Comforting News to hear about our Front Office:

[Rick41]

I am completely lost as to what our FO is trying to do these days.

[BGMaverick9]

There is a nice idea to think about big picture:

Do the Felton deal
Maybe look at Josh for Jermaine
Try to find a swing player for depth

You've set yourself up with a new look team, a chance to try to stay afloat in the West and put yourself in a nice place financially for 2010.

[SlimBig]

Originally Posted by darkwitzki

Let's make a deal
With the trading deadline a little more than a month away, talks between teams seem to be heating up. An NBA source said a three-team trade is in the works that would include Oklahoma City sending guard Earl Watson to Charlotte, Dallas sending center DeSagana Diop to Charlotte, and Charlotte guard Raymond Felton going to Dallas.

Source : http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb..._magic/?page=2

Now were talking..

I would weep openly for this trade. Tears of joy.

[monty55555]

More information about this. But this time, it seems Nazr Mohammed is involved.

Sources: Bobcats talking trade with Mavs


The Charlotte Bobcats are in ongoing trade discussions with the Dallas Mavericks, and possibly the Oklahoma City Thunder, that could move Raymond Felton and Nazr Mohammed, two NBA sources confirmed to the Observer.

Some elements of a potential deal were first reported Sunday in the Boston Globe. The Observer has learned that any deal likely would include moving backup center Mohammed, who is owed about $13.3 million over the next two seasons.

If a deal is consummated, the Bobcats likely would end up with Dallas Mavericks center DeSagana Diop. The Bobcats pursued Diop during free agency last summer before he re-signed with Dallas. The deal Diop signed with the Mavericks is large � four more seasons at an average salary of nearly $6.7 million.

It�s unclear what else the Bobcats potentially could end up with if a deal is made. The Globe reported the Bobcats might get veteran point guard Earl Watson if the Thunder is involved. Watson could serve as a backup to rookie D.J. Augustin if Felton leaves for the Mavericks.

Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins declined to discuss specifics of any trade talks approaching the Feb. 19 deadline.

�It wouldn�t be fair for me to speculate on any rumors,� Higgins said Sunday. �In the NBA, you�re constantly talking to other teams. It�s impossible to know if any deal would happen.�

It�s clear why Felton and Mohammed would come up in trade discussion:

Felton becomes a restricted free agent in July. He�s having his best season as a pro; just good enough that some other NBA team might sign him to an offer sheet that would place the Bobcats in a no-win situation.

Augustin is playing well enough that he figures to end up the Bobcats� starting point guard. That makes for a potential dilemma, where the Bobcats either lose Felton to another team without compensation or overpay him to end up a combo guard off the bench.

Waiting until the summer to do a sign-and-trade would also be problematic. Under the NBA�s base-year compensation rule (pertaining to players getting large raises from one season to the next) it would be difficult to trade Felton for fair compensation as part of a new contract.

Mohammed came to the Bobcats last season from the Detroit Pistons. He makes about $6.4 million next season and nearly $6.9 million the following season, and has been on the fringe of the rotation since coach Larry Brown took over this season.

Whether Diop would be an upgrade is debatable. He�s struggled off the bench for the Mavericks, shooting 39 percent � strikingly low for a post player. Backing up Erick Dampier, Diop averages 1.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.73 blocks per game.

Watson has one season guaranteed beyond this one at $6.6 million. The Thunder is establishing rookie Russell Westbrook as their long-term starter at the point.

Injury update: The Bobcats anticipate Augustin missing at least 10 days, due to an abdominal/groin strain. Augustin initially suffered the injury versus the Boston Celtics last week, then worsened it Saturday, feeling a �pop� as he passed off a cross-court dribble against the Washington Wizards.

A magnetic resonance imaging showed no tear in Matt Carroll�s sore right Achilles tendon. Felton anticipates playing Tuesday in Detroit with a sprained right ankle.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/spo...ry/466600.html

[walter]

Sources: Augustin's injury affects deal
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Archive

The Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder put the pieces in place for a three-team trade late last week, but NBA front-office sources said Sunday that those talks have gone "dormant."

Sources told ESPN.com that the full deal, as originally constructed, would have sent Raymond Felton, Nazr Mohammed and Sean May from Charlotte to Dallas, landed Earl Watson and Dallas' DeSagana Diop with the Bobcats and shipped Jerry Stackhouse to the Thunder along with a future second-round pick.

The Boston Globe reported in its Sunday editions that a trade headlined by Felton and Watson was "in the works," but sources with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com on Friday and again Sunday that the discussions have gone quiet.

"Dormant is a good word," one source said.

It was unclear Sunday night if the trade can still be resurrected or revised, but sources say one impediment is an injury suffered in Tuesday's victory over Boston by Bobcats rookie guard D.J. Augustin, which could suddenly make Charlotte reluctant to part with Felton. Augustin is expected to miss at least 10 days after he aggravated the abdominal injury in Saturday's victory over Washington.

If the trade can be revived, Watson would be moving to Charlotte as a veteran backup to Augustin, whose emergence has led many executives around the league to presume that Felton would be moved before the league's Feb. 19 trading deadline. Felton is playing on an expiring contract that pays him $4.1 million this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.

The Bobcats, furthermore, have been to trying to add Diop to their front line as a defensive specialist since he was a free agent last summer. As ESPN.com reported in July, Charlotte offered Diop the same five-year deal worth more than $32 million that the 7-foot center wound up signing with the Mavericks.

Dallas has been shopping Stackhouse, Diop and Brandon Bass for weeks in hopes of acquiring a player of Felton's caliber. But if he winds up going to Dallas, Felton would have to fit into a rotation of lead guards which already features Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and J.J. Barea.

Mohammed and May -- whose conditioning has been repeatedly criticized by first-year Bobcats coach Larry Brown -- were earmarked in last week's trade talks as replacements for Diop to back up Mavs center Erick Dampier.

The possibility of Stackhouse winding up with the Thunder has been discussed for weeks, sources said, with that scenario first surfacing in a standard two-team deal that would have sent Watson to Dallas. Stackhouse, 34, has played in only eight games this season but can be bought out next season for $2 million, making the former All-Star's current $7 million salary a virtual expiring contract.

If these three-way talks dissolve completely, Dallas is expected to continue to push hard for at least one trade before the February deadline, with Stackhouse's cap-friendly contract and possibly another former All-Star -- swingman Josh Howard -- in play.

"Dallas is talking to everyone," one rival executive said.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3826213

[dude1394]

Hard to believe a 10 day injury would effect that. It's not like charlotte is within striking distance of the playoffs.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Hard to believe a 10 day injury would effect that. It's not like charlotte is within striking distance of the playoffs.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[bcrav4]

May seems to be lazy. Nazr is about as useless as Diop. So what do the Mavs gain from doing this deal?

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Hard to believe a 10 day injury would effect that. It's not like charlotte is within striking distance of the playoffs.

It's not just ten days, it's at least ten days...so what, maybe at least 3-5 games? The only thing I can think of is they're worried it could be long-term or maybe misdiagnosed? That's about the only logic I can come up with to defend that.

bc- they get out of Diop's deal...they get to try ANOTHER option at the C spot and they get to try out a younger option with some potential left and get cap flexibility in whole process.

[WraithXx]

the only word that Diop knows in english is "tofu"

[endrity]

I like it, Felton is good and he can develop into a good floor leader as well. We get another 7footer in case something happens to Damp. May is pretty lazy but he would be 3rd string PF behind Bass here. It's just a nice deal in that it gives the Mavs a lot of pieces to play with. Felton, Green, Wright are some nice young players. Felton and Green especially could be a very good backcourt combo.

[twelli]

Today, for the first time, I thought "I've seen enough". We are going nowhere with this crew. I really hope for a huge trade. Something that brings in a player better suited to this team than Josh. If that's not going to happen, let's see what Dirk can be traded for. He's still top value and could land a top 10 player who is maybe a bit younger and around who a new team can be build. Bosh, Anthony, Oden, I don't know. Dirk won't land you LeBron or Dwight Howard, but there are some high-caliber players out there who could save the Mavs from descending to rock bottom in the coming seasons, and there are teams out there who might think that trading their star player for Dirk could make them title contenders straight away.

[TNT]

Originally Posted by craggmac

Oh my goodness. Can we please get a center that can play some offence up in this MOFO??!!

Talking about Raptors then the bosh would be the dreams come true, but yeah it's to big dream.....



But yeah, we need a center who can play basketball!!

Originally Posted by twelli

Today, for the first time, I thought "I've seen enough". We are going nowhere with this crew. I really hope for a huge trade. Something that brings in a player better suited to this team than Josh. If that's not going to happen, let's see what Dirk can be traded for. He's still top value and could land a top 10 player who is maybe a bit younger and around who a new team can be build. Bosh, Anthony, Oden, I don't know. Dirk won't land you LeBron or Dwight Howard, but there are some high-caliber players out there who could save the Mavs from descending to rock bottom in the coming seasons, and there are teams out there who might think that trading their star player for Dirk could make them title contenders straight away.

Trading Dirk would be a mistkake i belive, because Dirk is the icon of Dallas. Change Terry, Dampier Kidd or what ever, but not Dirk

[MavericksFan5912]

Originally Posted by cowdog80

Unfortunately, that doesn't make any sense from Charlotte's perspective.

Felton's better than Watson (neither has been very good though) and has an expiring contract.

Meanwhile, Mohammed & Diop are about a wash in terms of actual production (or lack there of), but Mohammed's contract is more friendly.

Raymond Felton: 13.2 ppg, 6.1 assists per game
Jason Kidd: 8.7 ppg, 8.3 assists per game

That would be a 51% increase in scoring production from the guard the Mavs are currently starting, but Felton "hasn't been very good"? What NBA are you watching? Felton's a stud, which is why Charlotte won't let him go.

Case closed.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by MavericksFan5912

Raymond Felton: 13.2 ppg, 6.1 assists per game
Jason Kidd: 8.7 ppg, 8.3 assists per game

That would be a 51% increase in scoring production from the guard the Mavs are currently starting, but Felton "hasn't been very good"? What NBA are you watching? Felton's a stud, which is why Charlotte won't let him go.

Case closed.

I rest my case...



I was curious, Looking at your sig., why are the Mavs the team of the future? Because they can not win now?

[Flacolaco]

The Mavericks are more like..."The team of yesterdays future"

[SMC0007]

And also like...."The team of tomorrows past"

[Kidd Karma]

Larry Brown inherited Felton, but picked Augustin in the draft and has been performing above expectations. This is more a move to appease Brown's rotation. Diop gives him the center they originally wanted back in the summer.

Nazr's dea has a team opt out after 2010, which could give us more cash to deal with in the great free agent class. In the present he takes over the 10 minutes Diop has been playing. May is probably a long way away from getting on the court, but if in shape, could be the low post guy we've been looking for and well Felton is insurance for Kidd.

[Silk Smoov]

Originally Posted by Kidd Karma

Larry Brown inherited Felton, but picked Augustin in the draft and has been performing above expectations. This is more a move to appease Brown's rotation. Diop gives him the center they originally wanted back in the summer.

Nazr's dea has a team opt out after 2010, which could give us more cash to deal with in the great free agent class. In the present he takes over the 10 minutes Diop has been playing. May is probably a long way away from getting on the court, but if in shape, could be the low post guy we've been looking for and well Felton is insurance for Kidd.

Sean May is NOT the low post scorer we are looking for. That is an overstatement. May is a trade filler to make things work and he is a injury away from not playing any longer in the NBA.

[alby]

I agree with Silk in regards to May, his best days are behind him.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by alby

I agree with Silk in regards to May, his best days are behind him.

YEah College!

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by alby

I agree with Silk in regards to May, his best days are behind him.

YEah College!

[dalmations202]

I think May could be an awesome player, if he would just unhitch that trailer he is dragging about every day.

He reminds me too much of Oliver Miller.

[mac222b]

I'd take Mohammed or Joe Smith at this point. At least they are something of a threat especially Smith. Haven't seen much of Mohammed lately. Smith is smart and savvy plays good position defense and really knocks down the open jumper. He can guard Duncan and would give us the capability of playing 5 guys who can score, an option we've had um.....never.

[Dirkadirkastan]

I could really go for some "veteran experience" right now.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by Kidd Karma

Larry Brown inherited Felton, but picked Augustin in the draft and has been performing above expectations. This is more a move to appease Brown's rotation. Diop gives him the center they originally wanted back in the summer.

Nazr's dea has a team opt out after 2010, which could give us more cash to deal with in the great free agent class. In the present he takes over the 10 minutes Diop has been playing. May is probably a long way away from getting on the court, but if in shape, could be the low post guy we've been looking for and well Felton is insurance for Kidd.

I think this is pretty much right on until you get to May. We're going to be waiting well past his contract or half of an extension to see May be the low post man we need.

If that's true about Nazr's deal having a team opt out in 2010, that's even better. But I agree with your Felton assessment.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by mac222b

I'd take Mohammed or Joe Smith at this point. At least they are something of a threat especially Smith. Haven't seen much of Mohammed lately. Smith is smart and savvy plays good position defense and really knocks down the open jumper. He can guard Duncan and would give us the capability of playing 5 guys who can score, an option we've had um.....never.

haha, goodjuan

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

I thought I read that OKC isn't getting rid of Joe Smith

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

I could really go for some "veteran experience" right now.

I wonder if Avery would be willing to suit back up.

[alby]

Hoping for May to lose his baby fat is like hoping for Howard's trade value to rise.



Not gonna happen.

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by Rick41

I am completely lost as to what our FO is trying to do these days.

BREAKING NEWS!! Cuban buys new office furniture for Donnie Nelson to help him with his daily routine.

[Kidd Karma]

Starting to get a funny feeling that Nelson maybe prepared to join his father with the Warriors. I mean with the inability to make a trade, it doesn't feel right for a Cuban led team, the team's stuck in mediocrity with 2 HOF players, seems to me at least 2 triggers would have been pulled by now.

Here in GSW land, there's been in fighting between Chris Mullin(last year of contract), VP of business Robert Rowell and Don Nelson(who recently signed on for another 2 or 3 years). Before the season began, Mullin's admin person was let go and Nelson's assistant Larry Riley was moved into that position. I'm thinking as a spy to keep Nellie in the loop as to Mullin's every move. Mullin wanted Davis, Rowell didn't not at the 5 year price tag, Nelson needs veterans and was going to move either Randolph or Wright for Felton, Mullin didn't want to mortgage the future given the suck this year. Now the only thing I would think that is in the way of Donn Nelson going to the Warriors as player personnel would be if Nelson Sr. wanted the job in addition to the coaching. Is it time for Cuban to just axe Donn Nelson and give the job to Westphal?

[mary]

I won't lose any sleep if Donnie goes somewhere else.

The decision making has been extremely sub par for awhile now.

[ghazi]

to standstill would be horrible right now. we need to either blow it up, make moves for 2010, or make moves for 2008. id prefer the latter. CMON Fo PLEASE mY HEART IS ACHiNG!!!

i had a bad dream the other night that the Mavs sucked, but then I woke up and realized that reality and my dream were one and the same!

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by ghazi

we need to either blow it up, make moves for 2010, or make moves for 2008. id prefer the latter.

Isn't it a bit late to do ANYTHING for 2008?

[bobatundi]

Originally Posted by dalmations202

I think May could be an awesome player, if he would just unhitch that trailer he is dragging about every day.

He reminds me too much of Oliver Miller.

I don't get that dude. I mean, I'm fat, because I sit around at a computer all day. His job is to be an athlete, for which he gets paid something like 40x more money than I do. Buy an F'ing treadmill, dude.

[bobatundi]

Norm was talking on the Ticket this morning about how the Mavs' next 12 games are brutal, and they could easily go 4-8--and how, if that happens, the Mavs will have no choice but to make a move. Almost has me hoping for a nice little losing streak. Hell, trade everyone, move up in the Lottery this year, clear cap room for 2009--there will be great discounts on whoever is available in 2009, since every team wants to conserve cap room for 2010.

[Kidd Karma]

Originally Posted by bobatundi

Norm was talking on the Ticket this morning about how the Mavs' next 12 games are brutal, and they could easily go 4-8--and how, if that happens, the Mavs will have no choice but to make a move. Almost has me hoping for a nice little losing streak. Hell, trade everyone, move up in the Lottery this year, clear cap room for 2009--there will be great discounts on whoever is available in 2009, since every team wants to conserve cap room for 2010.

...also take into account how the Celtics current group was built. Pierce in place. Al Jeff put up a double-double, lottery pick and contract. Boom, 2 stalwarts. I mean you have Dirk, parlay Kidd into something picks, young players and expiring salary. Same with Stack-Bass-Diop-Damp-JHo. Build a group around Dirk.

[Robillion]

I would be happy if we could just get rid of everyone except Dirk and Terry and start over this summer... just as long as we got a new GM as well before we started picking up new people in FA

[Stranger]

Originally Posted by Kidd Karma

...also take into account how the Celtics current group was built. Pierce in place. Al Jeff put up a double-double, lottery pick and contract. Boom, 2 stalwarts. I mean you have Dirk, parlay Kidd into something picks, young players and expiring salary. Same with Stack-Bass-Diop-Damp-JHo. Build a group around Dirk.

The only problem with that is taht Pierce was 26-27 when the Celtics got Jefferson in the lottery. It took around 3 years for Jefferson to develop, and for them to assemble enough assets to trade for KG and Allen and have still have depth. If we follow that schedule, Dirk would be around 33-34 and past his prime by the time we would be ready to make a run.