Vague Rumors Persist - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

ddh33 · 01-22-2004, 12:08 AM

From CBS midseason rankings:

Dallas Mavericks: They still don't have an interior game at either end of the court unless Shawn Bradley happens to show up. Adding Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison gave them more offensive firepower, but it hasn't been until the past 10 days that they have actually started playing better. Dirk Nowitzki struggled with a bad ankle and now Steve Nash's hip is a problem. Yes, they miss Nick Van Exel, but they'll get over it. Now the question is, which Antoine (or Antawn) do they trade? Grade: C

Even though this team has played much better lately and looks like they are starting to find their groove, the perception that a deal is forthcoming is going to be something that hangs around until the deadline passes by.

LRB · 01-22-2004, 01:37 AM

With the Mavs history, no matter if we did a blockbuster deal tomorrow, there would still be rumors up until the deadline that yet another was coming. It will take several season without a major trade for this to die down somewhat, but I think it never goes away as long as the Nelsons are involved in management or Cuban is the owner.

ReDIRKulous · 01-22-2004, 01:54 AM

I believe teams are creating these rumors to cause the Mavericks internal problems. It is essentially psychological warfare. Some executive from another organization recently told a Dallas journalist that Finley was being pushed hard in trade talks by the Mavs organization. I personally wouldn't mind Finley being traded... but I don't think the Mavs organization seriously wants to trade Fin, especially considering how well he has been playing lately. All of this creates more pressure for the Mavs players and disrupts our teams concentration. If I was an exec from another organization I would do the same thing.

kg_veteran · 01-22-2004, 09:15 AM

Misleading thread title.

There's no specific rumor here.

ddh33 · 01-22-2004, 02:55 PM

To add one more thing, David Aldridge in his weekly chat mentioned that the Jamison/Wallace deal is dead as of now. But he does think it may get revisited before the deadline.

My point is that rumors - however ridiculous or legit - will continue to swirl around this team until the deadline comes and goes. We better get ready for it.

kingrex · 01-22-2004, 05:15 PM

I welcome it. I'm glad to be a fan of a team that will continue to try to improve itself. I like a team that will never settle for the status quo. So far, I have no problems with any of the trades that the Cuban-Nelson regime has done. No, they're not perfect, but the net result has always been in the positive as far as I can assess.

It's better than being a fan of the Atlanta Hawk where most of their moves are reactionary rather than being proactive.

sike · 01-22-2004, 05:40 PM

good point rex, being a mavericks fan is better than having to cheer on the Hawks.........(what an obvious but true point [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] )

ddh33 · 01-23-2004, 09:43 PM

On ESPNs pre-game show, Stephen A. Smith mentioned that the Mavs and Knicks were still the leaders in the Rasheed sweepstakes. He said that, depsite what we may read, Portland is actually interested in Antoine Walker. According to him, Mark Cuban is reluctant to pull the trigger because he likes Walker so much.

It is Stephen A. Smith, so take it for what it's worth. Like I said, the rumors aren't going away until the deadline passes.

ddh33 · 01-23-2004, 09:58 PM

Apparently, Mark Cuban was on ESPNs halftime show. He said there was no deal with Portland and that we would go to war with the guys that we have. I only caught a part of it though...

ddh33 · 01-23-2004, 11:52 PM

Mike Kahn from CBS Sportsline week in review says that Rasheed won't be coming to Dallas because Portland will not take back the long contract of Jamison. He says that the Knicks are excluded for the same reason. Go figure...It seems pretty obvious to me that no one knows what this franchise is going to do. I think people are just throwing things against the wall, hoping something will stick.

LRB · 01-24-2004, 12:01 AM

That's OK because I would only think about the trade if they took Walker. It's an absolute no for Jamison. For Walker I'd think about it.

Poindexter Einstein · 01-24-2004, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: ddh33
I think people are just throwing things against the wall, hoping something will stick.

Astute analysis.

ddh33 · 01-28-2004, 03:22 PM

From Marc Stein:

The Dallas Mavericks have suddenly won nine straight games, increasingly looking like a group of guys unified in the pursuit of convincing their bosses that another blockbuster trade isn't necessary.

If the Mavericks have a legitimate shot at free agent-to-be Rasheed Wallace between now and the Feb. 19 trading deadline, they have to go for it.

Wallace can't guard Shaquille O'Neal, but who can? What Wallace can do is guard Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber worlds better than anyone on the Mavericks' roster. He has to be properly motivated, of course, but 'Sheed has capabilities no one else in Mavsland has.

Plus, if they could get him now, the Mavericks have a half-season to see first-hand if he can really mesh with Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Michael Finley. It'd be better for the Mavericks to know that before the summer, when they would inevitably be lured into joining the sign-and-trade hunt to land 'Sheed then.

I could blow this off as more media bull if it wasn't Marc Stein. He's one of the few guys I respect...I wish this junk would go away.

MightyToine · 01-28-2004, 05:10 PM

Quote:

On ESPNs pre-game show, Stephen A. Smith mentioned that the Mavs and Knicks were still the leaders in the Rasheed sweepstakes. He said that, depsite what we may read, Portland is actually interested in Antoine Walker. According to him, Mark Cuban is reluctant to pull the trigger because he likes Walker so much.

It is Stephen A. Smith, so take it for what it's worth. Like I said, the rumors aren't going away until the deadline passes.

Quote:

Apparently, Mark Cuban was on ESPNs halftime show. He said there was no deal with Portland and that we would go to war with the guys that we have. I only caught a part of it though...

Well if Cuban wasn't a fan of Walker before, HE SURE BECAME ONE LAST NIGHT WHEN WALKER HIT THE GAME-WINNER!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

kingrex · 01-28-2004, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: MightyToine

Quote:

On ESPNs pre-game show, Stephen A. Smith mentioned that the Mavs and Knicks were still the leaders in the Rasheed sweepstakes. He said that, depsite what we may read, Portland is actually interested in Antoine Walker. According to him, Mark Cuban is reluctant to pull the trigger because he likes Walker so much.

It is Stephen A. Smith, so take it for what it's worth. Like I said, the rumors aren't going away until the deadline passes.

Quote:

Apparently, Mark Cuban was on ESPNs halftime show. He said there was no deal with Portland and that we would go to war with the guys that we have. I only caught a part of it though...

Well if Cuban wasn't a fan of Walker before, HE SURE BECAME ONE LAST NIGHT WHEN WALKER HIT THE GAME-WINNER!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

it was great just to see Walk hit that shot. He needed that for his confidence.

Poindexter Einstein · 01-28-2004, 06:24 PM

"it was great just to see Walk hit that shot. He needed that for his confidence"

Yeah, now he should be confident enough to return to the days of putting up 30 shots a game, yes? lol

ddh33 · 01-28-2004, 11:52 PM

So no one is concerned about these rumors that just won't die? I mean, I expected this from some "sources". If this were Vescey and Sam Smith, I could blow it off. Now, we have Marc Stein still talking up the Rasheed to Dallas angle. Even David Aldridge says that something could still easily happen.

I felt sure that this winning streak would silence all trade talk, but it hasn't. But my question is to all of you. How has the winning streak changed your mind about this team? Does anyone still want Rasheed or do you just want to stand pat?

OutletPass · 01-29-2004, 12:27 AM

Well DD, just a couple of comments:

Newswriters need to sell papers.
ESPN needs to sell Insider and it's magazine...and itself.
Some posters just love to keep posting anything they see anywhere, anytime.
We all love gossip...don't we...especially when it involves the Mavs.
Honestly, it it wasn't brought up here over and over...I'd be paying no attention to it all right now.

But to answer your questions....

Sure, I'll take Sheed...but only for Eddie, TAW, and Best/Delk. Or something along similar lines...and that's what I said before the win streak. But as I said then, I don't trade Walker or Jamison unless I get Sheed AND a serviceable 5. And it doesn't look like Portland has the ability to do that.

Has the win streak changed my mind ?

No, not really...I still want a serviceable 5 to play with Shawn in the playoffs...and I still don't think that's Fortson or Scott Williams...they're both halfway decent parts to throw in at odd moments...

but someone like TAG is what I've got in mind...I know that TAG really isn't doable until the summer...but I'm looking for someone (generally) in that class.

When you consider that Sheed can just walk...we need to be compensated for that risk....and that means another player...who can actually play.

I'm more than a bit tired of talking about the Sheed thing...it's being kept alive in the minds of just a few...

ddh33 · 01-29-2004, 12:38 AM

Maybe I'm just one of those minds keeping it alive. I hope not...Frankly, I wish it would just die and go away. I like this team...I was just trying to report Mavs news and see what the fans opinions were.

I just hope you're right about this all being to sell newspapers.

As far as getting a solid 5 man, I think Scott Williams is about the best we can hope for at the moment. The good news is that I kind of think that may be enough. Certainly, it isn't going to scare anyone, but as long as it is adequate I'll be happy. I think all of forwards can make up most of the difference. But Bradley, Fortson, Williams, Najera, and Dirk may be able to stand up to most teams big guys. Even Walker can switch over in a pich. The problem guys will still be Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, and company. I don't know how anyone will match up with them anyway.

Hopefully, we have enough to really compete. I think we might. I would like to see our guys be given a chance though.