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Pau Gasol winds up in Los Angeles – with the good team, not the other one.

Shaquille O'Neal lands in Phoenix.

Will the Mavericks be the next team in the Western Conference to jump on the big name merry-go-round?

Probably not.

The Lakers took advantage of a Memphis team that was only interested in dumping a big salary. The Grizzlies weren't looking for a competitive return on the dollar.

The Suns picked up O'Neal for Shawn Marion, a disgruntled veteran who had asked to be traded because he felt he deserved a more prominent role. He has a big contract, a bruised ego and can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, which would have left the Suns with nothing.

The Mavericks don't find themselves in this situation with any of their key players. The two who generate the most interest, Josh Howard and Devin Harris, are young, under contract for a while and on the rise. The club says it will exercise patience rather than take part in what's going on around them in the conference.

"Every step of the way, what you do is based on your hand," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks president of basketball operations. "It's not based on what everyone else is doing.

"I've never done business that way."

Q: Simple question here, without having to give up Dirk Nowitzki or Josh Howard, would you trade for Jason Kidd?

MOORE: Sorry. All simple questions need to come in the week that Big Ed does the newsletter. He's the one who gives simple answers – if he actually knows the answer at all.

Nowitzki and Howard are off limits. Would I include Devin Harris in a package to acquire Kidd? No. Jason Terry? Tempting, but if he goes, the Mavericks lose their best shooters. Take him off the floor, and defenses will pack the lane and make it even tougher for this team to get to the basket. Normally, I'd be willing to throw DeSagana Diop into a deal to get a player of Kidd's caliber. But can the Mavericks afford to do that now as they stare at Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol and Yao Ming in the Western Conference? That's a lot of pressure to put on Erick Dampier.

There is no simple answer. Kidd would help this team, but not if you have to give up too much to get him.

Q: I hope what I'm hearing and reading is false. That would be the stupidest move ever if Dallas was to trade Devin Harris and Lord knows who else for Jason Kidd. Kidd has one or two good years left, maybe. Harris is just now coming on, with eight or 10 years left in him. Why would the Mavs be so stupid to make a trade like this? It makes no sense to be this stupid. Devin Harris is a keeper. Kidd is just about washed up.

Glenn D.

MOORE: And how are you related to Devin?

I don't think Kidd is washed up, but I agree with the majority of what you're saying. I'm just not as passionate about it as you. And I would argue if the Mavericks do trade Harris, they have made far more stupid moves in their history.

What did the team get for Steve Nash?

Q: Now that the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, do you think the Mavs are feeling more inclined to acquire Jason Kidd?

MOORE: The Mavericks say no. Coach Avery Johnson and Donnie Nelson have gone out of their way to say what teams do around them does not influence their belief in this team.

I believe that, but only to a point. If the Mavericks could acquire Kidd or any other top player for as little as the Lakers gave up to acquire Gasol, they would do it.

Q: Why do the Mavericks stand around so much? They give the ball to Dirk about 750 feet from the basket and make him work like a coal miner to get a shot while the rest of the team watches. They need to get the ball to Dirk cutting to the basket, the way Nash does for Amare Stoudemire.

PJ, Richardson

MOORE: The Mavericks don't move the ball like Phoenix and some other teams in the league. Anyone who watched Nowitzki in the playoffs last season will tell you he had to work much too hard for his shots.

But while I like the coal miner reference, I think you're being a little harsh. The Mavericks are one of the better offensive teams in the league. And the reason Nowitzki doesn't slash to the basket like Stoudemire is because that's not his game. He's gotten better in the post, but he's a pick-and-pop player, not one who soars to the basket.

Q: Two questions for you guys: I don't know how many times the past couple years I've seen Devin blow past a defender and get into the lane only to blow the layup. I remember a few years back he would penetrate and dunk on anybody and everybody. He can really fly, so why does Devin not dunk much anymore? Surely, Avery wouldn't mind. I mean, they're high percentage shots. Is it just me or does Josh Howard virtually always fail to make the extra pass on the break or in the open court? I about jump out of my seat watching Josh hog the ball in situations where there's a glaring opportunity for an assist. I don't believe Josh is selfish, but does he just lack the court vision that other guys on the team seem to have?

James, Dallas

MOORE: Harris doesn't dunk the way he once did. But I'd argue in those days he only had one gear. He's still not as accomplished in finishing the play as San Antonio's Tony Parker, but he's gotten better with the occasional floater or pull-up short of the basket. You will still see him dunk if he has an open lane, but he sacrifices his body so often on defense, I don't think he wants to take the additional pounding that comes with challenging bigger players on the way to the basket if he can score another way.

You're right about Howard. He's not selfish, but he's not a good passer in transition. I don't know if it's vision as much as it is being uncomfortable making the pass when barreling at full speed.

Q: It's been great to see Trenton Hassell out of Avery's doghouse and back in the games. We all know he brings defense to the table, but I think an overlooked part of his game is his ability to pass. I'm not saying he's Steve Nash, but he's probably our best passer at the 2-guard spot, and I've never heard Avery praise him for this. Considering how badly we need passing on this team, why doesn't get a bit more praise for this. And, wouldn't a Terry/Hassell backcourt work well together? Keep up the good work.

Graham A., College Park, Maryland

MOORE: You've seen something I haven't. Hassell has never averaged more than 2.7 assists in his career. He has 25 assists this season in 441 minutes.

Hassell is a good defender. He's a willing passer. But I think there's a reason Johnson doesn't praise him for his passing.

A Terry-Hassell backcourt can work in certain matchups, but I don't think you want to make a steady diet of it.

Q: I'm not sure that I've seen a Mavericks player with less ball awareness, physical presence, and shooting ability than J.J. Barea. He's getting significantly more time on the court with the injury to Devin Harris, and their game – both offensively and defensively – suffers tremendously. Every time he shoots the ball, I cringe. As a matter of fact, every time I see him on the court, I cringe. Could someone please explain why J.J. Barea is on this squad? Surely there must be someone available who could give us more depth at this position. If an injury to Terry or Harris happens in the playoffs, you can count this team out. Any opinions on the long-term success of Barea?

Jeremy, Tuscaloosa, AL

MOORE: Barea is on the squad because Johnson thinks he has potential. He's willing to bite his tongue with Harris out, give him a little more time and see if he can be counted on in the future. At this stage, if Harris or Terry was hurt in the playoffs, I think you'd see the ball go through Howard before you saw significant minutes for Barea.

Long-term success? I think the rest of this season will indicate whether he has a future with the Mavericks.

Q: I haven't heard anything about Reyshawn Terry since the draft. Is he still with the team in any capacity? D-league? Overseas? He was supposed to be one of the most athletic players coming out of college and seemed like a good project player.

MOORE: Terry is playing for Aris in Greece. The Mavericks still own his rights and will likely give him a shot to earn a roster spot this summer.

Q: NBA games are often decided by controversial calls by the officials, most recently "phantom" foul by Devean George on Paul Pierce at close of last (week's) game. Why not allow one replay challenge per half by each coach, forfeiting a timeout if challenge is lost?

MOORE: That makes sense, and I don't think it's too intrusive or disruptive to the flow of the game. Now, if we could get you a spot on the NBA's competition committee, it might have a chance of being instituted.