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With trade talks swirling, Mavs visit Suns

Feb 14, 2008 - 11:47 AM Dallas (35-17) at Phoenix (36-16) 10:30 pm EST

PHOENIX (Ticker) - The Dallas Mavericks will look to move forward despite knowing that their best chance at improving the roster rests in the hands of Devean George.

Dallas tries to finish the first half of the season on a positive note Thursday when they visit the Phoenix Suns.

On Wednesday, the Mavericks reportedly had a deal that would have brought All-Star guard Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for four other players - including George.

But while the deal was getting finalized, George blocked the deal with his no-trade clause as part of a contract status called "early Bird rights."

"It was all coming down on me and my little salary," said George, who is making just over $2.3 million this season. "It is all coming down on me and I am being thrown to the wolves, but I will be that guy to everybody. If I am the bad guy, people who know me know that I am not like that, but it is what it is.

"I just want to look over things and have it explained to me what everything means. What that would mean, what are my options. Just everything to protect me because there are a lot of legal things that players really don't know."

Despite the potential distractions, Dirk Nowitzki had 37 points and 12 boards to lift Dallas to a 96-76 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

Amare Stoudemire had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Grant Hill chipped in 26 and 15 for the Suns, who fell 120-118 at home to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

Newly acquired center Shaquille O'Neal is not expected to make his Phoenix debut as he gets rested for the second half of the season. O'Neal was acquired from the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks last week.