Kidd’s trade to Mavericks still on hold

The trade to bring New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd back to Dallas remained in limbo Thursday, with Mavericks reserve forward Devean George still refusing to rescind his right to block the seven-player deal.

ESPN.com, citing two sources, said the deal could still be completed -- either in its original form or a substitute one -- before Thursday’s trade deadline. George’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, and Nets President Rod Thorn reportedly talked throughout the day Thursday about New Jersey’s plans for George.

“There is nothing really new at this point,” Bartelstein told the Dallas Morning News. “That is where it is. Nothing else has really changed.

“I mean, he will continue to contemplate and consider it [the trade]. But I don’t want to paint the wrong picture. I don’t know that he’s looking for reasons to change his mind.”

George, who started for the Mavericks on Thursday night at Phoenix, was able to block the trade because of an obscure league rule affecting certain players with one-year contracts.

He and point guard Devin Harris, swingman Jerry Stackhouse, center DeSagana Diop, guard Maurice Ager, two first-round picks and cash were to be sent to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen.

ESPN.com reported that the Mavericks could agree to sign and trade Keith Van Horn in George’s place since they retain his rights and he has not submitted official retirement papers to the league office -- something the Lakers did two weeks ago in using Aaron McKie to acquire Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies.

Meanwhile, Bartelstein said George is not trying to block the deal but instead is simply protecting his rights as a future free agent.

“That’s the whole thing that nobody seems to get,” Bartelstein told the Dallas newspaper. “Devean is not doing anything to hold up the trade. He’s not stopping the trade. He’s not stopping Jason Kidd from coming to Dallas. He’s making a decision that is best for him.”