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I reeeeeally wanna like the Mavs. It'd make my life in Dallas (and my attempt to grow as an NBA fan) soooo much easier. Only 2 people're standing in my way.
Mavs hope trade helps them contend
By Marc J. Spears
The Dallas Mavericks’ trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood doesn’t have their Western Conference rivals trembling just yet.
The Mavericks acquired Butler, Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson from the salary-shedding Washington Wizards in exchange for forwards Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross on Saturday night. Physicals have been waived for the trade and the rejuvenated Mavs will debut at Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Although the Mavericks added three players who have been starters most of their careers – and who should improve Dallas’ scoring and depth – last season’s two Western Conference finalists didn’t seem too concerned.
”I’m never nervous,” Kobe Bryant said. ”Just more cautious because I know what [Butler] can bring to the table.”
Butler could move into the starting lineup at Dallas’ shooting guard position. He doesn’t have Howard’s drama, can play inside and outside, is tough and defends better than advertised. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes Butler can return to an All-Star level.
”I think he’s very excited,” said Bryant, who played with Butler on the Los Angeles Lakers. ”It gives him a chance to contend for a championship. I think the hunger and the passion will come back.”
Haywood’s addition shouldn’t be underestimated. He ranks fifth in the league in blocks and is averaging more than 10 rebounds per game. He gives the Mavericks a bruising big man who can body up Lakers center Andrew Bynum or Nuggets center Nene.
With Erick Dampier slowed by knee issues, Haywood could start. Dallas also recently added rugged forward Eduardo Najera. If there is a knock against the Lakers, it’s that their big men can be pushed around. Dallas now has the beef to do that.
While the Lakers still own a clear advantage in talent, one longtime scout thinks the Mavericks could become a stronger contender than the Nuggets to make the West finals.
”That’s a real good move,” Carmelo Anthony said. ”But I don’t get nervous.”
The Mavs won’t have much time to jell. At 32-20, they have just 30 games left. They’ve also lost five of their past seven games, which is a big reason why they made the deal now.
”If those pieces fit,” Jason Kidd said, “it could put us right there with the elite teams of this league.”
Added Dirk Nowitzki: ”Obviously, when you’ve lost [five] out of your last [seven] games you got to look at doing something.”
Like Bryant, Lakers forward Pau Gasol doesn’t seem overly worried about the rejuvenated Mavs.
”I guess they’ll have to prove it,” Gasol said. ”It’s all about proving it and seeing if they are stronger. It does take time. It’s not a one-player deal, so it does take time for those players to adjust inside the court and outside the court with the guys.
”I guess they felt like they had to make a move and they made it. It brings good players to their team. It might be positive. It might not be. We will have to see how it plays out.”
Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups said Cuban deserved credit for being willing to do what it took financially to get the deal done. It wasn’t a move for a big name like Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire or Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, but the Mavericks didn’t need a superstar. They have that in Nowitzki. The Mavericks needed a couple more pieces and a wake-up call to pick up their game.
Now, they just might have enough talent to force the Lakers, Nuggets and the rest of the West to take them more seriously.
”We’ll find out,” Cuban said. ”That’s why they play the games. You never know until you go out there and play.”
I reeeeeally wanna like the Mavs. It'd make my life in Dallas (and my attempt to grow as an NBA fan) soooo much easier. Only 2 people're standing in my way.
Who? Two forum members?
Breaking news.
Let me guess: Terry and Cuban.
Meh lateral move.
I think it's an improvment. Try being a suns fan where every trade makes you worse in order to save money.
*ding ding ding*
I'm as cliche' a Spurs fan as they come.
Nah. A POSTER couldn't make me hate a team, regardless of how 21_Blessings tries.
I heard the JET and Cuban ran train on your mother
...and regardless of how mavs>spurs, ST's resident "genius" tries.
It puts them on level with Denver IMO. L.A are still coming out of the west if they stay healthy.
Anyway regardless, your mother sure didn't try very hard to fight them off when she was moaning in pleasure. Your mother is in fact the "genius," she always gets what she wants.She's smarter than myself, Donnie, and Cuban combined, although it's a pity on the rest of the spurstalk community that none of her superior intellect was passed on to her son, who's ty posts are forced down all of our throats.
Not sure why you're tryin to get a rise outta me. I've already said that a poster has no influence on my feelings toward a team. You seem to be vying for a position that doesn't exist.
You're the Dwight Schrute of ST.
JET just texted me and said that he and your mother also tried positions that previously didn't exist. He said she was such a freak that she was doing some exorcist crawling backwards towards him upside down
Not sure why you're tryin to get a rise outta me. I've already said that a poster has no influence on my feelings toward a team. You seem to be vying for a position that doesn't exist.
I'm just ing with you dude. You're one of the few good spur posters
JET just texted me and said that he and your mother also tried positions that previously didn't exist
I'm just ing with you dude. You're one of the few good spur posters
And just to be clear, Dwight Schrute cracks me up.
(I edited late)
Anyway relating to the thread, in all honesty this trade doesn't necessarily help us come close to beating LA. A lot closer than before, but it'll take a while to judge just how close. We almost need another talent robbery trade like this last one to the Wiz to be bonafide contenders, except we are running out of expiring contracts so I doubt this is possible without losing Dampier and all of our depth at the center position. If we had another expiring, we could package Damp + (insert player here) for another talent and a decent backup center. But I think as it stands we'll just have to stand pat.
Beaubois and Dampier (expiring contract) combo would definitely be nice for a team that wants to rebuild. If somehow we can get a bigtime shooting guard and backup center for that.
I'm not too keen on losing Beaubois just yet. He's literally the ONLY thing for the future we've got going, and is such an unknown commodity right now. It's not ridiculous to assume that he could become an all star in the coming several years judging by the glimpses of talent he's displayed in limited action. And besides I want JJB phased out of the lineup as soon as possible, but without any other option and with Kidd being old he'd be forced to play 20 minutes a night.
I agree but if a rebuilding team wants to send us their best player which happens to be a shooting guard along with a replacement for Dampier, it would be hard to refuse. But it almost has to be a perfect deal to be worth it.
what if that player was not a SG but Amare? I'd pull the trigger..
mavs should have been working on such a deal instead of being content after one step in the right direction..IMO
Given the opportunity, Beaubois is gonna be a lightning rod for whichever team GIVES him said chance, be it the Mavs or anyone else. He's like TP w/ better hops.
Haven't had a good enough look at his ability to facilitate, though. Does he share TP's shoot-first mentality or...?
To an extent but I don't think nearly as much. Right now he's more of a scoring PG, but I think with training and experience he could be groomed into a great all around PG, like a Chris Paul, but obviously not as good. It's not like he ball hogs when he's in the game, although he does look to shoot.
Well, he's in a perfect position to be groomed by one of the best, pass-first PGs to play the game. Kidd's shot-selection has always been something that impressed me about him, too. If he can find a way to instill that into a young, quick, athletic Roddy...Christ.
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