SHAQ to DALLAS????? Very possible....

[reeds]

Mavs ship out Jamison in hopes of landing Shaq
June 23, 2004
By Mike Kahn
On the eve of the NBA Draft, the first portion of what could be a blockbuster deal that could land the Dallas Mavericks disgruntled Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal was completed.

Although they must still get approval from the NBA office, sources confirmed to SportsLine.com that the Mavs have sent 2004 Sixth Man of the Year Antawn Jamison to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner and the fifth pick of Thursday's NBA Draft.

Antawn Jamison takes his Sixth Man of the Year award to the Wizards.(AP)
There seems little doubt the Mavericks aren't close to being finished, and it isn't likely that either player will remain in Dallas, although Laettner's contract of more than $6 million does expire after this season. Stackhouse, however, signed a two-year extension two years ago, leaving him with three more seasons for more than $20 million combined.

The topic of the 32-year-old O'Neal being traded by the Lakers, previously unheard of, became a reality last week after L.A. was eliminated in five games by the Pistons in the NBA Finals. Following the upset, coach Phil Jackson was essentially let go and Lakers owner Jerry Buss made it clear that he intended to build the future of the team around Kobe Bryant.

As a result of those two actions, O'Neal requested a trade.

As for the Mavs, who have publicly said they will not include Dirk Nowitzki in any deal for O'Neal, this appears to be the first of several moves to help position themselves to acquire O'Neal.

With Nowitzki out of the picture, however, everybody else on the roster is game as they attempt to ratchet up enough salaries to reach the $27 million O'Neal made this season.

Certainly the fifth pick of the draft is an additional carrot for the Lakers, along with perhaps the bloated final year of Antoine Walker's contract, but where else does this take them?

Do they really like Stackhouse enough to part with Michael Finley, along with Walker and the pick? Or does it mean the Lakers -- with general manager Mitch Kupchak, a fellow North Carolina alum with Stackhouse -- prefer Stack in the deal?

More likely, neither Stackhouse nor Laettner will unpack in Dallas and they will be moved along shortly for another player or players to package into the deal.

Regardless of what happened Wednesday night, this is a classic example of Mavs owner Mark Cuban unleashing the father-and-son duo of Don and Donnie Nelson on the rest of the NBA to reconstruct the team following their first-round elimination in the 2004 playoffs.

Whether that includes one very large and remarkable agile center that goes by the nickname Diesel, we'll find out soon ... very soon.

But there is no mystery from the Wizards perspective with the acquisition of the 28-year-old Jamison, who will make more than $12.5 million next season. They now have a veteran scorer/rebounder with a great attitude and who already is good buddies with guards Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes from when the trio played together at Golden State two years ago.

Playing just 29 minutes a game for the talent-rich Mavs off the bench, the 6-foot-9, 230-pound Jamison still managed to average 14.8 points a game after averaging 22.3 the previous three seasons at Golden State. The North Carolina product will start next to Kwame Brown and it eliminates the injury and selfish issues Stackhouse brought to the young and impressionable team.

What happens to Stackhouse, Laettner, or even O'Neal, will sort itself out over the next few weeks.

[Turkey]

If we ever get shaq.
Lets trade dirk for yao ming!!!

[ocelot_ark]

Or not.

[sike]

Originally posted by: Turkey
If we ever get shaq.
Lets trade dirk for yao ming!!!

turkey how old are you?

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: sike

turkey how old are you?

I wonder is that him in his sig. Looks relatively young.

[ddh33]

It's more possible now. I think more happens soon.

I think Al Harrington is going to get awfully popular tomorrow. That #5 pick could be on the move. Interestingly, Walker, Laettner, and Harrington match up moneywise with Shaq.

[ocelot_ark]

Good call ddh...Harrington is definitely an appealing option.

[sike]

Originally posted by: ocelot_ark
Good call ddh...Harrington is definitely an appealing option.

to who?

[FreshJive]

Not sure if this has been posted yet.

LA Daily News reports:

An NBA executive said late Wednesday that the Mavericks now would approach the Lakers with a new offer of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and the No. 5 pick in exchange for O'Neal.

To make the deal work, Dallas would have to find a way to add another $8 million or so in salary owed to a player or players as a way of balancing the NBA-high $27.7 million O'Neal is set to make next season.

Owner Mark Cuban had told the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday that Nowitzki would not be included in an O'Neal trade. But the executive speaking late Wednesday said the Mavericks' new offer would include the sixth-year All-Star forward.

Dallas still would be able to pair O'Neal in a lineup with Antoine Walker, Michael Finley and Steve Nash should it trade away Nowitzki.

Link

[Evilmav2]

That's not going to happen. If Shaq comes here, he will come at the price of Walker, Finley (or Delk/Fortson), and maybe Howard and/or a future #1.

Dirk, Nash, and Biedrins are here to stay...

[FreshJive]

Yep its completely obvious to me that the number five pick was secured so that we don't have to part with Nowitsky. If we were going to offer up Nowitsky it would have been enough without the pick.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: FreshJive
Yep its completely obvious to me that the number five pick was secured so that we don't have to part with Nowitsky. If we were going to offer up Nowitsky it would have been enough without the pick.

Is the pick to take Biedrins because they think he will be like Dirk, so they can move Dirk for Shaq? ? ?

[Evilmav2]

Biedrins isn't like Dirk.

Based upon everything that I have seen and read about the man, he seems to me to be much more like an angrier, more aggressive Pau Gasol. This 18 year old posseses a reportedly rough offensive game, but he is a fierce rebounder and furious shot-blocker who has been brutally dominating his elders in FIBA over the last two years. His upside is as high as anyones in this draft, and he just smells like a Maverick to me.

I'll be amazed if Biedrens isn't selected by the braintrust today, and I would further say that he will probably never, ever wear purple and gold...

[FreshJive]

After reading the draft reports I hope Evil is right.