By FRED KERBER

Once again, there is an agreement in principle to trade Jason Kidd to Dallas.

But remember, everybody went through this before.

Still, the Nets and Mavs have reached agreement on the deal that sends Kidd back to Dallas – just like they did on Wednesday. Multiple league sources confirmed this and, barring any more unforeseen snags, the deal won’t get done until Monday at the earliest. All of it is very tentative, like it was Wednesday when the mega-deal fell apart. And the deal actually hinges on Keith Van Horn.

Van Horn who will be used in a sign and trade, and Trenton Hassell, have been plugged into the deal for the Nets, replacing Devean George, who likely is going to be as popular as the Philadelphia Eagles in Dallas, and Jerry Stackhouse whose case of foot in mouth disease also helped squash the original trade blueprint.

More importantly, the Nets get Devin Harris, the young point guard star, DeSagana Diop and his expiring contract (they have the rest of the season to look at him and may try to keep him), guard Maurice Ager and two first round picks which are lightly protected. The Nets also get a large but undetermined trade exception, said several people claiming knowledge of the deal. Details, though, were being kept under wraps. When the trade particulars got out last time, the deal imploded. The Nets will also send Malik Allen and Antoine Wright to Dallas.

Van Horn, though, will have to report to New Jersey at least, sources indicated. As to what happened beyond that is unclear.

Dallas, of course, gets Kidd. And while the Mavs will take a hefty hit on their luxury tax situation – owner Mark Cuban insisted he would not use Van Horn for that very reason.

The deal died in its original form when George refused to approve the trade and blocked it with a rare NBA rule so he would not lose his early Bird rights. Then Stackhouse’s comments about an impending return to Dallas insinuated an illegal pre-existing deal. The league watched every move from there.

The deal costs the Nets the best player in their NBA history but it’s a deal that had to be made. And given the circumstances, they made out really well. Harris, 25 in 10 days, is an up and coming star.

And there may be additional deals in the works, probably nothing major although the Vince Carter for Jermaine O’Neal swap is always on life support waiting to be revived. And there could be renewed interest toward Mike Miller of Memphis.