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Mavericks_Fan · 08-25-2005, 05:20 PM

Don't remember seeing this posted. Thought you all might like to read it:

http://www.dallasbasketball.com/more...?id=3313&NAV=1

Quote:

So here we are in the middle of August. The Michael Finley decision has been the focus of the Mavs' summer to date, and finally they made a choice to waive him. What do you think of the Mavs' summer and their future? Sitting back and taking an objective look at what the Mavs have done, here's how it looks from here: this summer gets a resounding F so far on my Mavs Report Card.
Yes, an F.

More at link.

stevemc · 08-25-2005, 05:31 PM

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Then how about the free agent possibilities? The Mavs started the summer with the ability to spend the $5M Mid-Level Exception in free agency. So far, because of their decision re Finley, and the need they felt to acquire Christie when they let Finley go, they now only have $2M left of their MLE money. And the best solutions for a backup big man have all landed elsewhere. As things stand now, how can you really like what you see? The only interior change so far has been to remove productive vet Alan Henderson, and replace him with unproven Josh Powell from the summer league. In free agency, the team is poring over leftovers like Diop (extremely raw) and Moore (questionable) and Johnson (old).

Umm.. we added Diop. So what if he's raw its better than going for someone we know has no chance for development. With Powell, we're going the cheap less risky way here too. Opposed to signing a big name that doesn't pan out or trading away players we need we sign young and cheap where there is little risk.

Quote:

When the team headed into the summer with "backup big man to complement Dampier" as a priority, is this the sort of player that was envisioned to get the team closer to a title? In the playoffs, you expect any of those guys will be able to come into a game and contribute against the likes of Yao, Amare, Duncan, Shaq, and the Wallaces? Puh-leeeeeeeeez.

I'd like to know what exactly he would of done to find a player with the MLE to go up against the best post players in the leauge.... Sign Jerome James?

Its not like there was any player that would tip the scales in our favor out there so we did the right thing and saved money by going with younger players. If they fill solid bench roles for us they've been well worth their money vs paying a full MLE to a garbage player who ends up doing the same.

Mavericks_Fan · 08-26-2005, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevemc

Umm.. we added Diop. So what if he's raw its better than going for someone we know has no chance for development. With Powell, we're going the cheap less risky way here too. Opposed to signing a big name that doesn't pan out or trading away players we need we sign young and cheap where there is little risk.

I'd like to know what exactly he would of done to find a player with the MLE to go up against the best post players in the leauge.... Sign Jerome James?

Its not like there was any player that would tip the scales in our favor out there so we did the right thing and saved money by going with younger players. If they fill solid bench roles for us they've been well worth their money vs paying a full MLE to a garbage player who ends up doing the same.

My biggest problem is that although it's obvious we need another center I really don't want to give up anyone valuable for it. I mean do we really want to spend the team's future (Marquis, Harris, Howard) for a center for right now? Not me.

And a Shawn Bradley trade? Who is going to give us anything for him? Finley? We already know they were doing everything they could think of to trade rather than waive him. That's why he wasn't cut until the deadline. And I really don't see much out there in free agency. We talked about Hunter I guess, but would getting him honestly have been much different than getting Diop?

What bothers me is all the "projects" we have going on at center recently. Diop, Podkolzin, Mbenga.... How much raw lumber do we need? Aren't *ANY* of these guys ready to step on the court in some limited fashion?

Diop scares me. I fear Avery sees him as a poor man's Ben Wallace when there's a good chance he'll become a black Uwe Blab.

stevemc · 08-26-2005, 12:03 PM

I'm putting my faith in Avery on this one. When you limit what a player is supposed to do it really helps his development. My impression of what Avery wants to do with Diop in his "system" is to have him do very little. Just take up space in the middle and board. We really don't need him to score, just hold it down in the middle.

KokoTheMonkey · 08-26-2005, 12:20 PM

Don't get your hopes up too much on Diop. Seriously. The dude has huge steps to make before he can be a contributor for a championship caliber team. It might be another year before Diop even pays off.

stevemc · 08-26-2005, 12:59 PM

I really just want to see him knock the crap out of Shaq a couple times is all I'm hoping for him to do this year.

Starbury03 · 08-26-2005, 01:02 PM

Mikki Moore is a much better player than Diop. He would have fit great with the Mavs as a athletic back up big. damm I hope he comes back to the Clippers.

mavsman · 08-26-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbury03

Mikki Moore is a much better player than Diop. He would have fit great with the Mavs as a athletic back up big. damm I hope he comes back to the Clippers.

The problem with Mikki Moore is that he has reached his peak. His is 30 years old and he is not going to get any better at this point.

So the only reason you would take him is if you believe that he will be the player to get you over the hump. I don't think anyone believes that Mikki Moore is going to get the Mavs over any hump.

While I agree that maybe today Mikki Moore is better than Diop. I am not sure that in a year Diop won't be better. Diop has not had an opportunity in Cleveland for the last two years. Diop and Cleveland just could not work together anymore. So maybe a new address and teammates will be good for Diop. So the hope is that Diop progresses enough to be a useful backup Center. At only 23 years old he certainly can improve quite a bit from here.

Neither guy excites me but I prefer the potential in Diop to the certain mediocrity of Moore.

Starbury03 · 08-26-2005, 02:13 PM

Diop doesnt give a **** about basketball he just wanted another contract becuase he knows it looks like he has potential. I use to think he would be a decent guy to develope until I heard some stories about him. Mikki Moore can start on a lower level team and would be a great asset on a good team off the bench. He played great off the bench last year for te Clips, with their loaded frontline of Brand, Kaman,Wilcox,Rebracca.

stevemc · 08-26-2005, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbury03

Diop doesnt give a **** about basketball he just wanted another contract becuase he knows it looks like he has potential. I use to think he would be a decent guy to develope until I heard some stories about him.

Link?

BG7 · 08-26-2005, 07:29 PM

Desagna Diop is complete garbage. He is a fatter version of Eddy Curry only without any talent. He is like a Eddy's old fat self with all the talent sucked out...honestly, he is worst than Dalibor Bagaric, and thats bad.

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