Newly acquired Harris still recovering from sprained ankle
The New Jersey Nets will likely have to wait at least two weeks before they can begin to gauge how well they made out in Tuesday's eight-player deal with Dallas.
Point guard Devin Harris, who will take Jason Kidd's place in the Nets' lineup, said Wednesday the ankle injury that has kept him out for the last three weeks will sideline him for up to two weeks more.
"It looks like it's going to be another week or two before I can get on the court," Harris said at the Nets' practice facility as he, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager and Trenton Hassell went through their first workout with their new team.
The four players, plus Keith Van Horn, were acquired Tuesday in a deal that sent Kidd, Antoine Wright and Malik Allen to Dallas. The Nets also received a first-round draft pick this year and in 2010 plus $3 million.
Harris didn't specify whether his time frame meant he would be able to play in a game or just participate in a full practice. Comments by the Mavericks and Nets over the last few days seemed to indicate he would be able to play sooner.
"It wasn't so much a setback, it just doesn't feel as great as it once did," Harris said. "I haven't really done anything since the All-Star break, it's just not really responding."
Harris' absence will give second-year pro Marcus Williams, who had been Kidd's backup, a chance to start beginning with Wednesday night's game against Chicago, Nets coach Lawrence Frank said.
It will also force Frank to make other moves, including putting Vince Carter at point guard.
"Vince will have to play some 1, and that's going to entail Trenton or Mo Ager giving us some minutes at the 2," Frank said. "That's the challenge any time you make a midseason trade. In the short term we'll need to be a little more creative, and then when Devin gets back we look forward to giving him the keys."
Harris, in his fourth year, is averaging career highs of 14.4 points and 5.3 assists this season. Two seasons ago he started 15 of Dallas' 23 games in the playoffs when the team reached the NBA Finals.
Still, it was no secret that the Mavericks saw Kidd as the player who could take the franchise one step further -- and help them keep pace with Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers, who made blockbuster deals for Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol, respectively.
Harris seemed to take it in stride Wednesday.
"I know what kind of player I am," he said. "We've been to the Finals with me starting before. They were in a situation where they had to respond with what's going on with the West right now. So you just have to look at it and take it for what it is."
Van Horn, who has not played in 1½ seasons though the Mavericks still owned his rights, was scheduled to work out for the Nets on Wednesday. Van Horn played for the Nets for five seasons, including 2001-02 when the team reached the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.