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Kidd makes debut with Dallas

Feb 20, 2008 - 1:30 PM Dallas (35-18) at New Orleans (36-15) 8:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - Jason Kidd makes his debut with the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday when the club visits New Orleans.

The star point guard was acquired in an eight-player trade Tuesday with the New Jersey Nets.

The trade brings Kidd back to the team that selected the nine-time All-Star with the second overall pick in the 1994 draft. After playing with the struggling Nets this season, the 34-year-old has renewed hope.

"That's all I want, is to win a championship. It's not guaranteed, but you want to play for it. When you take the floor with the Mavericks, you're on that path to win a championship."

Dallas also received promising swingman Antoine Wright and veteran forward Malik Allen in exchange for guards Devin Harris and Maurice Ager, center DeSagana Diop, forwards Keith Van Horn and Trenton Hassell, first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2010 and cash considerations.

Kidd and the Mavericks face a tough task in All-Star Chris Paul and the Hornets, who own the best record in the Western Conference.

The Hornets won four consecutive games and 13 of their last 16 before the All-Star break, while Dallas went 1-3 in its last four games before the break.

Paul has averaged 19.4 points in nine career games against the Mavericks, but New Orleans has won only one of those games. Paul had 33 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds in the Hornets' 112-108 overtime win against Dallas on December 1.