http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=471
Nuts 'N' Bolts
A nuts-and-bolts look of what the Mavs are up to, from trade ideas to draft evaluations to free-agent considerations to a prognosis of what ails ‘em – and how to make it all better. In short, the following is some of their latest self-evaluation. … and our evaluation of it.
A TALENT-TARGET PROFILE: “We’re not talking about wanting the ‘thug’ thing; that’s radio-talk-show &%#@,’’ says a source. “We’re talking about tough-minded people, people who play tough, who are also athletic. We’re talking about people who haven’t been to the edge of the cup yet.’’
That’s a clip-and-save quote, because it defines the move(s) the Mavs will try to make. Toughness, athleticism and hunger.
The deeper translation: The Mavs are acknowledging a two-year-long emotional hangover, and a need to add new blood, players for whom playing on a contender would be something special, something not taken for granted.
The challenge: Acquiring players who are something more than end-of-benchers. The Mavs acknowledge that they need this sort of “hungry talent’’ nearer the front of the rotation.
The P.S.: The “hunger’’ part is new. The “tough, athletic’’ part is, of course, a never-ending quest.
NAMING NAMES: You’ve heard some of the usual suspects. A quickie review of the Mavs’ latest thoughts on them:
Ron Artest: One official is aware of DB.com’s quote of an NBA source on the Kings’ troubled, talented star, and echoes it. “No, no, no, no,’’ he says. “That was a pretty good quote.’’
That quote also contained the phrase “poison in the locker room.’’ That’s a pretty good quote, too.
New coach Rick Carlisle’s publicly-stated position on Artest deserves clarification, by the way. Carlisle answered a meet-the-press-day question about his willingness to reunite with the player who triggered the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl when both were in Indy. Carlisle said nice things. … things that were more politically correct than accurate.
What has been omitted from all the “Carlisle-likes-Artest’’ stories is that the coach went on to say in ensuing conversations that he’d have no problem coaching other controversial ex-students like Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley. In other words, what he’s saying is that he’d have no problem coaching anybody. That’s the right thing to say – but it’s been misinterpreted as a sign of Dallas’ interest in Artest.
Jermaine O’Neal: O’Neal has made it clear that he does not want to be part of Indiana’s rebuilding process. That puts him on the block, but the Mavs are concerned that injuries have stripped him of the gifts that made him special. They do, however, think highly of him as a person. That goes not only for new coach Carlisle, but also for other staffers who’ve done their homework on J.O.
One question to which we don’t have the answer: Does Jermaine O’Neal still fill the “hunger’’ part of Dallas’ desire?
Gilbert Arenas: The Mavs don’t have a feel for what’s going on with the Wizards’ zany star. Maybe Sally Jenkins in the Washington Post says it best: “Gilbert Arenas is a shoot-first point guard with a juvenile streak and two surgical cuts on his knee, and the Washington Wizards are just as good without him. Statement 2: Gilbert Arenas is a score-at-will player and an irreplaceable crowd pleaser, and losing him would be a major blow to franchise's fortunes, and popularity. The tension between those two declarations will make for drama all summer, as Arenas explores his value in free agency. Determining his worth won't be a simple exercise, but he is not a simple person. ... Arenas is not a traditional point guard, and clearly, this won't be a traditional negotiation. The person who can accurately define Arenas's value wins a free prize.’’
The Mavs, at this early stage, have not yet “accurately defined Arenas’ value.’’ We feel comfortable predicting, though, that he won’t be leaving Washington.
Mickael Pietrus: We’re told Nellie thinks he’s a “box-of-rocks’’-type player, no compliment. And now we’re told that the Mavs have no real interest in the Warriors’ free agent, as they consider him “an athlete but a non-basketball player.’’ That’s two non-compliments, which is enough for us.
Michael Redd: Long a favorite of Mavs insiders, he’s reportedly on the Bucks’ block. His money probably wouldn’t be an issue; coming up with attractive trade pieces would be.
Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson: The Mavs are keeping an eye on Larry Brown’s takeover of the Bobcats, believing that he may clean house. When we suggest Brown might discover he “doesn’t like a couple of Bobcats,’’ one voice responds, “He might discover he doesn’t like any of them.’’
An early guess: Richardson (pictured at right) won’t like Larry right back.
Wallace and Richardson represent athleticism, toughness and hunger. They fit the profile. It is fair to guess that the Mavs’ Triangle of Trust has spent a few moments at least daydreaming up multiple-player, multiple-team swaps that could make the acquisition of one of them a reality.
There could be a fire sale in Charlotte. There could be one in Golden State. There could be one in Denver. And Joe Dumars has come right out and admitted there could be one in Detroit. The Mavs, despite a relatively weak hand, want to be dealt in.
(Editor’s note: This section on Naming Names is in no way meant to be complete; it’s simply a handful of thoughts and reactions on these specifically mentioned players.)
SPECIFIC POSITIONS ON THE WISH LIST: An athletic wing. Another center. A backup point. Consider those to be the top three specific targets. But keep in mind two things said to us by members of the braintrust: One, from Donnie: “We’re might end up turning over half the roster.’’ Two, from another voice: “We need bodies.’’
Using those guidelines, there is room for a wing, a center and a point guard. … and for Reyshawn Terry and Renaldas Seibutis, last year’s second-round picks who are in town working out. … and for a few other new guys as well.
A CONCESSION ABOUT THE TOP 7: It has been discussed among those in the TOT: The front seven – Dirk, Kidd, Josh, Bass as the identified “core,’’ and Jet, Stack and Damp on the level behind them – needs to be upgraded. If the Mavs go through 2008-09 with that group unchanged, this front office will have not achieved its goal.
In other words, the Mavs are intent on adding talent, not only through free agency, but also via a front-page-worthy trade or two.
But. …
TRADING JOSH: Here’s the first obstacle there: They are not intent on trading Josh Howard.
Now, that completely conflicts with what the Dallas Morning News has written – “There seems to be no way he can co-exist with the Mavericks’ brass,’’ which seems awfully strong. … if not flat-out wrong.
We’ll say it again: They are not intent on dumping Howard.
Some of that is due to the logical belief that the value of his stock is low. “Nothing that’s happened has changed our view of him,’’ a source says. “But other teams’ views might change.’’
One source makes the point that some teams can afford to take on a controversial player more than others. “Look at the Cowboys, when they didn’t draft Randy Moss (in 1998),’’ he says. “They just figured, whether it was in their locker room or for PR, they couldn’t do it. But now? The Cowboys can sign T.O. and Pacman Jones in the same week, and get away with it.’’
Josh’s low stock value is one issue. Another is that the Mavs truly believe that he endured some personal turmoil last year that should now be behind him.
“I look at it like he’s a family member, and you sit down at the kitchen table and you talk through this,’’ says Donnie. “You tell him that certain behaviors are unacceptable. That is non-negotiable. And then you move forward.’’
Dallas also believes Howard is a near-All-Star-caliber talent, and doesn’t want to give up on that.
One cautionary note here: There is a danger in falling in love with your own players. Donnie’s “Kitchen-Table Talk’’ is the right approach to take for a father or a friend; time will tell if it’s the right approach for a basketball franchise.
TRADING DAMP: “One of the hardest things to do,’’ says a source, “is trading a center for a center. Teams just don’t do it.’’
Additionally, the Mavs aren’t certain they want to do it. Who can you realistically replace Erick Dampier with? And if you trade Damp for a non-center. … then you’ve devolved at the position from a time when you had the rare luxury of employing two serviceable centers.
The issue at center for the Mavs isn’t as much about how to get rid of Damp as it is to re-acquire a homesick ‘Gana Diop so Dallas can once again employ two serviceable centers.
Yes, we’re sticking with the idea of trying to use the MLE to get Diop and Utah’s C.J. Miles. Miles, it should be noted, has a brotherly DFW bond in Utah with Deron Williams. But while Utah can match any offer he receives, the Jazz might be unwilling to pay double their $1.2 mil tender offer to a guy who spent much of the season as their 10th or 11th man.
KIDD ON KIDD: In the immediacy of the trade, in the immediacy of the moment, the acquisition of Jason Kidd was deemed by some
to be a failure. In fact, the ramifications – and maybe the benefits – of the deal are just beginning.
“It didn't work out the way we wanted it to, but sometimes you have to be patient for good things to happen,’’ Kidd said. “We'll see what happens. With the trade, give us some more time, and then you can evaluate it.’’
That’s fair, right? Kidd will be here for, say, a year and three months. So far it’s just three months. Don’t we need a larger sampling of evidence?
OTHER POINT GUARDS: We’ve seen written reports detailing how Dallas should pursue people like Chauncey Billups and Baron Davis. Forget ‘em. Kidd is the point guard here. We could spend time disputing the logic of the reports (Billups as Kidd’s “eventual heir’’? Really? And Davis can make $17 mil by sticking in GS. Who thinks he’s leaving?) Or we can just accept the obvious – and not illogical: The Mavs’ PG pursuit is for a caddie to Kidd, not a replacement.
EDDIE JONES’ FUTURE: The Mavs assume he’ll be back. Logic suggests the same. But the last time we checked in with Eddie, he was hinting that the desire to spend more time with his Miami-based family could cause him to retire and forfeit his $1.97 mil player option. That would mean volunteering to give up money – who does that? – and it would mean just a little bit of Dallas cap relief. The Mavs have no doubt they can replace Eddie on the roster with a vet’s-minimum body who can be at least as effective.
LIMITING STACK: Jerry Stackhouse is signed through 2009-10. He’s a valuable trade chip in the future (he’s due to make $7 mil this season) and a valuable locker-room guy until then. But the organization needs to get this clear: Despite the analysis of some in the media that he can be a 25-minute guy, some of the smartest people in the Mavs building believe Stack needs to be a 15-minute guy.
As much as Carlisle will want to use Stack as a spot-up shooter – “Rick loves to spread the floor and he loves shooters,’’ Donnie notes – the coach will be wise to heed the advice he’ll get to limit Stack to something like 15 minutes per.
The more Stack plays over that, the more we’ll know this roster hasn’t been improved.
THE COACHING STAFF: We understand that Carlisle has interviewed the incumbents (Paul Westphal, Mario Elle, Joe Prunty and Popeye Jones) while at the same time planning to bring in Dwane Casey and Terry Stotts, as DB.com first reported a month ago. Casey and Stotts (and probably Jones) will make up Carlisle’s staff.
At last week’s pre-draft camp in Orlando, Casey and Stotts were in attendance. They were not there officially as members of the Mavs staff. But they were there.
THE ORLANDO PRE-DRAFT CAMP: Speaking of which: The whole gang was there, Donnie and Carlisle and Keith Grant and all the scouts. … all in order to find somebody to select at No. 51.
Doing their homework, the Mavs staff obviously kept an eye on the Roses and the Beasleys. But the focus was on identifying players who fit – athleticism, toughness and hunger – as a second-rounder. Sometime in mid-June, the Mavs will invite a handful of prospects to Dallas for a visit. Why not do so now? Because at this early stage, none of the prospects are willing to accept that they are destined to be taken as low as 51.
When the Mavs have their list of invitees, we’ll attempt to get it for you.
TAKEN FOR GRANTED: Fans and media take Dirk Nowitzki’s excellence for granted. The Mavs themselves are not making that mistake. Carlisle is preparing to travel to Germany to continue his bonding process with the team MVP. Chances are good they’ll find a gym – or, if necessary, a living room – in which to practice more footwork.
THE FASTEST WAY TO GET BETTER: The simplest strategy: Have Carlisle get the most out of two star-caliber players who underperformed at times in 2007-08: Jason Kidd and Josh Howard.
Donnie on Kidd: “He’s amazing. I don’t think we’ve yet seen the real Jason Kidd in Dallas.’’
Donnie on Josh: “He’s unique. With new guidance, next year can be the best year Josh Howard has ever had.’’
The questions about the fastest way to get better: Will we see the real Kidd? Will we see the best Josh? Will the Mavs upgrade the top seven? And will it be enough?
Mavericks Offseason Trade/FA
