Jet-For-Jefferson? Our 'Wouldja?' Goes Past-Tense

     Our Big-Picture Blueprint for the Mavs this summer included a suggestion of a trade that represents a win for Dallas. … and maybe relative success for Milwaukee, too. Time is of the essence here. So is size. And most of all, for the Bucks, so is money.

    Our Suggested Mavs Move: Jason Terry and Devean George for Richard Jefferson.

   As reported in a deal that is going down as we speak, the Bucks are moving Jefferson. But it's to Dallas rival San Antonio. The deal would give Milwaukee: Bowen, Thomas and Oberto.

   But of course, it gives the Bucks much more than that. ... and more than our Dallas idea would've given them.

    Assorted thoughts on "Wouldja?'' becoming past-tense:

    *This would be the Mavs offering some payroll savings for some size. Milwaukee is in search of the former and we’re insisting the Mavs are in need of the latter. The smallish Terry would be swapped out for the 6-7 Jefferson. Instead, the Spurs give up players who make Milwaukee bigger.

   *Jason Terry has been a terrific Mav. A fan fave, an essential part of the core, willing to morph into whatever this franchise asks him to be. Point guard, 2-guard, boss, bully, cheerleader, spokesman, top scorer, mentor, whatever. Lots of reasons to love Jet.

   *Milwaukee could've learned to love him too, though. The Bucks would've been able to take advantage of Jet's shrinking contract, which in effect expands the savings in the deal. The way we figure it, Milwaukee taking on Terry/George for Jefferson – due to make $14.2 million -- saves the Bucks $3.5 million in salary this season and more in the future. Is that enough?

    Well, no. SA's offer gives Milwaukee $15 mil in expirings. That swamps Dallas' possible offer.

   *Terry, of course, didn’t only represent a cash savings for the Bucks. He was also a talent cushion at both the 1 if they lose Ramon Sessions in free agency (the Mavs are fond of Sessions, by the way) and if Michael Redd at the 2 is at less than full speed in 2009-10.

   The three Spurs coming over? Not much of a talent boost, really. In fact, Milwaukee is going to have to view this as a dump.

   *We know we’re biased and not living in The Dairy State, but our impression of the Bucks in Wisconsin is that they’re not very buzzy. (Good-naturedly supporting our perspective: check out the banner logo on the Milwaukee fan site Bucksketball.com.) What Jet did with the fans in Atlanta. … what he did in Dallas. … he can do again. Jason’s fan-friendly approach would be big for the Bucks and maybe help salve any sense of a salary dump, especially with him coming off a Sixth Man of the Year season.

   *Jefferson had some great NBA Finals-level seasons playing alongside Kidd. The reunion would've figured to be a plus in re-upping Kidd. Now? Forget Kidd and consider what RJ gives SA. It's substantial.

   *More ties that bind: Jefferson and Jet are both U of Arizona guys. George has roots in nearby Minnesota. And Dallas and Milwaukee have a good history of front-office conversations, though they stemmed in part from back when Del Harris was a Mavs suit and his son, Larry, was the Bucks GM.

    Apparently, the connections exist between SA and Wisconsin, too.

   *Jet is smallish; Jefferson is a significantly bigger wing. He has a good reputation as a defender, and he can score – in fact, in 07-08 he averaged 22.6 ppg, sixth-best in the NBA. He's not an electric flyer. In fact, there’s a good argument that he’s regressed from “slasher’’ to “jumpshooter.'' But he's a 20-ppg guy just like Jet. And he’s a two-way player – the likes of which the Dallas Mavericks have pretty much never had.

   Now, RJ teams with Manu as that sort of wing threat.

   *We mentioned Portland above. If the Blazers want Jefferson (we’re not sure why they would target him, but they were a rumored Bucks partner at the deadline), they have the assets to do it.

   *Is Jefferson a 2 or a 3? With Kidd running the show, maybe wings Jefferson and Josh Howard would be almost interchangeable. With Parker? Same thing. 

   *Here’s a rare case where Dallas could've obtain a veteran and yet get younger. Richard Jefferson is 28. Jet and George, well, aren’t. Instead, SA makes that shift.

   *Jefferson might explode with positivity at escaping Milwaukee. But our understanding is that he is not enamored with his situation in Milwaukee.

   *We’ve written about Dallas’ desire to trade a core guy only for an “All-Star.’’ So, does Jefferson qualify? Not technically. In his seven NBA seasons, Richard Jefferson has never made an NBA All-Star team. But heck, he would've been close enough.

   So Dallas didn't have/make an offer that topped SA's. But our suggestion is clearly on the right track. Time to turn the Mavs' attention to a similarly-formatted concept.

    Vince Carter, anybody?