Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler close to being Mavericks

[DAF86]

I hate the Wizards.

The Spurs could work a deal with the Wizards too, if you want to hate something hate the Spurs passivity.

[benefactor]

Wouldn't you rather have Igoudala and Dalembert than Thomas?

Yes...but realistically that is not an option. Holt is not taking on Iggy's contract.

[VBM]

Well, if we hadn't been on cruise control the first couple months of the season, this wouldn't be too bad. Right now, the Mavs have a 3 game? lead on us in the division, and we have a brutal sched left. This might wrap up the division for Dallas...

[slick'81]

dallas said ftw with this deal

[DAF86]

Yes...but realistically that is not an option. Holt is not taking on Iggy's contract.

Well, just Dalembert instead of Thomas then.

[FeZZy]

well at least we know we are not definitely going to stay pat..A TRADE WILL HAPPEN NOW! we just got to wait and see they know if we don't do anything first round exit

[mardigan]

Well, just Dalembert instead of Thomas then.

His contract is awful. 24 mil for this year and next.

[objective]

Probably not...but as I said, it's better than doing nothing. Doing nothing pretty much secures a first round exit.

Doing nothing also runs a risk, however small, of the lottery.

[ace3g]

in the Thomas trade I'm more interested in Salmons (if he is included) because he would add another legit SG/SF, still not comfortable with Jefferson

Pop has been changing the rotations so much because he can't find any balance with Jefferson, if Salmons can come in and bring some stability to the SF spot and let Jefferson come off the bench

[5in10]

Well the question is what do the spurs do now? Stand pat, make a blockbuster trade, or make a minor trade? My feeling is first or third.

[DAF86]

His contract is awful. 24 mil for this year and next.

But he could help us a lot, besides after this season he becomes a very desirable expiring contract.

[benefactor]

Well, just Dalembert instead of Thomas then.

It wouldn't work for us from a personnel standpoint. We would have to rape our depth to get Dalembert while Bonner and Mahinmi works for Thomas.

[TD 21]

I think it was pretty close to even, because both teams had the ability to play well or play inconsistently. I would probably still give the Mavs an edge over the Spurs before the trade purely because they hold the psychological edge in a head to head match up...kinda like the Spurs had over the Suns.

This trade gives them another solid big to play beside Dirk and provides an instant defensive upgrade. I agree with them not being a contender, but this certainly gives them a better shot and evens out their finesse/toughness ratio.

That's basically what I said, though I said I'd give the slight edge to the Spurs because of their core's proven ability in the clutch, the fact that they have three guys who can take over a game down the stretch and the fact that I felt they matched up better with the Mavs than the Mavs did with them. Yeah, kind of like that...except for the fact that it's nothing like that at all.

Completely agree with your second paragraph.

[ffadicted]

well at least we know we are not definitely going to stay pat..A TRADE WILL HAPPEN NOW! we just got to wait and see they know if we don't do anything first round exit

I disagree completely, I remain 99% sure the spurs FO stays pat this year, they think they've got the roster they want

[FeZZy]

I disagree completely, I remain 99% sure the spurs FO stays pat this year, they think they've got the roster they want

maybe. but this may decide manu's choice for this summer

[mardigan]

But he could help us a lot, besides after this season he becomes a very desirable expiring contract.

I totally agree he would help tremendously, but as Benefactor said, the Spurs would have to give up a lot of depth to make the contracts match.

[murpjf88]

I disagree completely, I remain 99% sure the spurs FO stays pat this year, they think they've got the roster they want

It remains to be seen whether the Spurs will make a move before the deadline, but they can't possibly think that this roster is capable of winning without getting some help in the paint.

[Spursfan 87]

Make the Chicago deal now!!!

[dbestpro]

The trade makes Dallas better than the Spurs which they probably already were. They maybe are equal to Denver. They still are not better than LA. So, if winning the division le was the goal for Dallas, then I would say they have accomplished their mission.

Now, for San Antonio. We do not need to make a trade to keep up with Dallas. We only need to make a trade if there is something that can put us on par with LA. Otherwise, we are off target and it would just be an act in futility.

[rascal]

That plus he's not a known "spur killer" like Josh Howard.

Butler > J Howard

[MaNu4Tres]

Can the Wizards buy out Howard since he's going to be gone in 2 months anyway?

[DubMcDub]

That's basically what I said, though I said I'd give the slight edge to the Spurs because of their core's proven ability in the clutch, the fact that they have three guys who can take over a game down the stretch and the fact that I felt they matched up better with the Mavs than the Mavs did with them. Yeah, kind of like that...except for the fact that it's nothing like that at all.

Completely agree with your second paragraph.

You are absolutely insane if you think the Spurs match up well with the Mavs, pre or post trade. I know for a fact timvp--who obviously knows a lot more than you about basketball--would disagree with that sentiment. The Mavs are one of the toughest matchups in the whole league for the Spurs, especially considering the Mavs' relative ineffectiveness against several other teams.

[Duncan2177]

I disagree completely, I remain 99% sure the spurs FO stays pat this year, they think they've got the roster they want

If the spurs FO thinks that there in for a big en rude awakening.

[td4mvp21]

Seems like every day the Spurs get more and more ed

[Mel_13]

Can the Wizards buy out Howard since he's going to be gone in 2 months anyway?

They could, but it wouldn't make much sense.

The team option on Howard's contract for next season makes him an extremely valuable trade asset that could be used from the end of this season up until the date the option must be exercised or declined (typically, July 1st). During that time frame they can trade him for a package of players worth around 8M-12M and the other team could then decline Howard's option and save the total value of the contracts traded. Essentially, Washington can look at what a trade would bring them or decline the option and have the cap space to sign FAs.

That value is why Dallas wouldn't have done a straight Howard-Butler trade and the trade expanded to include Haywood.