Mavs ready to dance, can't find partner

[MavsFanFinley]

Mavs ready to dance, can't find partner
Team waits through 'one of the most boring drafts' in team history

EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

The Mavericks had nine telephones scattered on a U-shaped table in their draft room. A high-tech calculator was at the ready to crunch whatever numbers were needed.

They were ready to wheel and deal, as usual. But there were no willing partners on this night.

"One of the most boring drafts in Mavericks history," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said after emerging from the room. "We had a couple things going late in the first round. But we kind of expected this day would pass without any movement."

This is the 26th draft in Mavericks history, but the first in which they did not own a single selection.

If they'd kept their first-round pick, rather than shipping it to Utah for center project Pavel Podkolzin last June, the Mavericks could have taken Kansas' Wayne Simien, who was available at the 27th pick. Portland ended up taking Limas Kleiza after trading with Utah for the Mavericks' pick.

Also on the board: Calvin Miles of Skyline High School, who went to Utah in the second round.

Things were quiet in the Mavericks' draft room. Most teams who were willing to talk trade with the Mavericks were eager to pry away either Josh Howard, Devin Harris or Marquis Daniels.

"You have to give to get, and we weren't willing to put those guys out there," Nelson said. "Bottom line is there wasn't a guy outside of the lottery who would help us win a playoff game next season."

And so, the Mavs turned their attention to other ways to improve. They have three avenues:

• An assortment of players who went undrafted could be on the Mavericks' radar to sign as free agents. The Mavericks hit a jackpot with Daniels, who went undrafted two years ago.

Less than an hour after the draft, the Mavs had signed Michael Harris from Rice and Rawle Marshall from Oakland (Mich.) University to their summer league team.

"There are no 'Marquis Daniels' promises, but we're hoping we can get a couple of guys into summer camp," Nelson said.

A few possibilities: Alabama's 6-6 Kennedy Winston, North Carolina's 6-9 Jawad Williams and Kansas' 6-4 Keith Langford, a North Crowley High alumnus.

• More likely, the Mavericks will wait until teams start waiving veterans under the one-time "amnesty" rule that is part of the new collective-bargaining agreement.

Just as the Mavs will waive Michael Finley to relieve luxury-tax burdens, other teams will jettison players. Among those that could be included in that group: New York's Allan Houston, Portland's Reuben Patterson and Memphis' Jason Williams or James Posey.

"Absolutely," said Nelson when asked Tuesday if he expected the Mavericks to be in the mix for players who might be cut.

• The team also has a mid-level salary cap exception, likely over $5 million, to spend. And there's always the possibility of a trade.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley

Things were quiet in the Mavericks' draft room. Most teams who were willing to talk trade with the Mavericks were eager to pry away either Josh Howard, Devin Harris or Marquis Daniels.

"You have to give to get, and we weren't willing to put those guys out there," Nelson said. "Bottom line is there wasn't a guy outside of the lottery who would help us win a playoff game next season."

That's the most encouraging thing I've heard Donnie say in quite some time.

[DubOverdose]

Originally posted by: Thespiralgoeson

That's the most encouraging thing I've heard Donnie say in quite some time.

It really is. I thought the team had lost a lot of hope in Daniels, so its nice to hear that they still believe in him and that he'll be able to produce. I also like that Nelson was talking about winning next season, not waiting for anyone to develop.

[FINtastic]

I would love to see the mavs try to pick up Jawad or Winston on the summer league roster.

I'm glad to see the Mavs stay put. There weren't going to be any trades out there that were going to make the team better.

[alby]

Players get burned out and fatigued by too much basketball, I'm sure coaches too. Hope AJ will be okay, even though I know he is just trying to soak everything in right now and gain experience.

[#1MavsFan]

We should have landed a draft pick as soon as Gerald and Danny G started to free fall. They're both going to be stars in this league soon.

[alby]

Have you seen the McD's Dunk Contest that Gerald Green won this year, he can really get up. I mean up.