If Jerry Stackhouse hadn't opened up his yap, and Devean George didn't have delusions of grandeur, the Jason Kidd deal would have been done last week. But they did, and that's why the Mavericks had to substitute Keith Van Horn and Trenton Hassell for Stackhouse and George to try and make the deal work. (As of this minute, Van Horn has still not agreed to come out of limbo and play for New Jersey.)
And, yes, Aaron McKie--the former Sixers' assistant coach who became part of the Pau Gasol trade to the Lakers, because McKie, who hadn't played this season, was still on Los Angeles' books, and thus eligible to be traded--plays a part in this. That precedent helps the league look at a return to play by Van Horn--last on the Dallas team that lost the 2006 Finals to Miami--in a better light.
Here's what Joel Litvin, the NBA's Basketball Operations President and chiefest of lawyers when it comes to the league's rules, said on Saturday in New Orleans:
"We talked to (McKie) and his agent (Leon Rose), and we spoke to the Grizzlies. And we said 'hey, if this guy, who did play last year, by the way, intends to resume his career, then they can do a sign-and-trade with him.' In fact, he signed a contract, he reported to Memphis, and he's on their roster, and he's practicing with them. If someone presented a sign-and-trade with, you know, Kareem, we would say no, out of the box, because that's not legitimate. It's done on a case-by-case basis."
So, how long does Van Horn have to actually play in New Jersey? One game? One week? The rest of the season?
"I can't answer that. It's a hypothetical. It's got to be bona fide, and the player has to have an interest in resuming his career, and that certainly was the case with Aaron McKie, as has been evidenced by the subsequent events."
So, could a guy who was out of action 20 years come back if he hasn't officially retired or been waived by his old team?
"There is a circumvention in our CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) for this very reason...a 50-year-old player, you would say no, out of the box. Aaron McKie, think what you might, he did play last year. I know he was in Philadelphia, working as an assistant coach. We have to make these calls sometimes."
Though Litvin wouldn't talk specifically about Van Horn, it's clear the league will allow it--in some part due to McKie's case.
Inquirer reporter Mike Jensen is the college basketball columnist for the Inquirer. Each year, he gives a special insight into the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane is the beat writer for Temple. He will pick the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Tom Fitzgerald will blog about Hillary Clinton's Pa. visits March 10 &11.
Inquirer reporter Larry Eichel will post updates on Bill Clinton's March 7 visit to Media.
Inquirer reporter Tim Panaccio will write about National Hockey League trade talk. 
Inquirer reporter David Aldridge will live-blog the week before the NBA's trade deadline. 
Peter Mucha began this blog, before moving on to other writing duties.
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