Mike James joins the Texas Legends - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

spreedom · 01-03-2013, 08:41 PM

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/...ue-sources-say

Quote:

Mike James to audition for Mavs

In an attempt to convince the Dallas Mavericks that he can help them, veteran point guard Mike James is joining the D-League's Texas Legends in time for Saturday's game against Tulsa, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.

After playing for 10 NBA teams, most recently last season with the Chicago Bulls, James has cleared the D-League waiver process to become eligible to sign with the Legends as a free agent.

James arrived in town Thursday with no guarantees from the Mavericks, sources said, but the 37-year-old has been lobbying them to let him audition for a roster spot by playing in a few games with the Legends to prove he can help stabilize their backcourt.

James used the D-League as a springboard to reignite his NBA career last season as well, joining the Erie BayHawks in time for the annual 16-team D-League Showcase this past January and getting the call from the Bulls to replace the injured Derrick Rose after just one game with Erie.

NBA teams can start signing players to 10-day contracts as of Saturday. The 2013 D-League Showcase, meanwhile, is next week in Reno, with James eligible to be called up by any NBA team if he plays well. Even though James will be playing for the Mavericks' D-League affiliate, Dallas holds no exclusivity in terms of James' NBA rights.

James averaged 20.3 points and 5.8 assists for the Toronto Raptors in his breakout season of 2005-06 and then negotiated seriously with Dallas in free agency before opting to join the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Mavericks have been looking to strengthen their options at point guard all season thanks to the ups and downs endured by projected starter Darren Collison and a lack of progress from holdover youngsters Dominique Jones and Rodrigue Beaubois. The Mavs also waived Delonte West in November after employing West for one season and had veteran Derek Fisher on board for only nine games before the team and Fisher mutually agreed to part company before Christmas.

The Mavericks were pleased with Fisher's contributions, sources said, and have not ruled out the concept of signing another veteran point guard down the road. Yet it's no given that Dallas will go that route again, especially if Collison can build on his recent success over the past five games.

After waiving Fisher, Dallas called up high-scoring swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts from the Legends to fill its 15th and final open roster slot.

I'd be surprised if he ended up getting a spot here (being that our interest in him was like 7 years ago) but there's no way he could be any worse than Dojo.

nowhereman · 01-03-2013, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

I'd be surprised if he ended up getting a spot here (being that our interest in him was like 7 years ago) but there's no way he could be any worse than Dojo.

I'm not so sure

saclare · 01-03-2013, 09:14 PM

Help is on the way!

adonis · 01-03-2013, 09:56 PM

Cubes will bring back Danny Fortson soon, lol

chumdawg · 01-03-2013, 11:53 PM

What a shock! I mean, Mike James has seriously played for only ten teams??

mac222b · 01-04-2013, 12:21 AM

It cant hurt to have him on stand-by, in case of injury. Otherwise i dont see the point(no pun intended). Rather give Roddy the 10-20 mins. per game

Budapest Maverick · 01-04-2013, 06:39 AM

Guy couldn't run a team when he was 28, a notorious chucker, they would be better off signing the best pure point of the d-league, or try somebody from Europe.

oilfieldtrash · 01-04-2013, 10:44 AM

This will probably be the final straw for me being done for the year. This team has no sense of direction.

SMC0007 · 01-04-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilfieldtrash

This will probably be the final straw for me being done for the year. This team has no sense of direction.

Does this mean you will also be done posting here for the year?

spreedom · 01-04-2013, 11:17 AM

I think we would have been better off claiming Shaun Livingston off of waivers than signing CDR (though I'm a big fan of his scoring ability).

spreedom · 01-04-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilfieldtrash

This will probably be the final straw for me being done for the year. This team has no sense of direction.

Yeah that 15th roster spot is crucial and we're making a mockery of the franchise by rotating guys in and out. What a joke.

Kante · 01-04-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Does this mean you will also be done posting here for the year?

Beat me... But one can only hope he is!

jamaljasonandjimmy · 01-04-2013, 02:22 PM

related to bernard tho

j0Shi · 01-04-2013, 02:36 PM

No thx.

Dan1 · 01-04-2013, 03:18 PM

Seriously?

Bayliss · 01-04-2013, 03:24 PM

Yeah. I really don't see the point in bringing him into the mix. His heyday was 6 years ago. And he hasn't played anything meaningful in at least a year.

EricaLubarsky · 01-04-2013, 06:07 PM

If we had Nelson, he'd be having wet dreams about Tornike Shengelia as his point forward.

22pts, 12ast, 10reb average, but he's a stiff

spreedom · 01-07-2013, 01:23 AM

CDR was waived today, FWIW. I don't think Mike James is anything close to "the answer" but I can't think of a ton of great options out there that can help out at point. Might have to be a trade at this point.

spreedom · 01-07-2013, 02:20 PM

Rockets waived Scott Machado today -- he still has a little too much Rucker Park in his game to be a full-time PG, but he couldn't be worse than Roddy and Dojo as far as running an offense is concerned.

LonghornDub · 01-07-2013, 03:03 PM

Mavs are signing James to a 10-day contract, per Stein.

If you didn't see this coming....

EricaLubarsky · 01-07-2013, 03:05 PM

Pretty sad state of the Mavs. Pretty. Pretty sad.

Kante · 01-07-2013, 03:17 PM

Really? Wow...

SMC0007 · 01-07-2013, 03:19 PM

Welp, we can close the "our main problems" thread!

Dirkadirkastan · 01-07-2013, 04:08 PM

The only memorable thing this guy has ever done is get himself tossed out of Game 7.

BPo001 · 01-07-2013, 04:08 PM

Is it possible to get Nick Calathes over here? I remember he re-signed in Greece, but why not see what he's got? I thought in the offseason he was talking about wanting to give te NBA a try this year.

SMC0007 · 01-07-2013, 04:11 PM

"James, 37, scored 26 points in three quarters Saturday night in his Legends debut against Tulsa."

j0Shi · 01-07-2013, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPo001

Is it possible to get Nick Calathes over here?

At this point I'm wondering whether this would be the better move. But Mavs obviously still trying/believing to make the playoffs, so veterans galore.

grndmstr_c · 01-07-2013, 04:29 PM

10-day contract = yawn.

j0Shi · 01-07-2013, 04:56 PM

Btw.: Not really concerned, but I'd say there is a possibility that the Mavs will miss the point where they have to surrender the season, bc the playoffs are out of reach, and start to think about next year rather than this one.

EricaLubarsky · 01-07-2013, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Btw.: Not really concerned, but I'd say there is a possibility that the Mavs will miss the point where they have to surrender the season, bc the playoffs are out of reach, and start to think about next year rather than this one.

I think of myself as a Mavs optimist, but even I think we may already be there. We'd have to go 28-20 just to get to .500, but even .500 isn't going to be enough with another strong Western Conference. We'll most likely need to go 31-17 or better from tonight on to even have a chance.

I think this team is going to get a lot better as the season goes on, but they aren't going to get to 31-17 (0.645) for the rest of the season. The hill just keeps getting steeper every loss and I think for this moderately talented team we've already hit the angle of repose.

markus1234 · 01-07-2013, 05:46 PM

61-21.

I am joking of course. But playoffs are still possible. Dirk needs to be 100% and other guys need to step up finally.

j0Shi · 01-07-2013, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I think we may already be there. We'd have to go 28-20 just to get to .500, but even .500 isn't going to be enough with another strong Western Conference. We'll most likely need to go 31-17 or better from tonight on to even have a chance.

I think this team is going to get a lot better as the season goes on, but they aren't going to get to 31-17 (0.645) for the rest of the season, even if we've already gotten some of our hard matchups out of the way.

I'm right with you especially since we're competing against one of the toughest remaining schedules from now on.

But calling up mummies from the D-League on 10-Days doesn't make me suspect the worst although I think other guys are better suited with the PT.

I just don't want them to trade away any remaining upside and youth on this team for the slightest chance of making the playoffs in example.

oilfieldtrash · 01-07-2013, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

Yeah that 15th roster spot is crucial and we're making a mockery of the franchise by rotating guys in and out. What a joke.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I think of myself as a Mavs optimist, but even I think we may already be there. We'd have to go 28-20 just to get to .500, but even .500 isn't going to be enough with another strong Western Conference. We'll most likely need to go 31-17 or better from tonight on to even have a chance.

I think this team is going to get a lot better as the season goes on, but they aren't going to get to 31-17 (0.645) for the rest of the season. The hill just keeps getting steeper every loss and I think for this moderately talented team we've already hit the angle of repose.

Mavs need to go 33-15 minimum (69%) to even sniff a playoff spot. The last 8 years 46 wins is the lowest number of wins a team has needed to get in. Realistically they'd need even more wins than that. Lower 70% winning percentage from here on out.

j0Shi · 01-07-2013, 05:54 PM

West is loaded so you maybe could sneak in with 44 and the right tiebreakers. But bottom line is: Pray.

oilfieldtrash · 01-07-2013, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markus1234

61-21.

I am joking of course. But playoffs are still possible. Dirk needs to be 100% and other guys need to step up finally.

You do realize this is a thread to discuss the acquisition of a 37 year old Mike James to see if he can hold down the PG position and you're talking playoffs?

j0Shi · 01-08-2013, 03:15 PM

It's done. I hope he won't crack the rotation at any time and will disappear quietly on the 18th.

nowhereman · 01-08-2013, 05:30 PM

LOL

Quote:

Earl K. Sneed:
Carlisle on comparisons between Fisher and James: "Ummm He's younger ... by a year."

Kante · 01-17-2013, 02:59 PM

Ugh...

Quote:

The obvious is official: The Mavericks will sign Mike James to a second 10-day contract.

Coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that after Thursday’s practice. The fact that James played a significant role in the Mavs’ win Wednesday night over the Rockets, helping close out Houston, offered a pretty strong clue he’d be back.

“Coach is continuously putting trust in me out there on the court, and I’m going to continue taking advantage of it,” James said. “I’ve been here before. I’ve been an NBA player longer in my career than I’ve played any other place, so I’m just going to continue taking full advantage of this.”

After the second 10-day contract expires, the Mavs will have to make a decision on whether they want to keep James, which would mean guaranteeing his veteran minimum salary for the rest of the season.

The 37-year-old James has eight points and five assists in five appearances for the Mavs, his 11th NBA franchise. However, Carlisle appreciates James’ physical, intense defense and solid decision-making, attributes reflected by the fact that the Mavs have outscored foes by 20 points in his 41 minutes on the floor.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m not supposed to be nowhere but the NBA,” said James, who has had several overseas stints and worked his way back into the NBA via the D-League the last two seasons. “I don’t think I’m a FIBA player. I don’t think I’m a D-League player. I know I’m an NBA player.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/maver...er-10-day-deal

SMC0007 · 01-17-2013, 03:40 PM

Well, to my eye he has shaky handles under pressure, Hasn't shot the ball well, hasn't finished well, and hasn't been vey much better than Roddy/Collison on defense. It seems like he has started to see where guys are a little better lately but I'm not thrilled that Roddy isn't getting more leash. I don't HATE that he is getting 20 days to prove himself, but he needs to bring more to the table in his second term to convince me he's worth keeping around and worth keeping Roddy on wood more often.

grndmstr_c · 01-17-2013, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Well, to my eye he has shaky handles under pressure, Hasn't shot the ball well, hasn't finished well, and hasn't been vey much better than Roddy/Collison on defense. It seems like he has started to see where guys are a little better lately but I'm not thrilled that Roddy isn't getting more leash. I don't HATE that he is getting 20 days to prove himself, but he needs to bring more to the table in his second term to convince me he's worth keeping around and worth keeping Roddy on wood more often.

Agreed on all counts. Particularly about his handles under pressure. He's somehow survived that shakiness because his almost-TOs have tended to miraculously end up in the hands of another Mav, but I don't at all feel comfortable with his ball protection.

I will say, Re: his PT last night and Rick's comments about his defense, that I'm inclined to chalk the former up to the dual facts that the renewal decision on his 10-day was coming up and that Booby had gotten a little sloppy in his approach the previous couple games, and to interpret the latter as a not-so-subtle motivational nudge to Darren.

I think I'm only this year really getting the full picture of how ruthless and pervasive Rick can be in his efforts to develop the kind of mindset he's looking for in the young guys.