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That sound you just heard was every Mav fan on this board turning a cartwheel at once.
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1044856.html
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A pillar of the Dallas Mavericks for the past half-decade, veteran Jerry Stackhouse, disillusioned with his diminished role just 10 games into the season, wants to rediscover happiness somewhere else.
Stating his style clashes with coach Rick Carlisle’s motion offense, a scheme based more on freelance movement than structured plays, and a reluctance to sacrifice minutes for mentoring, the 14-year swingman said his agent is exploring options for him to depart Dallas, possibly through a buyout or trade.
"The key part is there’s really no conflict with us," Stackhouse said Monday of him and Carlisle. "It’s understood that it’s his job to coach the team, but it’s my job to protect my future. I’ve got to have some say-so and dictate with the role that I’m kind of in now, that I’m ready to accept that. I don’t think I’m ready to fully accept that at this point."
Stackhouse said he believes he can thrive elsewhere, as he once did in Dallas, as a potent sixth man. Although his contract status, virtually an expiring contract, is favorable for a trade, his value is murky because he remains mired in a deep shooting freeze (29.1 percent overall) and bothered by a heel injury.
In fact, Stackhouse won’t play tonight in Charlotte or perhaps for some time. He’s removing himself from the active roster indefinitely to rest his heel and allow time for a resolution.
"I’m exploring options," Stackhouse said. "The team is always going to protect itself. I can’t force their hand to do anything. I don’t really know all the options right now. I think it’s to the point now where it’s time to start researching some things and seeing if there’s other possibilities that make more sense for me right now."
Stackhouse said his agent, Jeff Schwartz, who also represents Josh Howard and Jason Kidd, is gauging interest around the league. Schwartz did not return messages.
"Now it’s time to take that discovery to [Mavs president] Donnie [Nelson] and to [owner] Mark [Cuban]," Stackhouse said. "And hopefully it adds up."
Cuban said via e-mail that the team is working with Stackhouse, who the club believes "can be a valuable contributor to the organization on the court and off."
Stackhouse was adamant that he’s not demanding a trade, nor does he desire to burn bridges in hopes of one day returning to the franchise in a coaching or front-office capacity. Still, his plea puts management in an awkward position. The Mavs would prefer Stackhouse, who turned 34 on Nov. 5, accept a lighter workload and embrace, for the good of the franchise, a mentorship of would-be successors Antoine Wright and Gerald Green.
"Our first choice would be for what Jerry brings to the team, with his experience and playoff skins, toughness and intensity. Those things are valuable," Nelson said. "It’s just that during this period of time, we’ve got to be able to bring some of our younger players along as well. Therein lies the conflict.
"With our relationship and openly and honestly communicating, we’ll be able to come up with a game plan and hopefully that game plan will be one that includes Jerry in a Maverick uniform. If it’s just not a comfortable situation, if it’s a situation where the minutes are just not there, then we’ll work together with his agent and see if there’s some win-win together for both of us."
Simmering since he did not play against Cleveland on Nov. 3, things came to a head Sunday at New York when Stackhouse was inactive. Carlisle informed him that morning, part of a communication plan to allow Stackhouse the option of being inactive if his minutes will be limited.
Carlisle said the matchup against the up-tempo Knicks, who the Mavs defeated to end a five-game skid, didn’t favor Stackhouse. On Monday, Stackhouse took issue with that assessment.
"I play a lot of summer basketball," he said. "When I see [Knicks players] Wilson Chandler, Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford scared to guard me in the summertime, but it’s not a matchup, a particular game that I should play in, then ..."
Nelson said if the process drags out, he doesn’t see Stackhouse, who describes himself as disappointed, but not despondent, becoming a worrisome distraction.
"There’s always going to be a piece of me that’s a Dallas Maverick, regardless of what happens from this day on," Stackhouse said. "As it stands right now, I just think we’re drifting in different directions."
That sound you just heard was every Mav fan on this board turning a cartwheel at once.
He is my least favorite player in the league. It is good for me to see him twist in the wind for a little while
to Stack being a professional about this. 5 years ago he wouldn't be nearly this amicable.
I cannot stand that dude.
Oh he wants to leave?! Can we trade Bonner and Vaughn for him?!
j/k I was just trying to be the first
Dear god, please let this happen.
No ing way.
It is already in the works, you cannot stop it
Why the would a Laker fan want that?
Stack is basically an expiring contract at this point, so I would def do Bass for Odom.
Stack sucks and will be a problem in the locker room so long as he isn't getting 30 minutes a game. Bass is decent, but gritty 6-8 power forwards who do "all the little things" are a dime a dozen. Pouting or not, Odom is way more valuable to the Lakers than those two players.
Vujacic and Stack on the same team? Might as well just line up before each game and let the other team's players take free swings at them because at some point during the game they're going to want to fight them both.
lakers would be stupid doing that
I agree. He's been a total pro. Puts the lie to what Sperm fans are saying about him.
Is Odom trying to get out of LA?
no to stack. odom for david lee and malik rose!
G-Wallace, or bust. Wallace is pretty much what Ariza can be.
^ hes got 5 years left on his contract. rose's expires this year and david lee's also but hes making a meager 2 mil. he could be signed for 7-8 mil per year and give you the hustle, D, and rebounds like turiaf did.
Stack/Bass for Odom doesn't even work salary wise and Odom doesn't fill a Mavs void anyway. Not to mention the Lakers would be re ed to give up a solid role player for two scrubs.
I hope we trade Stack instead of buy him out... maybe in a package w/ Diop, George, Bass, a combination of 2/3 , etc.
Need a backup PG and a shooting guard.
No way is Dallas and LA trading together at this time.
But I'd deal Radmanovic for Stack if they were.
Smart move by Stack to get off that sinking ship while he can.
Who knows how long Marc Cuban's checks will be good for
they wont take radman's contract. but id do that trade just to get rid of vlad's contract
Mavs better make good with his expiring contract and not f' it up. if Kwame can bring Gasol to LA...who knows what Stack can bring
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