What do the Mavs need?

[lonny22]

I feel that a lot of people will acknowledge the Mavs need to reduce the roster, maybe cut down on the 2/3 glut, get a real SF, and get a backup 4. We could also use a good shooter off the bench. With that in mind I have a few thoughts.

There are still some free agents out there the Mavs could use. It creates another roster spot, but the Mavs administration may decide to add players and then do buyouts or dumpoffs. A baseball-type farm team would really help right now. It's hard to stockpile players for now and the future.

Karl Malone- He might come for the vet. minimum and he gives us a chance to win it all.
Toni Kukoc- He shoots, plays many positions, and has a high basketball IQ. I don't know if he takes a lot less money.
Rodney White- Good player, doubt he comes for $1 Million.
Keon Clark- Doubt we get him, but his options may run out.
Marcus Fizer- Doubt he comes, either.

As far as trades go, the Mavs after the Warrior trade don't have a lot of guys left to trade. I doubt the Mavs trade Fin for Vinsanity, so he's off the list. Salaries are approximate and off the top of my head (They're pretty close):

TAW $7.5 Million good for insurance, maybe if team needs 3's.
Henderson $8 Million expiring. In a multi-player trade we wait until October.
Bradley $4 Million good for backup center need.
Booth $5.7 Million good for backup center duty. Must wait until September for big trade.
Stackhouse $7 Million and desirable. Trade moratorium is up next week.
Steffanson $1 Million is cheap and reduces roster in trades. Will the Mavs keep him for the future?
Eschmeyer $3.2 Million and not wanted. Can't make big trade until October.
Dickau $800,000 and here until October for big trade.

I looked at every team's roster to see who had open spots and who need to reduce like the Mavs. I found that most teams without enough players either have players with salaries like the Mavs or a player(s) that they won't trade. Phoenix isn't on the list because Bradley and Booth aren't good enough to lose Marion and they won't want Stackhouse. Here's the list:

Utah doesn't have the salaries, but they might take Bradley for a draft pick. It's hard for me to pick between Bradley and Booth, but somebody has to go with 6 centers on the roster. The Jazz would probably rather have Shawn. I wish they'd take Eschmeyer instead of the Mavs buying him out.

Denver has spots and money. One of the centers might go for a pick.

The Nets have spots and 2 big trade exceptions. They could take a center and Henderson or TAW. I doubt they take TAW.

We might trade with the Raptors. I doubt the Vince rumors, but we could be in the market for Rose and Donyell. We'd fess up Stackhouse, a center, and Henderson. If you take out Donyell, it's Stack and Henderson. I can't speculate on TAW going, but I feel between the 2 wounded warriors he's less desirable because of Hendu's expiring contract.

The Knicks amazingly have roster spots with the highest payroll. We could fetch the Thomas Twins and Anderson or just 2 of them. That would be TAW, Henderson, Stackhouse, and Booth for all 3. Bradley, Esch, and Stef are the wrong color to be traded to the Knicks.

Last is the Bucks. They have a shortage of 2/3's, but I'm asking for Van Horn and Joe Smith. The Mavs would part with Stackhouse, a healthy and only healthy TAW, and Henderson or a center. Van Horn could go for Stack and TAW by himself.

Buyouts are an option. They might as well buy Esch out.

Avery not signing creates one spot.

How much can we really expect from Stef since we have a lot of guys in the backcourt? I hate to cast off players, but there is only 1 ball.

I like keeping Bradley and Booth as the backups for Dampier. I don't want to trade them for draft picks.

Could TAW play in Dallas this year? He's actually a SF, but costs a lot. They might as well buy him out if we can't trade him and they won't play him.

Will Henderson be healthy? He could be a decent backup if he's healthy. He won't get bought out.

Stack is a mystery. We better get somebody good if we don't keep him.

Please discuss. This is a good opportunity for the Mavs to win it all if they play all their cards right in the next 2 months.

[dalmations202]

The Mavs need one good SF. Preferably moving one or two of the 2/3 tweeners to get him.

Thoughts:
Bradley does not need to be gone, he needs 15-20 min a game.
TAW, Esch, Henderson --- gone if anyone has an inkling for them or a draft pick. If not, then they may all be drawing the 80% insurance and be 13,14,15.

AJ, I hope will coach only, but if he wants a spot, then he gets it.

Terry, Harris will be the PG for the start of the year. Hopefully Dickau can become a 3pt sniper.

Daniels, Finley, Stackhouse, Howard --- all 2/3 tweeners -- Fin is your only shooter though, the others are slashers. None over 6'7" (Fin) -- Daniels, Stack, and Howard are 6'6" --- although Howard has that 7' reach. Hard to guard the 6'10" players like Peja, and R. Lewis though at 6'6".

Nowitzki is really the only PF on the list. Maybe Benga - no offense. Maybe Booth if he has too.

Dampier, Bradley, Booth, Benga, PPod. -- Benga and PPod are going to get very little playing time.

Starting 12 as of now, IMO:
Terry, Harris, Dickau
Daniels, Finley
Howard, Stackhouse
Nowitzki, Benga
Dampier, Bradley, Booth

PPod, Stefansson - overseas
AJ coaching
Esch, Henderson, TAW -----IR

If the Mavs could make one more trade: it will free up the position and maybe allow for another rook to stay.
Stackhouse/Howard for Peja, Lewis, Kirilenko, Artest : any of these I think work
or
Stackhouse/Henderson for Vince Carter, Marion, or KVH : any one of these I think will work

KVH is probalby the most realistic, but the Peja deal has the most upside.

I really think that something to reduce the roster is already in the works and will probably be finalized after the 24th. I am just not sure what that "homerun" is.

[lonny22]

I think the Mavs are stuck. DJ and P-Pod are under contract and have to be on the roster. With everything in mind, I think they have a roster reducing trade out there. They might buy out Esch. They won't buy out Hendu or TAW. Either Avery or Dickau goes.

[fin4life]

PPOD can go to europe... so he doesnt have to be on the roster

[lonny22]

That's a good option for P-Pod if we can carry more than 15 under contract during the year. I thought we were limited to 15 under contract when the season started.

[fin4life]

i think technically it is 15 players on your NBA roster... not 15 players under contract. I could be wrong though.

[V2M]

Originally posted by: fin4life
PPOD can go to europe... so he doesnt have to be on the roster

He's our 1st round pick and has got a guaranteed contract. Even if he's sent to Europe, I don't think that clears a roster spot.

[seagullstalker35]

Originally posted by: dalmations202

although Howard has that 7' reach. Hard to guard the 6'10" players like Peja, and R. Lewis though at 6'6".

i dont think howard will have a problem guarding the bigger sfs of the league. like you said hes got that 7 foot reach. it doesnt matter how high your head is. its how long your reach is that counts

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: seagullstalker35

i dont think howard will have a problem guarding the bigger sfs of the league. like you said hes got that 7 foot reach. it doesnt matter how high your head is. its how long your reach is that counts

Yes, but RLewis starts at 6'10" and then has that wingspan as well.

[EricaLubarsky]

Yes, but RLewis starts at 6'10" and then has that wingspan as well.

How many Lewises are there and how many times has Lewis really destroyed us?

[alby]

once again we love to overreact on trying to build a team to defend against one position or one guy (shaq) and here we go again with r.lewis. how many of you honestly believe that we're even going to have to worry about the sonics during playoff time? how about we make a team where they have to defend us? peja can not hang with our smaller and quicker players at the three spot whether it is fin or jhow. yes height and/or reach has alot to do with your effectiveness on the defensive end but if you have good positioning and coaching, that outweighs the lack of height, athleticsm, or even talent. we have a strong starting five with terry, quis or stack, fin, dirk, dampier with a very deep, young bench. we really dont need to trade for a backup pf, booth will do just fine. most of the 4's in the west are bangers anyway, the only one that excels on the outside is dirk himself. with a rotation of dirk/dampier/booth/bradley, we have probably one of the tallest front courts in the game that will allow our perimeter defenders to gamble a little more than prevoius years. we have one of the quicker guard rotations in the game as well including terry/harris, quis/how. the mavs have built a pretty well balanced team with a veteran core surrounded with young players that will only get better as they develop.

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky

How many Lewises are there and how many times has Lewis really destroyed us?

Realistically, there is only one Rashard Lewis. Yes, he has done well against the Mavs before.

But their is also Peja, Marion, KVH, Magette, Artest, Vince Carter, Prince and Tracy McGrady who are better at offense than the Mavs SF's are at defense. Also, we can't move a larger SF over to guard a special SG like Ray Allen or Kobe because all of them are 2/3's and approximately the same height. Too much of a good thing, allowing for mismatches.

If Denver throws a lineup of Camby, Nene, and KMart at you, who are you going to defend them with? I am not saying that the Mavs couldn't beat them anyway, but as the Mavs are currently made up....SF is a weakness.

My want of a tall SF is not about dissing the current players or about "get this all-star". It is about analyzing the teams strengths and weaknesses, and seeing what would make this a better team. A tall SF, who can defend and shoot the 3, would allow many more opportunities for Dirk because a taller SF would be required to guard the SF then, and not allowed to guard Dirk out on the floor. As the current lineup sits, teams can guard the Mavs 2/3 with a SG, and just have them force the ball into the shot blockers. That leaves a SF on Dirk, like Peja, Artest, Kirilenko, and Rashard Lewis.

It is just one more contingency that the Mavs will face. Yes, I hope they overcome the minor issues. I am just saying that IMO, the Mavs would be better off with a tall SF who can play the 3/4, than with 4- 2/3's that are 6'6" or 6'7".

[DubOverdose]

I say it should be:
PG: Terry, Harris, Stefansson
SG: Finley, Daniels
SF: Howard, Stackhouse
PF: Dirk, Benga (played some PF in the summer league and is athletic enough to cover SFs too, could be great to have a frontcourt of Benga, Dirk, and Dampier)
C: Dampier, Bradley, Booth

IR: Dickau, Pavel, Henderson (store him here so he can be traded eventually or bought out to pickup a FA during the season like we did with Williams last year)

Buyout: TAW, Esch

I'd definitely trade TAW and Henderson for 2 second round picks.

Stefansson and Dickau can compete for the 12th active roster spot. I think Stefansson would get the nod over Dickau, but who knows. I really hope we see Stefansson suit up this season.

I don't know where Pavel really belongs if he does play in Europe next season, so I put him on the IR. Eventhough we need the slots open, I'm opposed to sending him overseas unless we provide a bigman coach to work with him EVERYday.

[bernardos70]

You guys are underestimating Finley as usual. I remember seeing Brad Miller on the Kings trying to post up Mike, back him down, and Mike didn't give up any ground, making Brad have to shoot a tough one.

[seal614]

hmmm the Mavericks NEED

Keith Van Horn
Vince Carter
Shawn Marion
[insert All-star, or former All-star @ any position here]

oh wait nevermind

[DCowboysGal]

I wouldn't want K. Van Horn as we need defense at the PF position behind Nowitzki. Van Horn loathes physical play and is a poor rebounder as well. He would offer good shooting off the bench but we'd already have an abundance of offense from the bench from guys like D. Harris and whoever among Daniels/Finley/Howard is shunted to backup SG/SF.

Tim Thomas isn't particularly great defensively, but he does have the agility, length and wingspan to become at least decent and defend anyone from the 1 to the 4. He's also a solid ball-handler (another guy who could bring the ball down the court) at the SF position and both PHI and MIL at one point thought he could actually be a decent tall PG (LAC also considered doing this with Lamar Odom). He's humble enough not to demand the ball every play and might be happy being a complementary scorer rather than a main option.

[fin4life]

I also think that Tim Thomas is a great option for the mavs... but not many other people do. The biggest reason is probaly his rebounding, he averages less than 5 boards for his career. Even with this, I would still offer stack + booth/hendu for him.

[Mavs414]

i would love to get lewis, carter or marion

[Mavs414]

opps

[Mavs414]

sorry i press it to many times[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

[sike]

question: what do the Mavs need?
answer: time

[dalmations202]

Originally posted by: sike
question: what do the Mavs need?
answer: time

How about time, chemistry, and a little luck ?

[sike]

Originally posted by: dalmations202

How about time, chemistry, and a little luck ?

that was inclued in "time" [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[Ninkobei]

Call me crazy, but I'm happy with the roster we have now. Sure we need to free up one single spot but aside from that I think we're set for next season ;D

[fin4life]

Originally posted by: Ninkobei
Call me crazy, but I'm happy with the roster we have now. Sure we need to free up one single spot but aside from that I think we're set for next season ;D

we have to free up 2 spots and 3 if Avery signs as a player.

[Mavs414]

yea Ninkobei your right this roster looks good now but i think there might be one more big trade