ESPN: Diop for full MLE

[Rand10]

Who guards Kobe, TMac, Ginobili and every other star shooting guard/small forward in the league? Do you think we can be successful counting on Jason Kidd to take the hardest defensive assignment and run the offense? I don't.

Howard should get the hardest defensive assignment. I agree that Kidd can't be put on stars every possession, but he can still help Josh out a bit.

[dirtyfilthynasty]

I don't think Josh could cover me at this point. He is barely an average defender right now. Look forward to many 40 point games from opposing wings this year.

[ppp000]

Kidd is 35. Who's his backup pg if Terry is our starting SG? At the same time, Terry running the point is something I don't want to see for long periods of time. I think it's been shown time and again that guys like Wade, Kobe, Ginobli, Baron have a field day playing the Mavs. Josh Howard is an overrated defender at this point. And it's been clear that he has scarificed his defense for his offense. The easy part for those guys is our SGs have always been one-dimensional poor man Bruce Bowens that can't even make an open shot. Thus, quality SGs love playing the Mavs b/c they don't have to play defense AND they can score at will. Diop and Damp manning the paint hasn't discouraged them from attacking in the past. I don't know, maybe our defense will improve. But we still need a second scorer alongside Dirk. Josh plays until halftime, and Terry is very streaky. All the others can't shoot.

[Rand10]

I don't think Josh could cover me at this point. He is barely an average defender right now. Look forward to many 40 point games from opposing wings this year.

I thought he was pretty good last season when he was healthy. He fell apart on both ends after the Kidd trade, but I think Carlisle can get him back on track. If not, then we should trade him for a guy like Artest or Marion.

[from_ro_to_dirk]

You guys conviniently missed the fact that 3 other teams including, the team you call smart for going after Maggette, San Antonio, offered Diop their full MLE. But Donnie and Cuban are morons, they just got the 5th best free agent in this class to come here.

Prove it. Show me something that syas the Spurs offered Diop thier full MLE. I don't believe that for a second.

ok, by that logic prove to me that the Spurs even offered their full MLE to Maggette. all we can do is go by what we hear and read. The New Jersey paper was the one that said the Spurs likely offered their MLE to Diop, among other teams. And they probably got that info from Rod Thorn who said the Nets were not going to go that high.

[Pointguard01]

This isn't surprising. Raef LaFrentz, Erick Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry, now Diop. We have the worst problem overpaying for our role players. Look at a team like San Antonio, Besides their stars - Parker, Duncan & Manu, they dont pay anyone else on their team more than 5 million. But we pay Terry 9 mill, Dampier 10 mill, Stack 7 mill and now Diop 6 mill. Its ridiculious.

Maybe if we didn't WASTE this money on these players, we could buy some picks or be willing to go after some of the bigger players. Im disappointed, but not surprised in this move. I like Diop and an average of about 5 million makes sense for him, but to give nearly 6 million to start and probably an average of 7-8 mill is horrible.

Oh and Ricky Davis would have been a much better signing for the MLE. He plays above average defense and shoots the 3 very well. His reputation obviously is what keeps him down, but the guy can still play and would be a good role player, not t mention filling our biggest need.

[Realmavsman]

You guys conviniently missed the fact that 3 other teams including, the team you call smart for going after Maggette, San Antonio, offered Diop their full MLE. But Donnie and Cuban are morons, they just got the 5th best free agent in this class to come here.

Prove it. Show me something that syas the Spurs offered Diop thier full MLE. I don't believe that for a second.

ok, by that logic prove to me that the Spurs even offered their full MLE to Maggette. all we can do is go by what we hear and read. The New Jersey paper was the one that said the Spurs likely offered their MLE to Diop, among other teams. And they probably got that info from Rod Thorn who said the Nets were not going to go that high.

I meant provide a link because until I see at least one thing that says the Spurs offered the full MLE I do not believe it. Even if some paper speculates that the Spurs "likely" offered their MLE does not make it true. Especially with the word "likely". Putting that word in makes it a total guess. But I have seen nothing other than some posters statement.

[JES12]

Diop is easily worth MLE. Just because he didn't get burn in NJ because he was not in there plans and here because of Damp/Bass/Dirk all sharing center minutes does not mean he is not worth MLE money. Problem is, we added to a role that Damp fills and did not address our needs.

Would you agree with me if i said he wasn't worth the fulle MLE to us?

[from_ro_to_dirk]

I meant provide a link because until I see at least one thing that says the Spurs offered the full MLE I do not believe it. Even if some paper speculates that the Spurs "likely" offered their MLE does not make it true. Especially with the word "likely". Putting that word in makes it a total guess. But I have seen nothing other than some posters statement.

well, heres a link.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/nets/22800354.html

make of it what you will. basically until someone is signed or a main team representative publicly makes a statement, its all speculation. hopefully the Spares did want to give Diop the MLE. why? cuz **** them thats why.