Speculations from DB.com

[Darren]

Mavs Want Diop To Be A Sign-And-Trade
By Mike Fisher -- DB.com

An NBA source has informed DB.com to not jump too soon on the notion that the Mavs have exhausted the full MLE on DeSagana Diop, telling us that Dallas is attempting to instead work with New Jersey to swap the center in a sign-and-trade.

"(Dallas) has a financial deal with Diop (for the MLE-level money of about $5.7 mil for five years) but that doesn't mean it has to be for the MLE,'' the source says. "(The Mavs are) trying to avoid that.''

It would in fact be beneficial for all parties to attempt an S&T with the Nets. Diop gets his money either way. New Jersey would get something in exchange for the departing 7-footer. (Expiring contracts?) And the Mavs would get Diop and the freedom to use the MLE to pursue wish-list free agents like Corey Maggette, James Posey, Eddie Najera and others.

A couple of notes here:

* From what we are gathering, the Mavs would like to S&T with the Nets without forfeiting Devean George, who the team believes still has value here as a player.

* That elevates Eddie Jones and his expiring as a prominent piece in any such deal.

* We get re-confirmation from another source on Dallas' very high opinion of Boston free agent James Posey – and on the possibility that turning Diop into an S&T would free the Mavs to bid the MLE on Posey.

* We get mixed reactions on Corey Maggette: thumbs-up on the talent, thumbs-down on the flakiness. … and of course, maybe a pipedream all along. But he nevertheless represents the best quick-fix solution to what ails the Mavs.

* A source tells us that Dallas' Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson are "burning up the phones'' in exploring ways of saving the MLE and of orchestrating three-ways to maximize their assets.


Phase-To-Phase
On Radar: Posey, Najera And (Gulp!) Artest?
By Mike Fisher -- DB.com

The Mavs insist Phase I (the draft) was a success. At this early point of Phase II (free agency), they can make the argument that they added a starter and a “once-great’’ prospect for only a few bucks. In anticipation of Phase II fading into Phase III (trades), I offer my own “insistence’’ and my own “argument’’ along with what some Mavs voices have whispered into my own ears:

It’s time to swing for James Posey. It’s time to try for a home-town discount with Eddie Najera. And it’s time to reconsider (gulp!). … Ron Artest.

Assorted news and views on the above and more from inside Mavs HQ, all of which should cause your cup to overfloweth:

“Dallas wants James Posey,’’ says one source, with no equivocation. … but with one addendum. “Of course, so does everybody else.’’

The versatile veteran Posey helped beat Dallas in the Finals two years ago as a member of the Heat, was a missed target last summer in Mavs’ free agency, and just won another title as a super-sub with the Celtics, averaging Posey averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds off the bench last season, his first with Boston. He opted out of the second year of his two-year contract Monday to become an unrestricted FA.

The Celtics want Posey. But they also want Corey Maggette. If they accomplish the latter, Posey might be a domino that falls to the next suitor. A sign-and-trade for Posey, allowing Boston to at least salvage something from him? (UPDATE: in the DB.com Boards' discussion of this concept, reader JTerrell points out a financial flaw in my thinking that would bar an S&T ... though not necessarily a more complicated way of Dallas pursing Posey.)

Posey is a stopper and a clutch shooter. But he’s not a guard, he’s not a heavy-minutes guy, and at 31, he’s no kid. In other words, he’s not ideal. But as I’ll note throughout the following piece, we’re just in the first week of free agency and in some ways, we’re already way beyond “ideal.’’

Bringing Eduardo Najera “home’’: DeSagana Diop is boomeranging back. Why not “El Rayo’’? Start with the fact that I can confirm that Dallas has been in contact with him.

Najera, the balls-out forward who has developed a 3-point game during his exile in Denver – he shot 36 percent last season, second-best on the Nugz -- wants to come back to Texas. Now, that includes a desire to talk with the Spurs. But the Mavs and owner Mark Cuban speak his language. (And no, I don’t mean Espanol.)

Dallas doesn’t see him as a starting-caliber player, and much of what he does would put him in a fight for minutes with Brandon Bass. (Both are essentially 4’s, with Najera the vastly superior defender.) But even approaching age 32, he’s a huge asset for the right price.

This represents another S-and-T option. But it also represents one of a number of “out-maneuver-the-Spurs’’ options. And we know how those traditionally work out.

Is the full MLE “too much’’ for DeSagana Diop? First, let us get out of the way an apology to Eddie Sefko. He predicted it; I insisted the Mavs wouldn’t use the full. Congrats, Eddie. You SOB.

Anyway, it is absolutely not “too much’’ in terms of dollars and sense; $5.7 mil a year for five years for a young (26) yet established starting center (you heard me right; the Mavs want him to beat out Dampier) is actually a smart buy.

However. …

It is “too much’’ is terms of “spent assets.’’ Dallas already had Diop; a Mavs critic could say his re-acquisition represents jogging in place. (We would argue that the Mavs are better today than they were yesterday, and that that is a good thing.) He cannot score, his rebound numbers show him to be less than dominant, and his buoyant personality makes him less than fiery.

I feel obliged to remind critics that other teams were going to pay the same to get ‘Gana. (Miami wanted him, and the Bulls would’ve made him their starter, waaaay ahead of Joakim Noah.) Still, ideally, Diop would’ve been re-acquired in a sign-and-trade that didn’t eat up the MLE, thus leaving that chip to be used on, say, Corey Maggette.

And here comes another “however. …’’

Why not use the MLE on Corey Maggette? A 22-ppg guy who would fill a long-standing hole at the 2, benefit from Kidd’s distribution, and provide the Mavs a legit “Big Four’’?

I’ll work on the assumption that the Mavs did their homework and did their flirtation. … and that Maggette wants to marry somebody else. (It is frustrating to think that the Spurs and the Celtics are more attractive partners for him, but hell, they are the NBA’s last two world champs. That does count for something.)

It is notable that while Dallas talked of trading for Maggette last summer, the Spurs did the same the summer before. So in those two cases, this is a long-held attraction. … and the Mavs simply must’ve been spurned.

In short, as you can tell by Diop’s comments, he wanted to be here. Other guys won’t want to be here. What’re you gonna do?

(a PS: Our man David Lord isn’t giving up on Dallas chasing Maggette. Here’s a must-read for fans who enjoy playing Junior GM.)

Is Gerald Green the answer at the 2? As far as I’m concerned, he gets to start near the front of the line. He can jump, he can shoot, he’s 6-8, he can finish, he was once a blue-chipper, he’s still a baby (22!) and he comes vet’s-minimum cheap. Is he an immature, disinterested, erratic egotist who let his Slam-Dunk Championship credentials lead him down the wrong path?

Yup. But he might also be the next J.R. Smith.

(Of course, according to the Mavs, Shan Foster might be the next Kyle Korver and Ronnie Seibutis might be the next Doug Collins and then there’s Antoine Wright and Reyshawn Terry and, well, that’s a long line of”the next’’ prospects chasing burn at the 2.)

Anyway, back to Green:

“As a prospect coming out of high school,’’ one scout tells me, “he was truly great.’’

He gets a fresh start here. His people say all the right things about him looking forward to working under assistant Mario Elle, and about accepting half as much dough (less than $900,000) to come here than he could’ve gotten elsewhere. And you know what? If he blows it here, he’ll probably get another chance. And then another.

It’s a black mark on his resume that he keeps not sticking with teams. But it’s a + sign on his resume that no matter what, teams keep giving him the opportunity to stick.

This isn’t the same as signing Corey Maggette. I compare it to the “Phase I’’ drafting of Shan Foster at 51, a selection Dallas is quite pleased with. For what it is – a virtually free raffle ticket -- it deserves an A-plus grade.

LeBron loves likes us! LeBron James is talking about his 2010 free-agency wish list. Well, he’s theoretically just talking about his “favorite cities.’’ But it’s ASSUMED he’s talking eventual destinations.

He hearts NY as No. 1. Washington is No. 2. And coming in third is. … Dallas!

Which probably means he ends up signing with the Brooklyn-bound Nets. But still, it’s the nicest thing anybody’s said about us in a long time. So we’ll take it.

Eldon Brand and the Payback’s A Bitch game: Everyone within the Mavs organization admires Elton Brand. (“In terms of overall quality – player and person – he’s infinitely better than what Baron Davis is,’’ says one voice.) So some at Dallas HQ watch with amusement as the Clippers overpay to steal Baron away from Golden State. … and Golden State retaliates with a max offer to Brand.

It is assumed that the Clips will have to match on Brand, meaning they have a nice team on paper – Brand, Baron and Kaman – but a team too expensive for chintzy owner Donald Sterling to keep assembled for very long.

Four Quickie NBA notes you’ll read nowhere else (if I hurry up and post ‘em):

1“Every coach Baron Davis ever had was glad to get rid of him,’’ one NBA coach tells me.

2 The Bulls aren’t trading Kirk Hinrich. They’ll move him to the 2, alongside Derrick Rose. Hinrich as a running mate/tutor to Rose? Smart.

3 Andrew Bynum is going to ask the Lakers for the max. Rather burdensome, eh? One more reason why I say “experts’’ to try to predict future greatness for teams fail to realize that the NBA is a soap opera in that it changes every day.

4 The Knicks and Magic want Chris Duhon. All I’m gonna say is, “Let the buyer beware.’’ His behavior problems have remained tucked below the radar, in terms of the public. But most of the NBA knows, and wants no part of them. Maybe the Knicks and Magic don’t know?

What remaining bullets do the Mavs have left to fire? It was Dallas GM Donnie Nelson who on Draft night used the “Phase’’ descriptions of talent acquisition. In the same press conference, he used this “bullets’’ analogy, too.

So what ammunition remains?

The rosiest point to be made is that nothing about free agency is official until July 9 at the earliest. So there might be some assumed deals that get undone, or other deals not being released that are planned. (Too rosy a point, in my view.) More realistically, there will be conversations that focus on the sign-and-trade of Devean George, the expiring chip that is Eddie Jones, the arguable assets that are Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse, and the teeth-gritting consideration of trading Brandon Bass. (Want me to throw in Erick Dampier and his monster contract, which expires in coordination with the LeBron James free agency class of 2010? OK. But still, pretty rosy.)

And then there’s (gulp) Ron Artest. The “no, no, no, no’’ from a Mavs’ insider voice keeps resonating in my head. So does the “poison-in-the-locker-room’’ remark from someone close to the situation. But I’m willing to reconsider – and maybe the Mavs are, too.

Artest’s latest act of goofiness (choosing to not opt out and then immediately announcing his regret) has placed the Kings in a crummy situation. He clearly does not want to be there, and all indications are that Sacto feels the same way. Would Ron-Ron – an All-Star talent with an expiring contract and a desire for a huge payday – play nice for one season in Dallas? If you’ve taken a big, risky swing with Jason Kidd, why not take another with Artest? You wanna find a way to be better than Kobe’s Lakers and Manu’s Spurs? Let Artest guard Kobe and Manu.

Can’t Rick Carlisle coach him up? Can’t Tony Cubes connect with him? Can’t Dirk’s good-guy locker room rub off on him?

Aren’t the Mavs right there on the fence of being damn good vs. being kinda mediocre? If Artest helps you over the fence to true contention, great. If he demonstrates that he’s in the process of ruining 2008-09, you dump his expiring contract and haven’t suffered much (‘cept for the migranes).

These aren’t just questions I’m asking. These are questions people inside the Mavs family are debating, too.

“I still wouldn’t do it,’’ says my “someone-close-to-the-situation.’’ “But as competitive as Mark (Cuban) is, I could see him deciding to do it.’’


Corey & Creativity
A Blueprint For Getting Maggette
By David Lord -- DB.com

How about Corey Maggette in a Dallas uniform. Impossible? Nah. It’s not over ‘til it’s over, and with some creativity it remains doable. Step-by-step, we give the Mavs the blueprint for exactly how to get it done:

As we've previously highlighted, the Mavs' gaping hole for several years has been the lack of a perimeter player who can take the ball and create his own shots virtually at will. They are hard to find, but now one of those rare ducks is about to be shopping for a new home.

Corey Maggette is one of the best in the NBA at creating his own shot, and he draws fouls by the boatload. But despite his talent, because of NBA rules he's also virtually certain to be sent packing soon by the Clippers, when they create salary cap room for their twin mega-signings of Baron Davis and Elton Brand.

The early splash in NBA free agency - in fact it was more like an atom bomb than a splash - was the last minute contract opt out by Golden's State's Baron Davis, followed by his quick agreement to sign with the LA Clippers once the league opens for business again on July 9 for a reported $60-65M over 5 years. At the same time the Clippers will also have the cap space to offer a mega-deal to retain star power forward Elton Brand. But in the process they will be forced to use up virtually all their cap space, while renouncing the rights to Maggette.

That looming sequence of events would provide the Clippers with a strong pair of stars in Davis and Brand, some solid starters in Al Thornton, Chris Kaman, and Cuttino Mobley (or rookie Eric Gordon), but little else - and without any spending money left to fill out their needs.

At the same time, that would put Maggette on the free agent market with no possibility of a Clippers' sign-and-trade. With only a few teams having more spendable cap room this summer than the Mid-Level Salary Exception (MLE) of about $5.5M in first year salary, Maggette would either be signing with one of those few salary-rich teams or (more likely) be forced to accept the MLE for his services. Already powerhouse teams like San Antonio and Boston are rumored to be offering Maggette a full MLE deal, in hopes of getting that talent at a steal of a price.

Within those dilemmas for both the Clippers and Maggette is swirling opportunity. LA would like to have more spending flexibility, and Maggette would like to have a bigger contract.

We can solve both problems.

The way to make it all happen would center around LA acquiring Davis via sign-and-trade from the Warriors, rather than via free agency. If they could do so, they would then be operating as an "over-the-cap" team rather than as one carving out cap space, and when that trade was done they could sign Brand to ANY contract and would also still have their MLE and BAE available to fill out the roster.

In addition, the Clippers have one quite desirable player to offer in such a scenario: Corey Maggette, whom they would be losing anyway.

The potential salaries would fit almost perfectly as well. Maggette's last salary was $7M, so the most he could be offered without triggering "base year" roadblocks would be a first-year salary of $8.4M (a 20% raise). An $8.4M salary to Maggette would trade-match up to $10.6M for Davis, and over 5 years with max raises the total for Davis would be $64.13M - right at the reported "$60-65M over 5 years" he has agreed to. With a sign-and-trade, the deal could even be revised to go 6 years not 5.

In that idea, Davis is happy. Maggette is happy. The Clippers - who now have the ability to add depth if they want using MLE and BAE money - are happy.

The snag would probably be Golden State.

In Warriorland, losing Davis (who led them back to the playoffs after an extremely long drought) for absolutely nothing is stunning news. But to salvage something from the loss, it's quite unlikely that they would want to take on a long-term obligation to Maggette, because this summer they will be signing another younger explosive shot-creator (Monta Ellis) to a sizable long-term contract. And since Maggette's defense is spotty (to put it kindly) and Ellis' is completely non-existent too, there's no practical way to pair them alongside each other and come out ahead.

What about LA sending a different player to GS? The Clippers really wouldn't have any desirable alternative to offer.

And that's where the Mavs could get in on the action. Dallas offers to take Maggette and his new $8.4M contract, and then send something to GS that they would want.

Now Davis is happy, Maggette is happy, LA is happy, and Dallas is happy. How do we make the Warriors eager to join the fun?

If we pencil in Maggette at $8.4M coming to Dallas, the rules require the Mavs to send someone (in this case GS) at least $6.64M in matching contracts. And at the end of the day, it needs to be a player or package of players that delight the Warriors. Otherwise they might as well just walk away from the table.

What should the Mavs offer?

The perfect offer would be Jerry Stackhouse and Brandon Bass. And perhaps (if the Warriors want) the Mavs add on a sign-and-trade of Tyronn Lue to help fill GS's hole at PG left by the departure of Davis.

But the key piece in this deal would be Bass. Stackhouse is merely the (essentially) expiring filler to make the numbers work.

Bass is young, athletic, and he can score. He is an interior player. He can run the floor and is brutally strong. And that's the hole the Warriors have been trying to fill.

Yes, the Mavs love Bass. But in a year he will be an unrestricted free agent, and if his team is over the cap, the most they will be able to offer to keep him would be the MLE. If he is signable long-term at the MLE, the Mavs can try to bring him back to Dallas at that point just like they did with Diop. And if it takes more money than that to sign him next summer, the Mavs were going to lose him anyhow in a year, so they might as well get full value while they can, and fill that hole that has bedeviled them.

So here's our final scorecard on this idea …

* LA gets Davis while retaining their MLE and BAE.
* GS gets Bass, perhaps Lue, and Stackhouse as filler so they have something to show for their loss of Davis without taking on a pile of long-term salary in the process.
* Dallas gets Maggette (and perhaps the Mavs can get GS castoff free agent center Patrick O'Bryant thrown in as well).
* Davis gets as much or more money than before.
* Maggette does, too.
* And perhaps Lue and O'Bryant get new homes.

Everybody's happy. Isn't that how deals are made?

We played architect for you, Mavs. Now go see if this is buildable according to the blueprint.

[Rand10]

I don't see why we would hesitate to include George in a s&t for Diop. If we have the mle we can easily replace him.

[JapanAir21]

What would we offer? Stackhouse for Diop+filler? I just don't see it happening. Of course, I'd love for it to happen, but I think we're going to get shafted into signing Diop to MLE.


Question, is MLE annual or bi-annual (such as the LLE).

Also, since we signed Diop to our MLE THIS year, whenever we have the chance to use our MLE, it won't count against us for his five years since we used it this year for Diop THIS off-season, correct?

[catalyst]

All this really does is kill NJs MLE if they even have it. MLE is annual. Last year mavs signed Ed Jones and soeone else in a split MLE. Who was it?The old man cannot remember

[from_ro_to_dirk]

The MLE is annual but you don't get it if you are under the cap.

I think we signed either Juwon or Hassell with the other split. Or was Hassell a trade? Hell might have actually been George.

As Rand10 said, I don't know why you wouldn't give up George to save your MLE which you can then use to replace him with a Posey, Mags, or a combo of Najera/Barnes/Pietrus/Wells/Hayes.

[JapanAir21]

Hassell was apart of the Greg Bucker trade, I remember that.

I think Howard we signed for Vet's Minimum, but I could be wrong.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

Hassell was apart of the Greg Bucker trade, I remember that.

I think Howard we signed for Vet's Minimum, but I could be wrong.

Juwan was, but Eddie Jones was signed for the LLE, not the MLE.

[JES12]

All this really does is kill NJs MLE if they even have it. MLE is annual. Last year mavs signed Ed Jones and soeone else in a split MLE. Who was it?The old man cannot remember

What are you talking about?

NJ has bird rights. They have the power to S&T Diop without using the MLE.

And we never used our MLE last year. The closest we got to using it was the full prorated amount after Brent Barry was cut by the Sonics. Bass, Howard, Lue, Magloire were all min contracts for their years of experience. Eddie was the bi-annual LLE. George was the 120% non-bird exception. We did not spend one dime of our MLE.

[JES12]

BTW, here is what I would like to see....

Jones + S&T George + cash for Diop

Bass + Stack for Artest (Bass up and coming youngster at age 22; Artest nothing but trouble in Sacto)

Azubuike or Maggette with MLE (I'd prefer Azubuike with Kidd)

Final Roaster:

Dampier / Diop
Nowitzki / (Artest)
Artest / (Howard)
Howard / Azubuike
Kidd / Terry

9 man rotation...who cares after that. Wright, R. Terry, Foster, Barea, Green, Siebutis, etc. are not going to get significant burn.

[mavsfoty]

BTW, here is what I would like to see....

Jones + S&T George + cash for Diop

Bass + Stack for Artest (Bass up and coming youngster at age 22; Artest nothing but trouble in Sacto)

Azubuike or Maggette with MLE (I'd prefer Azubuike with Kidd)

Final Roaster:

Dampier / Diop
Nowitzki / (Artest)
Artest / (Howard)
Howard / Azubuike
Kidd / Terry

9 man rotation...who cares after that. Wright, R. Terry, Foster, Barea, Green, Siebutis, etc. are not going to get significant burn.

Make it happen Cubes.

[fazer86]

dude i love that idea but we cant have josh and artest together....josh howard doesnt have the range or the ball handling capabilities to be a 2 guard
but i love the sound of azubuike as our 2 i think he has a big future, he cud make a **** load of money playin wit kidd for a year he can spot up for 3s and dunk on ppl and handle the ball like a 2 guard should..and i like the sound of a young bench with bass terry siebutis wright and diop or damp

[italy_23]

BTW, here is what I would like to see....

Jones + S&T George + cash for Diop

Bass + Stack for Artest (Bass up and coming youngster at age 22; Artest nothing but trouble in Sacto)

Azubuike or Maggette with MLE (I'd prefer Azubuike with Kidd)

Final Roaster:

Dampier / Diop
Nowitzki / (Artest)
Artest / (Howard)
Howard / Azubuike
Kidd / Terry

9 man rotation...who cares after that. Wright, R. Terry, Foster, Barea, Green, Siebutis, etc. are not going to get significant burn.

that would be the ideal offseason!

[JES12]

dude i love that idea but we cant have josh and artest together....josh howard doesnt have the range or the ball handling capabilities to be a 2 guard
but i love the sound of azubuike as our 2 i think he has a big future, he cud make a **** load of money playin wit kidd for a year he can spot up for 3s and dunk on ppl and handle the ball like a 2 guard should..and i like the sound of a young bench with bass terry siebutis wright and diop or damp

Okay then, fine...for you, I will rearrange it...

Dampier /Diop
Nowitxki / Artest
Howard / Artest
Azubuike / Pick one (J. Terry, Howard, R. Terry, Foster, Wright, Green)
Kidd / J. Terry

Same team, rearranged.

Besides, Doug Christie could not handle a ball any better than Howard and he was a great SG on a sucessful team.

[Serpo]

Here's one that actually makes sense Diop + Hassel for Jones + Stack + Cash.

Then we buy out Jones and if he doesn't wanna play also Stack. Takes Hassel of our payroll who we don't need at all.


Thats the only one that really makes sense with just the two teams . Any other S&T has to involve a third team .

[Captain_Obvious]

Here's one that actually makes sense Diop + Hassel for Jones + Stack + Cash.

Then we buy out Jones and if he doesn't wanna play also Stack. Takes Hassel of our payroll who we don't need at all.


Thats the only one that really makes sense with just the two teams . Any other S&T has to involve a third team .

I'd do it if you include our 2010 first rounder.

[Serpo]

Then i let you spend your MLE on Diop ...

Seriously we don't need do make a S&T . We don't have anything right now we need to trade . Of course it would be nice to get rid of Hasssel and Swift but their contracts are neither big or long . Yeah they're pretty useless but they're not hindering our future plans . We're not giving you a Pick for helping you keep your MLE.

It's not like the Mavs have much leverage here. The Nets FO tells the Mavs FO what they are looking for wishes them good luck finding it and then waits. If you find what we seek great if not no big deal.

[Captain_Obvious]

I tried.