Jamison for Antonio Davis? (Chicago Tribune)

[XERXES]

Sam Smith
Chicago Tribune
1/19/04

Portland's Rasheed Wallace will be the biggest name in trade talks as the NBA's Feb. 19 deadline approaches.

Wallace came up in discussions between Mavericks basketball operations director Donn Nelson and Blazers general manager John Nash on Saturday when Dallas played at Portland.

Nelson said nothing was imminent, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban reportedly nixed a deal of Wallace for Antawn Jamison, Tony Delk and Eduardo Najera.

The Mavs are a good team that should be better. The effort doesn't seem to be there with so many Cuban-inspired personnel changes in the last year. Hard-working role players and locker-room leaders such as Nick Van Exel, Raef LaFrentz, Raja Bell and Adrian Griffin were exchanged for scorers such as Jamison and Antoine Walker. Dallas chemistry has suffered with only five players back from last season's 60-win team and conference finals loser. Not only that, but the team's primary weapons of Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki have been diminished with more offensive options and a mediocre defense has gotten worse.

As a result, rumors flew that veteran coach Don Nelson was on the way out. Nelson did little to spike the talk. "Change can be good, and if that happens, they'll be no stones cast by this side," Nelson said.

Cuban, engaging Nelson in a long clear-the-air session, was having none of it and told Dallas reporters: "Nobody's getting fired. I'm not going to let Nellie sit in Hawaii and play golf and get a suntan if I can't get one. He's got to stay here and work this thing out and get it to the next level. I wasn't going to do the old vote-of-confidence thing, because that's a kiss of death. I wanted to tell him that, with all the [expletive] going on, you ain't going anywhere."

Cuban reportedly hadn't talked much with Nelson this season before last week's meeting, has questioned the coaching in front of the team and called Nelson "a drama queen" for his behavior. Nelson threw the roster makeup responsibility onto Cuban. "Everybody is cranky right now," Cuban said after the meeting. "There's nothing different there."

Let's make a deal: Dallas plays the Bulls here on Friday. Maybe the Mavs would be willing to talk about trading for Antonio Davis. They need a role-playing, front-line defensive player, and the Bulls need to get rid of Davis as quickly as possible.

Davis is all wrong for the Bulls. He made some sense when there was some chance to support Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler in a playoff run, but that's over. Every minute Davis plays puts the Bulls that much further away from truly finding out about Curry and being able to move on with him and Chandler or to begin making trade plans for them.

The deal to make now is Davis for Jamison. Not only is Jamison an extra part for the Mavs, but he's also under contract through 2007-08. Davis' deal ends after 2005-06. The trade would save the Mavs more than $30 million and give them the kind of team defender they need. Jamison is a legitimate offensive force who could make up for the scoring loss of Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall. He can play small forward, the Bulls' thinnest position, and even some power forward in the East. But, more important, the deal would open up more playing time for Curry. Because even if the Bulls were to make the playoffs with Davis, Jerome Williams and Scottie Pippen, what would that accomplish?

[madape]

Why do writers in Chicago and New York think Mark Cuban is an idiot?

[Simon2]

Don't like this trade. I'd rather have Jamison.

[Male30Dan]

Just like Lenny:



This post constipates my mind!

[kg_veteran]

In fairness to Sam Smith (a noted Cuban hater), this column is only written from the Chicago point of view.

Sure, it'd be great if the Bulls could steal Jamison for a washed-up Davis.

There's a reason Smith isn't enamored with Davis. It's because he's done.

Davis was good five years ago. Now, he shoots 40% (READ: can't finish), doesn't get to the line, and doesn't block shots.

He doesn't even fill a defensive need on this team. If I want a non-scorer who will go out and be a "tough-nosed defender" in the paint, I'll just sign Rodman to a 10-day contract.

[Male30Dan]

KG,

You, like I, are looking like Lenny above!!! We are trying hard not to shart, (damn funny line from "Along Came Polly"), ourselves from this nonsense... At least we gave GS a clutch PG in return when we cleaned their clock... Antonio Davis would be a great pickup with our exception if Chicago would cut him. He could also be useful if they want to package the cheaper contracts of Chandler or Curry our way along with his massive contract to get one of our massive contracts. But those are the ONLY ways I would look towards putting Davis in a Mav uniform!

[Jamisonite]

Chicago trades: PF Antonio Davis (9.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.5 apg in 33.2 minutes)
PF Jerome Williams (7.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.1 apg in 27.9 minutes)
SG Kendall Gill (10.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg in 26.1 minutes)
Chicago receives: SF Antawn Jamison (15.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 apg in 30.2 minutes)
SF Tariq Abdul-Wahad (15.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 apg in 30.2 minutes)
SF Eduardo Najera (3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.7 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -7.8 ppg, -11.7 rpg, and -3.1 apg.

Dallas trades: SF Antawn Jamison (15.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 apg in 30.2 minutes)
SF Tariq Abdul-Wahad (15.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 apg in 30.2 minutes)
SF Eduardo Najera (3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg in 13.7 minutes)
Dallas receives: PF Antonio Davis (9.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.5 apg in 39 games)
PF Jerome Williams (7.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.1 apg in 39 games)
SG Kendall Gill (10.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg in 40 games)
Change in team outlook: +7.8 ppg, +11.7 rpg, and +3.1 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

Keeping it up...but dont like the deal nemore lol

[Male30Dan]

With the great, hard-nosed rebounding coming back along with the loss of Wahad, one would really have to think about pulling the trigger for this deal.

We certainly get tougher and bigger inside, but we lose a great inside scorer/slasher... It is only because of a player like Jamison slashing to the hoop that allows a great passer like Walker to shine...

A sweetheart of a deal may be pushing it, but I think I make that trade...

[kg_veteran]

No thanks.

[XERXES]

This is definitely a "sweetheart of a deal..."








for Chicago...

[Jamisonite]

I love what the "Junk Yard" dog would bring to the table defensively. Only problem is i just now realized how long his contract is:-/ so u might have to count me out on that

[Dirkenstien]

I like the trade but I wouldnt say it is a sweetheart of a deal unless we could pry away Chandler or Curry as well

[SeriousSummer]

No way Chicago gives up Chandler or Curry. I might look at it if Chicago throws in its number 1 draft pick.

[LRB]

Jamison in any combination for Davis not involving Curry or Chandler is right out IMO. If we change Walker for Jamison and Chicago throws in their #1 draft pick then I might do it.

[kg_veteran]

There are only two players I really like in Chicago: Chandler and Hinrich. And they're not trading either one.

[uberfan]

Is this the Official Stupidiest Sam Smith trade of all time?

[grndmstr_c]

Originally posted by: uberfan
Is this the Official Stupidiest Sam Smith trade of all time?

yes

[kg_veteran]

I believe it is.

Watch out tomorrow for the Randy Galloway "Why don't the Mavs trade Bradley for Shaq?" column.

[uberfan]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c

yes

Watch his next incarnation of this trade scenario, watch him replace Jamison with Finley.

[sike]

this will not happen, you dont trade young, near all star talent for old wheels with no tread....

[bernardos70]

What's up with chicago writers? Get off the mavs, jeez, we don't want business with you unless we're getting chandler, ok? And at that, for a reasonable price.

[sike]

Originally posted by: bernardos70
What's up with chicago writers? Get off the mavs, jeez, we don't want business with you unless we're getting chandler, ok? And at that, for a reasonable price.

well said Berni, but I dont think they are listening! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[Poindexter Einstein]

How about something like Davis PLUS Chandler ...for Walker, Delk, and Daniels? There might need to be some sort of cap balancing, but would Chicago trade Chandler in order to get Davis off the books, plus get some good players back?

[OutletPass]

Nice one , bernardos...my thinking exactly.

Jamison for Antonio D. is absolutley the WORST trade that I've seen floated, yet. HELL NO

There is an ESPN report today that the Bulls might be willing to deal Chandler/Curry/Crwaford...

and Chandler interests me...BUT Antonio freaking Davis ? No, No, No...

[LRB]

Dallas trades: SG Marquis Daniels (4.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.8 apg in 10.2 minutes)
PG Tony Delk (6.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.8 apg in 16.3 minutes)
PF Antoine Walker (16.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.4 apg in 38.2 minutes)
Dallas receives: PF Tyson Chandler (13.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.0 apg in 28.6 minutes)
PF Antonio Davis (9.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 apg in 33.1 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -4.8 ppg, +7.0 rpg, and -4.4 apg.

Chicago trades: PF Tyson Chandler (13.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.0 apg in 28.6 minutes)
PF Antonio Davis (9.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 apg in 33.1 minutes)
Chicago receives: SG Marquis Daniels (4.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.8 apg in 25 games)
PG Tony Delk (6.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.8 apg in 29 games)
PF Antoine Walker (16.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.4 apg in 40 games)
Change in team outlook: +4.8 ppg, -7.0 rpg, and +4.4 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED


I'd do it, but I doubt Chicago would.

[sike]

no way the bulls do it....but form the mavs side....yeah, in a heart beat....lose an offensive option and shooting liability(who can pass and board) and gain toughness and rebounding...yeah, I do that deal....

[MightyToine]

I say we forget this stupid trade.

Walker NEEDS Jamison.


It's like Passing to himself for a layup!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]


TOINE TO TWAN!

[EricaLubarsky]

Why do writers in Chicago and New York think Mark Cuban is an idiot?

[kingrex]

Sam Smith is cut from the same cloth as Peter Vecsey, both guys can't stand the fact that Cuban is an owner who makes better moves than the NBA owners of their respective teams.

Yeah-they're-just-jealous argument has been deployed here. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]