With Pau Gasol in L.A. and Shaq in Phoenix, it’s not getting any easier in the west. Jason Kidd joining Dallas was just what we needed in the toughest division – Southwest.

Mark Cuban made a good move, but not for nothing:

The deal — salvaged from talks on a three-way trade with Portland that developed and fizzled quickly two weeks ago — has Dallas sending 24-year-old point guard Devin Harris, veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse, the expiring contracts of center DeSagana Diop and swingman Devean George and guard Maurice Ager to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen.

Sources say Dallas will also send the Nets the league-maximum $3 million, the Mavs’ first-round draft pick this June and a first-rounder in 2010. [Full Story: ESPN]

The current standings in the west don’t make any sense. You have 2 or 3 teams that will probably win 50 games and still sit out the playoffs. Meanwhile, a team with a 23-29 record in the east is already in the playoff picture.

From now till the end of regular season, every game in the west is important. Playoff started a little early this year, folks. The league might want to consider redistributing the teams to balance things out next season.

PS: I wouldn’t trade Devin Harris for anything. Especially not an aging PG, even though Kidd is a veteran and a natural leader. It appears that Cuban is only concerned about the short term benefits of this trade.

Update: Devean George –of all people — has blocked the deal, but it still might go through.