Mavericks will need Howard's unique skills

[HMFFL]

Some will assert the Mavericks' record is proof that this team is better off without Josh Howard. You will swear chemistry and ball movement has improved in his absence.

My reply: Don't let your frustration or disgust over Howard's actions in recent months cloud your judgment. Don't buy this fool's gold, as San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich likes to say.

The Mavericks will not reach their full potential until Howard returns. They do not threaten the league's elite when he sits on the bench in a walking boot. This was painfully obvious in Tuesday night's double-overtime loss to the Spurs.

But Howard must accept something as well. When the forward returns, he will be the one who must adjust. He must respect the identity that has developed, which is the Mavericks are at their best when Jason Terry is the second offensive option behind Dirk Nowitzki, and J.J. Barea is part of the mix.

A blow to Howard's ego? He may take it that way. Howard has become increasingly sensitive to anything said or written since his indiscretions have become public fodder.

Link

[JES12]

Don't worry Howard, we need your 1) defense, 2) rebounds, 3) scoring......in that order. If you can ever learn to get 3-4 assists, you will be in the all-star game again in no time.

[DDansby123]

Don't worry Howard, we need your 1) defense, 2) rebounds, 3) scoring......in that order. If you can ever learn to get 3-4 assists, you will be in the all-star game again in no time.

I actually think Josh has those priorities exactly reversed. And the 3-4 assists, if he gets there, will most likely come from simply swinging the ball around the perimeter to a shooter. That'd still be an improvement in the passing department, though.

Regardless, yes we need Josh. There's no question about that. I'm just skeptical about his willingness to put the team first and himself second (as the author suggests). He will absolutely have to fit in with the team has already become, and that worries me.

I just hope that management entertains the notion of trading him before the deadline if he comes back, doesn't fit in, and the team becomes beyond-mediocre again.

[SpeedyG]

Mavericks don't really need "Josh Howard". I still think he's a bad fit with the team. However, a player with his abilities are certainly a much welcome upgrade over the likes of George, Williams, and Green, guys who have been trying to fill that role since Howard's injury.

[Teddy KGB]

Trade Josh Howard and Stackhouse for T-Mac

[shspg5]

With all do respect to all the Howard lovers or even haters but the fact is there is no trade that could be made for him that would upgrade that spot. That will cause Cuban to turn down the deals. IMO Howard is laughable average in every area of the game despite D and passing, where he is above average and terrible respectively. The truth is he does need to be moved as the team is playing better without him but does need a starting SF. They need to take a "downgrade" to bring in a starting small forward. Mike Miller, VC, JR Smith, Wallace, any SF who is capable of playing 30 minutes a game is better then Howard on the Mavs. His lack of an outside shot, horrible shot selection, and the biggest one track mind I have ever seen is killing this team. However, they cannot win in the playoffs playing 3 pgs so they must move him ASAP, even if his value is at an alltime low.

[GermanFan120]

Trade Josh Howard and Stackhouse for T-Mac

you mean the 2nd round virgin who often cried after playoffs loss?

[mffl_14]

Trade Josh Howard and Stackhouse for T-Mac

you mean the 2nd round virgin who often cried after playoffs loss?

Hey I do that deal. T-Mac's contract is up after next year. Yes this year his scoring is down but I still think he goes to the basket more than Howard, his FG% is about the same as Josh but he shoots way better from 3 point land than Josh, plus I think the league views T-Mac a bigger threat to a team than Josh. But the main reason I do it is, we get a player I think is just as good at Josh and his contract would be up for 2010 and no body wants Stack anyways so I say why not.

[SpeedyG]

Trade Josh Howard and Stackhouse for T-Mac

you mean the 2nd round virgin who often cried after playoffs loss?

Hey I do that deal. T-Mac's contract is up after next year. Yes this year his scoring is down but I still think he goes to the basket more than Howard, his FG% is about the same as Josh but he shoots way better from 3 point land than Josh, plus I think the league views T-Mac a bigger threat to a team than Josh. But the main reason I do it is, we get a player I think is just as good at Josh and his contract would be up for 2010 and no body wants Stack anyways so I say why not.

I only make that deal if Tmac's healthy, and if he was, he wouldn't be on the block. There is another possible deal that can be made for Howard, but it's not going to be a popular one: deal Howard for two lesser, but solid players with decent contract, who can solidify the SG and SF spots.

PG - Kidd, Barea
SG - player Y, Terry as sparkplug off the bench
SF - player X, Antoine Wright/George/Williams
PF - Dirk, Bass
C - Damp, Diop.

[Teddy KGB]

Trade Josh Howard and Stackhouse for T-Mac

you mean the 2nd round virgin who often cried after playoffs loss?

Yes I do. Because T-Mac is easily a superior player and his value is at an all time low.

[2011Champs]

Trade Josh Howard and Stackhouse for T-Mac

You would have to take that trade. Yes TMac is injured but Howard has never played a full 82 games either. I would consider this an upgrade because TMac's passing skills.

What about? TRADE ID:4862500
Howard, Stackhouse, Diop

for
TMac, Von Wafer, Francis

Of course we would waive Francis but our lineup could be
Damp
Dirk
T-Mac
Von Wafer
Kidd

and still have Barea, Terry and Bass as key bench players.

Ok now.... Tear this trade apart !!!

[Teddy KGB]

Well, for a start Houston hates it.

[JES12]

I want to see what happens to Stack & George before trading Howard. If we can steal a SF on a fat overpaid contract via salary dump (Wallace, Deng, Iggy and to a much lesser extent, Maggette) with Stack's epiring, thwn I would trade Howard.

[JES12]

Eddie Sefko continues to be smarter than D-Moore who wrote the OP's article. While D-Moore's article is about the only thing he got right...ever, Sefko says it much, much better as I don't agree with Moore and the whole having to take a backseat and hurting Howard's ego points.

This is why anybody who clamors for Josh Howard to be traded just because the Mavericks have gone 9-2 while he has been out with an injured ankle needs to re-examine things.

On Saturday night against Oklahoma City, Dirk Nowitzki had 46 points. Jason Terry had 28.

Everybody else had 29

As talented as the Mavericks are, they aren't good enough to win on a consistent basis with only two serious offensive threats. It just won't work.

The only reason they got away with it against the Thunder was an unconscious offensive night from Terry and Nowitzki and a brief defensive push late in the game.

That's not going to get them through most of the time. Having Howard's 20 points – or even 15 or 16 if his role in the offense changes upon his return – takes a ton of pressure off of the Mavericks' two prime scorers.

"Until we're full strength, we're going to be in a battle every night," Rick Carlisle said.

This night, it proved again why the Mavericks are living on borrowed time until Howard returns.

And not just the offensive end, but defense on players like Green.

[DDansby123]

Mavericks don't really need "Josh Howard". I still think he's a bad fit with the team. However, a player with his abilities are certainly a much welcome upgrade over the likes of George, Williams, and Green, guys who have been trying to fill that role since Howard's injury.

I think this sums up the situation precisely. The Mavs need an upgrade from the current group, but it doesn't necessarily need to be Josh Howard.

And they don't just need another scorer; they need someone who can score within the confines of a motion-based (non-iso) offense...a selfless scorer. Josh, IMO, is no longer willing to do that. The part about Josh "fitting in" is vitally important to this team's success. If he comes back and just puts up 20 PPG (as Sefko seems to suggest), it won't do us all that much good unless it comes in the confines of the pass-happy offense we've seen from this team in Howard's absence (as the original article here states).

If Josh would return to the player he was early in his career (when he was GREAT moving without the ball), this team would be much better.

[SpeedyG]

Eddie Sefko continues to be smarter than D-Moore who wrote the OP's article. While D-Moore's article is about the only thing he got right...ever, Sefko says it much, much better as I don't agree with Moore and the whole having to take a backseat and hurting Howard's ego points.

This is why anybody who clamors for Josh Howard to be traded just because the Mavericks have gone 9-2 while he has been out with an injured ankle needs to re-examine things.

On Saturday night against Oklahoma City, Dirk Nowitzki had 46 points. Jason Terry had 28.

Everybody else had 29

As talented as the Mavericks are, they aren't good enough to win on a consistent basis with only two serious offensive threats. It just won't work.

The only reason they got away with it against the Thunder was an unconscious offensive night from Terry and Nowitzki and a brief defensive push late in the game.

That's not going to get them through most of the time. Having Howard's 20 points – or even 15 or 16 if his role in the offense changes upon his return – takes a ton of pressure off of the Mavericks' two prime scorers.

"Until we're full strength, we're going to be in a battle every night," Rick Carlisle said.

This night, it proved again why the Mavericks are living on borrowed time until Howard returns.

And not just the offensive end, but defense on players like Green.

The problem with that statement is that no one is trying to give Howard for peanuts or a bag of chips. If Howard is traded, the Mavs SHOULD get players (either one player of equal talent, or two lesser, but perfectly capable players) that will fill that void.

It's not like they are trying to deal him for someone like Najera. The names that's been mentioned were Wallace (not as good offensively, but better off the ball and better/willing defender), Redd/JRich (much better offensive player/not as good defensively), even Prince (not as good, but more willing and probably a better fit defensively/offensively), etc.

[realfung]

But Howard will never be the fan flavorite, I say trade him for Stephen Jackson.

[JES12]

But Howard will never be the fan flavorite, I say trade him for Stephen Jackson.

God help us if that trade goes down. Immediate firing of Donnie followed by me hoping Cuban sells the Mavs. Shephen Jackson is over 30, on a fat contract and sucks! Howard at least has a team option at age 30 and if we opt to take it, he will expire at age 31. Jackson expires at age 35.