You can't convince me adding Bryant doesn't improve the Mavericks. I'll worry about who's playing power forward later.

It's not that Nowitzki isn't a great player. Winning the MVP proves that just in case you weren't impressed that he averaged 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for a team that won 67 games.

But we all know he doesn't always embrace the moment and deliver in the Mavericks' most important games. We all know he has a reputation for being soft, perhaps because he didn't learn the game on inner-city black tops, where you call your own fouls, or spend a summer playing at Rucker Park in New York.

Besides, I've already made the trade on a Web site that analyzes the feasibility of trades to make sure there wasn't any problem with the salaries.

There isn't.

Kobe is scheduled to earn a little more than $17 million this season, while Nowitzki is supposed to get about $15 million. According to this Web site, the deal is fine. Just to make sure, I proposed a deal of DeSagana Diop, Greg Buckner and Jason Terry for Bryant and the computer GM promptly rejected it.

If I haven't overlooked any base compensation-option-clause nonsense, I think Josh Howard, Devin Harris and Jason Terry for Kobe works, cap-wise. Now remember, Kobe does have a no-trade clause in his contract, so if the Lakers decide to trade him, they likely won't get fair value, because Kobe has to approve the destination.

Kobe's not going anywhere now, whether he asks to be traded or not.

The Lakers aren't remotely ready to consider trading him and starting over.

In a year, a lot of things might have come to a head and the Lakers might feel different. Now there's no way.

"In nine years in the NBA you learn that you're the best when you win and a loser when you lose," he said. "I don't need any journalists who have never held a ball in his hand and never experienced a similar pressure that I have to tell me that I played poorly. Criticism is part of it all, and it can also motivate you."

"Once you reach a certain level, you don't really make any big leaps," Nowitzki said. "It's more about small improvements. My defense can be better, but also my center (low post) game."

"I’m going to take a year off and see if I still want to do something,’’ Harris tells DallasBasketball.com in an exclusive interview announcing his departure from the Dallas bench. "But Mark is making it so I can still be part of the Mavericks family, and I’m overwhelmed by that.’’

Harris, voted the NBA’s top assistant in three of the last four seasons by NBA general managers, is credited with serving as an important buffer between the high-profile owner and the strong-willed former coach Don Nelson. For the last three seasons, he’s served as a mentor (and probably a buffer, too) for volatile young head coach Avery Johnson. And all the while, he’s been an invaluable resource to Cuban, from front office to locker room.

For that reason, Harris – who was already the NBA’s highest-paid assistant – will now be a highly-paid consultant. Cuban essentially politely refused Harris’ offer of retirement, countering with a handshake offer that allows Del to remain with the organization in a capacity of his own design.

"For Mark to show this sort of appreciation towards me,’’ Harris says, "it’s overwhelming, really.’’