a week ago:

       1)  Devin’s value leaped during his absence. (Dallas went from a 100-ppg team to an 87-ppg team without him.) The Mavs could have taken that as proof of his value in Dallas. OR, they could have used it as proof to suitors.

       2)      Dallas’ effort in New Jersey and Philadelphia convinced the brass that a spark was needed, and that, as was the case in Phoenix regarding Shaq, that the team as presently constructed was going nowhere fast.

3)      NJ agreed to take Brandon Bass off their wish list.

4)      Sorry, but it is illogical to pretend that Gasol, Shaq and Webber moving is inconsequential here.

5)      The overall lethargy in MavsWorld was overwhelming. Inconsistent effort, grumbling fan base, a need for an excitement injection, and voila! Kidd is an answer to all of it.

MORE ON LETHARGY: Check out Jerry Stackhouse’s summary of the proposed trade:

“I think Devin has a lot of upside, but Jason Kidd is the type of all-league point guard our teams needs. We just need a jolt. Adding a player like him can re-energize a team, hopefully.’’

A “re-energizing’’ and a “jolt.’’ For this team that wins 55-67 games every year and is 34-17 as of Wednesday afternoon and is still somehow dissatisfied, that says it all.

FOLLOW THE MONEY: I Hereby Decree That No Mavs Fan Ever Again Call Mark Cuban ‘Cheap.’

THE POSITIVES: While I’m dubious about what this does to Dallas' future, I cannot deny some Quickie Positives. …

a) Our stagnant ‘iso’ offense will go in the trash heap out back of the AAC, where it belongs;

 b) while Devin’s one-man breaks will be missed, Kidd is even more adept at orchestrating a traditional break – and it’ll be like old times watching Dirk running on the break instead of setting up to battle the double-team;

 c) Kidd’s ability to drive-and-kick and pick-and-roll/pop will free Jason Terry to be a spot-up shooter, his strength;

 d) Kidd can be a “big guard’’ defensively, thus further protecting Jet;

e) Thus ends the demands on Dirk to be “the leader.’’ In fact, The UberMan will likely now be experiencing some delightful Nashie flashbacks.

f) Who is the Batman and who is the Robin? It matters less, but both Kidd and Dirk have been Batmans – and now Josh is completely free to be. … what, Commissioner Gordon?

CHARACTER GUYS: Out the door go a handful of good dudes. Devin Harris is a fine person. ‘Gana Diop is a fine person. Stack is a heart-and-soul guy. For those of you who’ve been saying, ‘I don’t care what they do away from the floor, etc. …’ OK, you’re getting your wish.

ONE MORE MOVE: Does 6-10 Malik Allen do much for you? Nah.  Does Texas A&M product Antoine Wright? Nah. Dallas simply must be planning another acquisition. A center like PJ Brown. Or a re-acquisition of Diop. Something.

THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE: My contention during this process always was that ‘Gana Diop is far too valuable to be anybody’s throw-in. I still believe that. I still believe his future will make this deal almost as haunting as Devin’s.

FISHING FOR BASS: At one point NJ wanted Brandon Bass. Dallas’ unwillingness to include him counts as a major success here.

CAN YOU GO HOME AGAIN?: He was the Co-Rookie of the Year here in 1994, so we have fanciful visions of J-Kidd. I’m dubious, but. …

 This counts as a potential positive: I’m better Jason – who wanted out of NJ, wanted to play with Dirk, wanted to be in Dallas, wants to win that elusive title -- will be VERY motivated, aren’t you?

 We know Steve Nash took his game up a notch once he got to Phx because he had something to prove. Let’s make certain Kidd believes he has the same “something’’ hanging in the balance.

 REMEMBER OUR DEEP BENCH?: I figure Jet must come off the bench now. First, come playoff time, he’s got to be the guy to get the few backup PG minutes behind ironman Kidd. And second, if Jet somehow starts, this bench stinks. It’s Bass and. … ?

SAY IT AIN’T SO, MOE: We never really got to know Moe Ager, except for that anecdote I passed on a year ago, the one about the rookie Ager going out to warm-up early with some other guys before a game. … and then sitting in a chair spending about 17 minutes tying his shoes. It was at that moment when I wondered if he really wanted it, you know?

MYSOGYNY GONE WILD: I cannot completely look the other way as Jason Kidd continues to behave as our generation’s Shawn Kemp. I guess I can only hope that Kidd takes care of his Kidds. … and that he keeps his hands busy chasing triple-doubles.

THE LAW OF STEVE NASH: On the one hand, Tony Cubes gets credit for reversing field on his policy of avoiding max money for old PGs. On that other hand. … I always thought his logic – as belied as it has been by Nash’s post-Dallas work – was sound.

I guess we were both wrong?

THE ETHICS OF THE BUYOUT: I bet Avery Johnson broke down bawling when informed that security blanket Jerry Stackhouse would be taken away from him. … and then was comforted to know that maybe NJ will buy out Stack and free him to return.

Wednesday afternoon, Stack didn’t even try to hide what was up.

At 4:36pm Stack offered the first official word – befitting his status as the team’s "locker-room spokesman.’’

“Now I think it's pretty much a done deal," Stackhouse said then, while also suggesting that he is assuming a buyout from New Jersey that would free him to join any team (ahem: Dallas) after 30 days.

How does Stack feel about the deal?

“I feel great. I get 30 days to rest, then I'll be right back’’ he said. “I ain't going nowhere.’’

It does kind of seem like a wink-wink violation of the spirit of the rules. But if Chancellor Stern is going to allow Pau Gasol to move to the Lakers for nothing, he can certainly allow Stack to boomerang around the countryside.

PS ON BOOMERANGS: I suppose the Diop, whose contract expires after this season, could end up re-signing in Dallas?

CONGRATS, DEVEAN: You got your wish. Unless you keep blocking this thing. Then I dunno what the hell you want. I know this, with Devean in the Dallas starting lineup while in the Nets-at-Raps game, J-Kidd isn't even in uniform: this is a surreal deal. And it's really not done until it's done.

KIDD IS AN IRONMAN: Know this about Jason Kidd: The guy is an absolute horse. Look at the career numbers:  He plays 37 minutes every year, he plays 80 games every year. … now, he’ll be 35 in March. One of these days his back is going to act up. And there is The Laws of Steve Nash.

But J-Kidd is a horse.

THOSE DRAFT PICKS: You can tell we’re in Football Country when I have to keep reminding people – including media members – that NBA picks aren’t the same as NFL picks.

MATCHUPS ARE A FUNNY THING: If this goes through: On the one hand, the smile on Tony Parker’s face is as wide as the gap between his wife’s ears. On the other hand, Baron Davis just made golf reservations for the entire month of May.

DEVEAN’S PERSONAL HELL: Assume for a moment that it doesn’t go through. What an odd locker room this will be, full of players the Mavs did not want, and featuring a guy who single-handedly ruined the chance to, ostensibly, get better with Kidd. Throw a parade for George if you wish, based on the idea that YOU didn’t want to do this trade.

But in that locker room, there would be no pro-Devean George parade.

AVERY’S HOOK: Assuming the “if,’’ and it does get done, does this take Avery off the hook? Or put him on it?

Gone would be the days of this coach “taking away the playcalling duties’’ of his quarterback. Gone also the days of me saying that the development of Devin will be the final and most important judgment of Avery.

Now the judgment changes: Now Avery has THREE stars in full bloom. This won’t be about “teaching’’ and “development.’’ This will be about not getting outfoxed in game preparation and in in-game decisions.

Remember when Mark Cuban first came here, and he upgraded facilities and hired an army of coaches and provided employees with their every desire and said, “I am going to eliminate the excuses?’’

The pressure on the Dallas Mavericks just increased. Because for this season, Mark Cuban just eliminated more excuses.

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