Mavs sign Diop to full Mid-Level

littlemav · Post #1 » by **littlemav** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:10 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3471169

Free-agent center DeSagana Diop on Tuesday gave a verbal commitment to sign a new contract to return to Dallas Mavericks, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Diop, traded by the Mavericks to New Jersey in February as part of the Jason Kidd deal, will receive the Mavericks' full mid-level exception in a five-year deal starting at nearly $6 million.

Diop cannot officially sign and the Mavericks cannot officially comment until July 9, which is the first day NBA teams can announce signings and trades after a league-wide moratorium on roster moves is lifted.

Diop was a key member of the Dallas team that toppled its in-state rivals from San Antonio and reached the 2006 NBA Finals. It was the franchise's first trip beyond the Western Conference finals.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Looks like what we all feared is going to happen. Diop is a key piece of our team but should have never gotten this much money.

your_dallas_mavericks · Post #2 » by **your_dallas_mavericks** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:21 pm

littlemav wrote:http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3471169

Free-agent center DeSagana Diop on Tuesday gave a verbal commitment to sign a new contract to return to Dallas Mavericks, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Diop, traded by the Mavericks to New Jersey in February as part of the Jason Kidd deal, will receive the Mavericks' full mid-level exception in a five-year deal starting at nearly $6 million.

Diop cannot officially sign and the Mavericks cannot officially comment until July 9, which is the first day NBA teams can announce signings and trades after a league-wide moratorium on roster moves is lifted.

Diop was a key member of the Dallas team that toppled its in-state rivals from San Antonio and reached the 2006 NBA Finals. It was the franchise's first trip beyond the Western Conference finals.

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Looks like what we all feared is going to happen. Diop is a key piece of our team but should have never gotten this much money.

We had competition. He would have NEVER have gotten that amount for that long if we didn't have competition. Congrats to Diop and his agent using a weak FA class and Free Enterprise to its highest heights. Look for an increase on our ticket prices this coming year because of this acquisition. Ya know, it's not how much we got him back for or for how long; it's that he's back. Diop is home and that's all right with me.

dirkforpres · Post #3 » by **dirkforpres** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:25 pm

Awful. Just awful. There goes any chance at getting Maggette.

Post #4 » by **studcrackers** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:27 pm

just imagine if carlisle doesnt like diop, geez what a horrible signing this could turn into (not that it already isnt)

bford24 · Post #5 » by **bford24** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 8:57 pm

What is the sudden love with Corey Maggette? I just don't get it, he is a good player but he won't be the missing piece that delivers a championship. Besides the only way to get him is to out-pay every other team...which we can't do. By only having the MLE we are just another team in line. Judging from the past of course he would pick SA, they have the titles to back it up. I hate the Spurs but that is just the truth.

mffl_14 · Post #6 » by **mffl_14** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 9:07 pm

So I was thinking why dont we just sign Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson ? I mean if all we are going to do is basically bring back the same team that got stomped in the playoff's why not do a bit and have the 3 J's ! Seriously though the FO better have something up there sleeve because this sucks. I like Diop but that much money for a guy who avg. 3 points and 5 rebounds give me a break !

italy_23 · Post #7 » by **italy_23** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 7:43 am

Teffer10 · Post #8 » by **Teffer10** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 4:05 pm

This is actually a pretty good move.

Upgrading the SG through FA was a fantasy. Addressing the backup center position was more realistic through FA so Diop was probably the best available option.

Now the Mavs can take the best route at upgrading the SG position using Bass or Damp as possible trade pieces.

This was actually a good move if they plan to make a trade.

However, if they don't make anymore moves there will be waste (either Bass' playing time or the money spent on Diop). I don't see how either of those two will get minutes.

Post #9 » by **DDansby123** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 4:33 pm

^ If the Mavs can turn some combination of JET, Howard, and Bass into a legitimate star next to Dirk, then maybe I'll consider this signing mediocre. If Bass is still here, this was a complete waste. If JET's our third-best offensive option, it's a waste as well.

It's not that Diop's bad, but I maintain that this offense isn't good enough to play 4-on-5 and win. Replace JET and Bass with, say, Joe Johnson, then maybe. That's the type of insanely one-sided trade we need...but has an almost zero-percent chance of happening.

italy_23 · Post #10 » by **italy_23** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 4:34 pm

Teffer10 wrote:This is actually a pretty good move.

Upgrading the SG through FA was a fantasy. Addressing the backup center position was more realistic through FA so Diop was probably the best available option.

Now the Mavs can take the best route at upgrading the SG position using Bass or Damp as possible trade pieces.

This was actually a good move if they plan to make a trade.

However, if they don't make anymore moves there will be waste (either Bass' playing time or the money spent on Diop). I don't see how either of those two will get minutes.

I think this part is the key in your post. if they dont trade for a good 2 than the whole MLE for diop was not a good move

SpeedyG · Post #11 » by **SpeedyG** » Fri Jul 4, 2008 5:29 pm

One of the NY/NJ newspaper reported that this isn't a done deal. Diop has a verbal with the Mavs about getting MLE type money, but not necessarily the MLE. Mavs are trying to get a deal done with NJ (and possibly a third team) on a sign and trade for Diop, which would allow them to use the MLE for someone else (Posey being their target according to the article).

italy_23 · Post #12 » by **italy_23** » Sat Jul 5, 2008 5:48 am

that will be difficult as the nets have no big gain by doing it. it will require a third team. but I hope mark n donnie find a way

Hoops23 · Post #13 » by **Hoops23** » Sat Jul 5, 2008 1:07 pm

Diop for the entire MLE!?

Mark Cuban hates his money!

SMRattler · Post #14 » by **SMRattler** » Sun Jul 6, 2008 8:35 pm

Maybe old news, but thought I'd post this in this thread. Beno has always been one of my favorite punching bags. :-)

They are talking about the worst MLE signings this year so far.

But Udrih might not even be the worst midlevel signing this summer. As of now, that honor goes to Diop, to whom the Mavs offered a five-year deal for the full midlevel a mere four months after happily including him as a throw-in in the Jason Kidd trade with New Jersey. If you're scoring at home, yes, this is a red flag that the Mavs still don't know whether they're coming or going.

At any price, Diop gives little bang for the buck on offense. In 52 games as a Mav this past season, he averaged 3.0 points per game. Ready for the punchline? It set a new career high. And when he was sent to New Jersey, he joined a team that was desperate for interior help, but the Nets played him only 15 minutes a game due to his offensive limitations.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... ncy-080703

Post #15 » by **studcrackers** » Sun Jul 6, 2008 9:17 pm

i didnt realize we happily included him in the kidd trade. he makes it seem as if we couldnt wait to get rid of him

lukeridenour · Post #16 » by **lukeridenour** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 6:34 am

wow im shocked at this move... for the full MLE??

Post #17 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 7:41 am

lukeridenour wrote:wow im shocked at this move... for the full MLE??

The positive thing is it fills a big hole, but it's too much to give up, so I'm just trying to stay as positive as possible.

Post #18 » by **f l u r p** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 12:08 pm

As always, I think that many people assume that there is something better available. Bringing in some spare also-ran "scorer" who is going to give us 10 ppg in 28 minutes is not going to help. At least Diop is good at what he does. If what he does isn't sexy enough for folks, well, I guess we'll have to wait and see what other available Free Agents somehow turn into superstars this summer and then we can spend the next 3 years complaining.

o.O

your_dallas_mavericks · Post #19 » by **your_dallas_mavericks** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 1:14 pm

Remember, it's not the 9th yet. The Mavs are working on a S&T to bring Diop back here. He would be signed for MLE money, but not for the MLE. It would free us up to sign someone else for the MLE and solidify our roster. We shall see if the FO gets it right or goes with the status quo and screws it up again.

Post #20 » by **DDansby123** » Mon Jul 7, 2008 6:16 pm

f l u r p wrote:As always, I think that many people assume that there is something better available. Bringing in some spare also-ran "scorer" who is going to give us 10 ppg in 28 minutes is not going to help. At least Diop is good at what he does. If what he does isn't sexy enough for folks, well, I guess we'll have to wait and see what other available Free Agents somehow turn into superstars this summer and then we can spend the next 3 years complaining.

It's not that Diop's not flashy; it's that he's simply not very good. His defense is vastly overrated (IMO), as he's terribly inconsistent (yes, even defensively). And the adverse effects his horrid offense causes us cannot be understated.

Couple this with the fact that we already have Dampier, and we wind up with two Cs who have very similar positives and negatives. Just doesn't make much sense.