Dallas got rid of Nick Van Exel in this deal:
Nick Van Exel, Avery Johnson, Evan Eschmeyer, Popeye Jones, and Antoine Rigaudeau
in exchange for:
Antawn Jamison, Jiri Welsch, Danny Fortson, and Chris Mills
I don't know about you, but I make that deal in a flat second. Dallas needed rebounding and an interior presence. Jamison is an interior presence, and Fortson was supposed to be toughness and rebounding. (Of course, Fortson flopped in Dallas.)
Dallas's "problem" was that they didn't stop there. They continued: trading Jiri Welsch, Chris Mills and Raef LaFrentz - their projected starting center - *AND* a number 1 draft pick for Antoine Walker and Tony Delk.
(That number 1 pick turned out to be Delonte West.)
Van Exel played well for Dallas, but he's had as many BAD crucial games as GOOD crucial games.