NEW ORLEANS — The Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets aren't happy about the way the Jason Kidd fiasco has evolved.

Now you can include the NBA in the grumpy group.

Commissioner David Stern said that both teams "have been spoken to" about how the negotiations for the proposed trade of Kidd to the Mavericks have transpired.

The message seems clear that both sides have been told to make sure they are doing things by the book as the now-complicated trade talks dribble through All-Star Weekend.

The commissioner said during his All-Star news conference that the league is not blocking the inclusion of Jerry Stackhouse in any trade for Kidd, but that a thorough review of any deal is a virtual certainty.

"Even though I don't want to give Stackhouse and the Mavs their defense too easily, things happen," Stern said. "He certainly is allowed to do that in terms of going back after 30 days. The big issue is whether there is an agreement to do it. And speculating about it doesn't make it an agreement, even if you wish he hadn't spoken."

But the commissioner quickly added: "I haven't been up to date on the negotiations. But it's a subject of interest to us, and the parties of the transaction know that it's a subject of interest to us. They've been spoken to."

Meanwhile, information has slowed to a trickle regarding new proposals as Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Nets president Rod Thorn continue to exchange ideas as they work on new versions of the deal that originally would have sent Devin Harris, Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Devean George and Maurice Ager to the Nets for Kidd and Malik Allen.

The deal also would have included two first-round draft picks and cash.

But since news broke Wednesday, George has reiterated that he will not give up his early Larry Bird free-agent rights to be included in part of the trade, and Cuban said Saturday night at the All-Star festivities that the original deal is completely dead.

What he was less clear about is where the difficult situation is headed.

"There's nothing new to report," Cuban said. "We like our team, love our team. We're always looking for ways to love it more. We're always trying to get better, and I'm not going to say a word about it."

Cuban confirmed that the league spoke to the Mavericks, as well as the Nets, to make sure both sides were adhering to the league's guidelines in the wake of Stackhouse being quoted as saying that he wasn't going anywhere and that he would return to Dallas 30 days after the Nets bought out his contract after completion of the trade.

"They called up and said, `OK, you know the rules, right?"' he said. "Where does Stack come off (talking)? Well, he thought the deal was done, and he thought they were going to release him, so he said what he said. It's not that unusual.

"It only would have been an issue if something bad had been going on. They can look at whatever they want. There's no issue. Everybody was speculating. The best we can surmise is that other GMs around the league didn't want it to happen and started putting their two cents in."

Stern reiterated that Stackhouse can be involved in the trade. He just emphasized that there can be no prearranged deal.

So the Mavericks are left to figure out another option. Keith Van Horn, who has been out of the game since 2005-06, could be used as part of a sign-and-trade deal. But league officials also said that would raise their concerns.

"If he intends to resume his career, then they can do a sign-and-trade with him," said Joel Litvin, the league's president of league and basketball operations. "If somebody presented a sign and trade with Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), we would say no, because that's not legitimate. It's done on a case-by-case basis. I can't comment on Van Horn because nothing's been presented to us. The players' association has an interest in these matters, as well.

"If there is something we need to investigate, like whether or not a player and team had an illicit agreement, we ask lots of questions and we make a determination as to whether they are being truthful. It's kind of like (Brian) McNamee and (Roger) Clemens. If there's no so-called smoking gun, that's what we're paid to do."

Meanwhile, Kidd and the Mavericks are left to twist in the wind as Thursday's trading deadline continues to draw nearer.

Kidd said he talked to Thorn late Friday night and received no meaningful information.

"Nobody knows until either Rod or Cuban comes out and say the deal is done or the deal won't happen," Kidd said. "That's the scenario we're at now. All I can say is that they're still talking. I'm in the dark just like everybody else."