REBUILD, i can sense that Dirk will be gone soon

[Captain_Obvious]

If both Phoenix and Dallas don't improve, what about Amare for Dirk and filler(Bass, Green, Stack, someone?)

Dallas would be all over it but i cant imagine Phx to ever give up on Amare. Besides i would be willing to throw in Josh Howard and Jason Terry to make it work (if the received package expires prior to 2010).

[JES12]

If both Phoenix and Dallas don't improve, what about Amare for Dirk and filler(Bass, Green, Stack, someone?)

If Dallas does improve, but Phoenix doesn't, how about Dampier + Stack for Shaq? Saves Phoenix 9.3 mil total salary, 2.5 mil tax this year and 6.9 mil of tax next year.

[JES12]

If both Phoenix and Dallas don't improve, what about Amare for Dirk and filler(Bass, Green, Stack, someone?)

Dallas would be all over it but i cant imagine Phx to ever give up on Amare. Besides i would be willing to throw in Josh Howard and Jason Terry to make it work (if the received package expires prior to 2010).

Are you kidding? Dirk + Howard + Terry for Amare? Common now! Amare is not worth that much more than Dirk.

[rsavaj]

If both Phoenix and Dallas don't improve, what about Amare for Dirk and filler(Bass, Green, Stack, someone?)

If Dallas does improve, but Phoenix doesn't, how about Dampier + Stack for Shaq? Saves Phoenix 9.3 mil total salary, 2.5 mil tax this year and 6.9 mil of tax next year.

Shaq's playing exceedingly well this year; he's one of the best centers in the league right now. He's also really 2010 friendly, so I don't see Phoenix trading him.

As far as Amare for Dirk/Terry/Howard, PHX would be stupid to turn that down, but the salaries don't match, and PHX has nobody else to send that doesn't go past 2010. Amare/Barbosa/Diaw works...Amare/Dirk's contract's expire in 2010, Howard/Diaw's both have 3 years left, but Barbosa has 3 years left compared to Terry's 4, so you would save a year there. On the bright side, you'd have a young nucleus to build around, pairing those three with Bass and Green.

[Captain_Obvious]

I thought Amare would be younger (late 82'). Still i think Dallas would have to overpay to get him, maybe the original package i had in mind is over the top though.

Maybe Dirk and Terry for Amare, Lopez, Dragic, and Barbosa and Diop for an expiring to NY

edit: NY would never do it with the new 2010 plan

Dallas would throw in Bass in that also

[JES12]

If dallas trades Dirk, it will not be for a guy that is 4 years younger. Dirk will not be traded this year at all. If he is traded next year, it would be for all under 24 talent...not the then 27 Amare.

[Pointguard01]

Here's an interesting way to look at being a contender. Look at them now. Lakers, Hornets, Jazz, San Antonio, Boston, Cleveland are have two things in common: 1) They top player is a dominant player that can put his team on their back and win a game, most in multiple ways and 2) they drafted that player. Kobe, CP3, Deron Williams, Duncan, Pierce (KG is not that type of player IMO) and James. Very few teams trade that that kind of player or dont have that kind of player - aka Detroit. You trade for the rest of the team maybe, but you need that 1 player. As good as Dirk is, he is NOT that kind of player. I think he's very talented obviously and if he's a second option, he'd be one of the best 1-2 punches in the game, but not at the level of the others.

So either we need to really try and go for a 2010 plan and steal Wade/James from others (we'd have an attractive deal already having a star like Dirk) or rebuild and give ourselves high draft picks to get those typeof players.

I assume mgmt isnt trading Dirk, so hopefully we'll be enough under the cap in 2010 to offer MAX money to these players.

[rsavaj]

I thought Amare would be younger (late 82'). Still i think Dallas would have to overpay to get him, maybe the original package i had in mind is over the top though.

Maybe Dirk and Terry for Amare, Lopez, Dragic, and Barbosa and Diop for an expiring to NY

edit: NY would never do it with the new 2010 plan

Dallas would throw in Bass in that also

I'm not sure if Dallas would have to "overpay", since their trade values are roughly similar. Dirk's a better all around player, but Amare's younger with higher upside. I just think Dirk+another small piece(again, Bass/Green/Barea, anyone that doesn't have a huge salary) would be enough for Amare.

[DDansby123]

So either we need to really try and go for a 2010 plan and steal Wade/James from others (we'd have an attractive deal already having a star like Dirk) or rebuild and give ourselves high draft picks to get those typeof players.

I just have some serious doubts about which of those big-time FAs will want to sign with a team led by a 32-year-old Dirk Nowitzki. I mean, Dirk can be a solid player well into his thirties, but potential free agent stars have to be questioning at that time how long he can last as a championship-type #2. Howard would turn 31 during the season as well.

It just really concerns me that Dirk is gradually going to decline into a below-average #2 before we get a legitimate #1 in here. Or, worse yet, he declines to the point where his trade value is far below what it is right now.

[fishercob]

Question from Wiz fans:

Would you guys consider dealing Dirk for young talent, picks, and contracts that expire in 2010:

For instance: Nick Young, Andray Blatche, Etan Thomas, Antonio Daniels and a first?

[GermanFan120]

Question from Wiz fans:

Would you guys consider dealing Dirk for young talent, picks, and contracts that expire in 2010:

For instance: Nick Young, Andray Blatche, Etan Thomas, Antonio Daniels and a first?

I am a Dirk fan, i want him to win the championship.

Butler + Jamison + Dirk, even in the east, cannot get the job done... sorry i have to say no unless Wiz gets better player teaming with Dirk

[JES12]

yeah, we had nash, finley, howard, jamison & dirk and lost in the 1st round. arenas, butler, dirk, jamison is no different

And from Dallas, there is nothing on Washington's roster I would trade Dirk for.

[Pointguard01]

I disagree. Arenas-Butler-Dirk would be an awesome 3-star tandem. Just trade Jamison for some center/small forward help and the Wizards would easily move up with the 2nd tier Eastern Conference group.

But Dallas easily passes on that trade offer.

I just have some serious doubts about which of those big-time FAs will want to sign with a team led by a 32-year-old Dirk Nowitzki. I mean, Dirk can be a solid player well into his thirties, but potential free agent stars have to be questioning at that time how long he can last as a championship-type #2. Howard would turn 31 during the season as well.

It just really concerns me that Dirk is gradually going to decline into a below-average #2 before we get a legitimate #1 in here. Or, worse yet, he declines to the point where his trade value is far below what it is right now.

I think there would be some interest. I dont think alot of "good" teams will have cap space, and assuming we get back to form, we will still be a playoff team. Its not the way I think we should do it: In that we basically waste the next season and 1/2 hoping for something that is not a sure thing and if it doesnt work out we are more screwed than we are now, but I just dont see mgmt trading Dirk and thats the only way I see us becoming a real contender with Dirk.

[JES12]

I think that after this season, if 1) we don't win a championship and 2) Kidd chooses not to resign with us, I can see trading Dirk, Howard, Terry and possibly Diop to clear all cap room in 2010. I would hate that since we don't have our pick, but I can see it happening.

Cuban will attract players (Lebron admitted). Texas being a non-tax state will help. Bosh being from Dallas may help. But if you can attract Wade, Lebron and Bosh, the other players will come at vet min.

But who knows...its still a long way away

[DDansby123]

I know it's all about money, but we haven't even been able to compete for MLE players over the years. I just don't see any evidence that we can attract big-time FAs in here. I think we'll have to overpay for those guys and hope to hit the lottery (no pun intended) in the draft. The draft is where we'll find our horses, not in FA, IMO. I'm all for cap space, though.

[ppp000]

Here's an interesting way to look at being a contender. Look at them now. Lakers, Hornets, Jazz, San Antonio, Boston, Cleveland are have two things in common: 1) They top player is a dominant player that can put his team on their back and win a game, most in multiple ways and 2) they drafted that player. Kobe, CP3, Deron Williams, Duncan, Pierce (KG is not that type of player IMO) and James. Very few teams trade that that kind of player or dont have that kind of player - aka Detroit. You trade for the rest of the team maybe, but you need that 1 player. As good as Dirk is, he is NOT that kind of player. I think he's very talented obviously and if he's a second option, he'd be one of the best 1-2 punches in the game, but not at the level of the others.

And those players have a much better supporting cast except James. I'm not going to argue that Dirk is a top5 player b/c he's not, but I would say with a legit allstar 2nd option (and no JHo is not an allstar) like the rest of the players you mentioned, he is perfectly fine as the first option.

I don't see Dirk here much longer. Mavs aren't a threat and he has already stated even though he is committed to Dallas, he is open to exploring the market or retiring earlier than expected. I wouldn't say he has declined yet or will decline very much in 2010...the last half of last season, he was playing at a high level as he ever had. But who knows, I think the Mavs need to move in a different direction and completely rebuild if this season is indeed another wasted one.

[DDansby123]

I don't want to look at contenders; I want to look at champions. Championship teams usually draft their biggest star and sign/trade for another (e.g., LAL, Boston, Miami, etc.). Almost invariably, those teams then surround the stars with very cap-friendly contracts (e.g., Boston and SA have no one making over $4M/year outside of their big three).

The cap-friendly stuff is easy. The stars are more difficult. If you draft one, you pretty much have to suck at least one year to get a high lottery pick. To get another, you almost always have to have young assets and good contracts to trade, or you need an already-established star to attract the big-time FA.

The Mavs wasted chances to trade for a second star, IMO. Now, I think their best shot at high draft picks and cap space is to trade Dirk and Josh to teams where Dirk and Josh can be #2 and #3, respectively.

[fishercob]

Question from Wiz fans:

Would you guys consider dealing Dirk for young talent, picks, and contracts that expire in 2010:

For instance: Nick Young, Andray Blatche, Etan Thomas, Antonio Daniels and a first?

I am a Dirk fan, i want him to win the championship.

Butler + Jamison + Dirk, even in the east, cannot get the job done... sorry i have to say no unless Wiz gets better player teaming with Dirk

I agree that that three doesn't win a ring. But a healthy Arenas and Haywood, plus trading Jamison for an excellent defensive 2-gaurd could make the Wizards contenders for sure:

Arenas, Dirk, Butler, Haywood is a great top 4. Trade Jamison for someone along the lines of a Gerald Wallace/Raja Bell/Ronnie Brewer type, and the Wiz are a very tough team.