[ESPN] Top 10 small moves that matter most - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

accsuperstar · 08-09-2006, 02:46 PM

Top 10 small moves that matter most
By Antonio Williams
Scouts Inc.

Most of the offseason headlines are made when players like Ben Wallace and Peja Stojakovic switch uniforms, of course.

But when it comes to wins and losses, small, smart moves can make a big difference, too.

Here are the 10 moves that should have the largest impact at the lowest cost.

1. Mavericks sign Devean George
Dallas, fresh off its first appearance in the NBA Finals, bolstered its roster by adding the former Laker. The Mavericks had to spend only $4.2 million over two seasons to sign George.

George, who won three NBA championships with Los Angeles, will provide the Mavericks with another playoff-tested perimeter defender to complement Dallas' potent offensive weapons: Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. George has the ability to slide into the starting lineup, if needed, and defend at the shooting guard and small forward positions.

George can make 3-pointers and stretch the opposing defense, though the Mavericks do not need a lot of scoring from him. George's energy and enthusiasm should also come in handy for the Mavericks.

2. Nuggets acquire J.R. Smith
J.R. Smith
Smith
Denver picked up Smith from Chicago and had to part only with a player it did not intend to keep in Howard Eisley and two second-round picks. Smith proved early last season that when given playing time he can score in the NBA. He played 26.5 minutes per game for the New Orleans Hornets in November and December last season, scoring 11.5 points. Smith has the athleticism and scoring ability the Nuggets have lacked from the shooting guard position for the last two seasons. Smith also wants to prove that the Hornets made a mistake by not playing him. After the strong start last season, he played in just 30 games the rest of the season and averaged just 11 minutes per game. He was traded to Chicago in July, then promptly shipped to Denver.

Smith has the potential to develop into one of the better young scorers in the NBA. If coach George Karl can find a way to channel Smith's energies on defense, the Nuggets might have found, at a cheap price, the shooting-guard that will help take some of the burden off Carmelo Anthony. Smith still plays on his rookie contract.

3. Pacers acquire Marquis Daniels
In their efforts to gain more youth and athleticism, the Pacers traded for the multitalented Daniels, while giving up only a player who did not fit into their plans: Austin Croshere.

Injuries and decreased playing time have hindered Daniels the last two seasons. The Pacers will give Daniels the chance to return to his form of the 2003-04 season, when he displayed his versatility on both sides of the ball.

Daniels has the ability to penetrate and score, and he can give the Pacers significant minutes at both guard positions as well as small forward.

4. Pistons sign Ronald Murray
After losing to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals and losing Wallace to Chicago in free agency, the Pistons had to make some changes to both their roster and team philosophy.

Flip Murray will fit right into the more up-tempo offensive game that head coach Flip Saunders will employ this year. Acquiring Murray at the relatively cheap price of a two-year, $3.6 million contract will provide Detroit with the scoring combo guard it needs off the bench. Murray has the ability to score in bunches and will provide much-needed relief for both Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.

5. Mavericks acquire Anthony Johnson
Anthony Johnson
Johnson
In trading Darrell Armstrong, Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell to the Indiana Pacers for Johnson, Dallas picked up a very solid point guard and had to part only with Armstrong's leadership and two young players who were buried on the bench.

Johnson plays as a true point guard, which will complement the scoring skills of Jason Terry and Devin Harris on the Mavericks' roster. Johnson's extensive playoff experience with New Jersey and Indiana can only help a Dallas team with championship aspirations. As the starter in place of the injured Jamaal Tinsley in last spring's playoffs, Johnson averaged 20 points and 5.2 assists per game for Indiana. Johnson also will help Dallas defensively.

6. Wizards sign DeShawn Stevenson
For the second consecutive season, the Wizards had to replace a player who got a significant offer from another team. Last offseason, the Wizards did not enter into a bidding war with Cleveland for Larry Hughes and rebounded nicely by adding Caron Butler. This offseason, instead of matching the five-year, $30 million offer Jared Jeffries received from the Knicks, Washington signed Stevenson at a fraction of the cost.

Stevenson has great athleticism and penetrating ability -- he should fit right into the Washington's up-tempo motion attack. He will provide the Wizards with a defender off the bench at the shooting guard position, allowing Antonio Daniels to play more minutes as the backup point guard.

7. Raptors sign Fred Jones
Fred Jones
Jones
After John Salmons backed out of an agreement with the team, the Raptors recovered nicely by adding Jones. At three years and $11 million, Jones comes cheaper than the deal Salmons nearly signed.

The former slam-dunk champion has the explosiveness and athleticism that could enable him to flourish in the up-tempo system GM Bryan Colangelo wants to incorporate in Toronto. Like a great number of players, Jones has shown he can produce in the NBA when given significant minutes. Jones had a good stretch for the Pacers during the 2004-05 season, when he played extensively due to the suspensions related to the infamous brawl in Detroit. In Jones, the Raptors could have an electrifying scorer to pair with new point guard T.J. Ford in the backcourt.

8. Spurs sign Jackie Butler and Francisco Elson
After trading the unwanted contract of Rasho Nesterovic and not re-signing Nazr Mohammed, the Spurs needed to replenish the center position behind Tim Duncan. They did so by signing restricted free agents Butler from the Knicks and Elson from the Nuggets. At a combined $13 million, San Antonio will not pay nearly as much for Butler and Elson as they would have for Nesterovic and Mohammed.

Both players are younger and more athletic than Nesterovic and Mohammed, and both will work the boards with aggression and do a decent job as shot blockers while Duncan handles the heavy lifting in the post. When given the minutes, Butler and Elson have shown they can play as serviceable centers in the NBA.

9. Lakers acquire Maurice Evans
The Lakers, in need of more perimeter scoring after their playoff implosion, acquired shooting guard Evans from the Detroit Pistons for the draft rights to 2006 second-round pick Cheick Samb. Though Samb has the potential to develop, he probably will not help the Pistons in the near future, while Evans should pay immediate dividends for the Lakers.

Evans did not play much in Detroit this past season, after having a very solid 2004-05 campaign with the Sacramento Kings. Los Angeles will give Evans every chance to provide the Lakers with a viable scoring option off the bench, which the Lakers sorely lacked last season. The physical Evans also plays decent defense, as the Lakers will look to lessen the load on Kobe Bryant next season.

10. Magic re-sign Trevor Ariza
Trevor Ariza
Ariza
Ariza, acquired from the New York Knicks in the Steve Francis trade-deadline deal last February, plays with great energy, particularly on the defensive end. He has the potential to develop into a defensive stopper in the league.

Ariza also has the athleticism that teams love to see in small forwards. He still needs to develop his jump shot and ballhandling as he continues to mature, but Ariza has the chance to develop as part of the young core in Orlando that includes Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Darko Milicic.

Antonio Williams is an NBA scout with Marty Blake and Associates and a regular contributor to ESPN's Scouts Inc.

Flacolaco · 08-09-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by accsuperstar

Top 10 small moves that matter most
By Antonio Williams
Scouts Inc.

8. Spurs sign Jackie Butler and Francisco Elson
After trading the unwanted contract of Rasho Nesterovic and not re-signing Nazr Mohammed, the Spurs needed to replenish the center position behind Tim Duncan. They did so by signing restricted free agents Butler from the Knicks and Elson from the Nuggets. At a combined $13 million, San Antonio will not pay nearly as much for Butler and Elson as they would have for Nesterovic and Mohammed.

Both players are younger and more athletic than Nesterovic and Mohammed, and both will work the boards with aggression and do a decent job as shot blockers while Duncan handles the heavy lifting in the post. When given the minutes, Butler and Elson have shown they can play as serviceable centers in the NBA.

Putting the Mavs moves on the same list with these (and Quisy for Indiana, lol...) somehow doesn't make me feel good about things....

fluid.forty.one · 08-09-2006, 02:55 PM

Nice... I also like how daniels made number 3. I wish him the best of luck.

V2M · 08-09-2006, 03:36 PM

Good to see 2 of the top 10 small moves were made by the Mavs. Between the two though, I probably would have put AJ's signing ahead of Devean's.

WurzburgBorn · 08-09-2006, 03:41 PM

I think AJ is a better player than George generally, but I like the signing of George more because of the Mavs lack of players at small forward.

EricaLubarsky · 08-09-2006, 03:45 PM

Croshere (the other side of the Daniels trade) might also be mentioned. Its a small move, but Croshere is a hard worker, and will get Dirk some rest.

fluid.forty.one · 08-09-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WurzburgBorn

I think AJ is a better player than George generally, but I like the signing of George more because of the Mavs lack of players at small forward.

Plus we got george for cheap and w/o having to give up any players. Besides, george has actually won championships.

V2M · 08-09-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WurzburgBorn

I think AJ is a better player than George generally, but I like the signing of George more because of the Mavs lack of players at small forward.

I like AJ's signing better not just because he's presently seen as a better player (he just scored 40 in a playoff game against Kidd, etc.), but for the simple fact that his signing allows us to play more of Terry & Devin together. Last year, our best lineup (I haven't looked this up!) had 'em both, I believe.

George is good and, at the time, our only remaining need was a big backup SF. But I'm not sure if he'll get much playing time with the multitude of swing players we got already.

V2M · 08-09-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

Plus we got george for cheap and w/o having to give up any players. Besides, george has actually won championships.

I don't think we gave up any players for AJ.

fluid.forty.one · 08-09-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V2M

I don't think we gave up any players for AJ.

A lot of people had high hopes for powell.

nashtymavsfan13 · 08-09-2006, 04:58 PM

Good to see two of the ten were made by the Mavs. I'm very happy with the offseason they had.

spreedom · 08-09-2006, 06:36 PM

I think the smaller moves like all of these are the most interesting part of the offseason. The biggest, juiciest rumors rarely come to pass, so I've stopped caring about them.. but I think just about all of the players on this list can have a significant impact off the bench for these teams. The offseason is so much fun!

chumdawg · 08-09-2006, 06:38 PM

I don't reckon there've been too many large moves this summer. At least not so far.

rabbitproof · 08-09-2006, 06:39 PM

Ben Wallace was the big splash of the summer.

V2M · 08-09-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

A lot of people had high hopes for powell.

The operative word there is "had". I had hopes for him and Marshall as well. But the key is that the MBT don't seem to be too high on either of 'em. It was reported earlier that they don't intend to bring 'em back if or when the Pacers waive 'em.

V2M · 08-09-2006, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbitproof

Ben Wallace was the big splash of the summer.

Peja comes second.

Tokey41 · 08-09-2006, 06:47 PM

Wait until next year for the big moves

nashtymavsfan13 · 08-09-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tokey41

Wait until next year for the big moves

Why would we make big moves? Other than signing Dirk and Jho to extensions.

gps · 08-09-2006, 08:03 PM

Actually, we have the number one spot on the list, and 2 of the top 5.

Darth Ape · 08-09-2006, 08:39 PM

Devean George is the most inconsequencial move the Mavs made this summer. I'd be suprised if he even plays in 40 games this year. Heck, even Buckner was a better move than this.

Croshere SHOULD be the key acquisition. However, I'm not confident Avery will play him the minutes he deserves.

Drbio · 08-09-2006, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Croshere (the other side of the Daniels trade) might also be mentioned. Its a small move, but Croshere is a hard worker, and will get Dirk some rest.

Honestly, I think this might ultimately be the most important move. I lvoe the George signing because he is battle tested, plays defense and he's intelligent. AJ was a steal so he slots in there too. The Mavs have done very well this offseason and the other teams of the NBA had better take note.

fluid.forty.one · 08-09-2006, 08:57 PM

Well... we did have KVH, who is just a worse version of Croshere... So if we lose Van horn even, we will still be only slightly better off than before.

Five-ofan · 08-09-2006, 09:12 PM

This is the same group that said that kobe had no one on his team who was any good last year. Yet now that George who was a backup on that team goes to the mavs he is some great player? Devean george is not good. Im done saying that i swear because Im starting to come off like Ape does about damp where it looks like i hope he doesnt do well. dont get me wrong, I hope im wrong more than anyone because I want everyone on the mavs to do well. Even Stack. Heck i even hoped for Walker to do well when he was here. I just dont expect him to do so.

jthig32 · 08-09-2006, 09:44 PM

I tend to fall somewhere in the middle. I think George is going to be a nice signing, but only because I think he's going to be the 9th guy in the rotation. Assuming that, I'm not sure how he can top any kind of list for best offseason moves, even if it is for small moves.

I consider the AJ and Cro moves FAR more important to the season.

Tokey41 · 08-09-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashtymavsfan13

Why would we make big moves? Other than signing Dirk and Jho to extensions.

I meant for the league in general, lots of good free agents available next year and im predicting a lot of movement. If teams under the cap want to improve next year is the year.

Five-ofan · 08-09-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tokey41

I meant for the league in general, lots of good free agents available next year and im predicting a lot of movement. If teams under the cap want to improve next year is the year.

What big names are free agents next year besides I think vince carter. Everyone was waiting for next year but that was largely for the 03 draft class and then they all signed long term contracts.

jthig32 · 08-09-2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

What big names are free agents next year besides I think vince carter. Everyone was waiting for next year but that was largely for the 03 draft class and then they all signed long term contracts.

Billups, Rashard Lewis, Bibby, Jamison, Kaman, Gerald Wallace, to name a few.

Five-ofan · 08-09-2006, 10:35 PM

Gerald Wallace is a BEAST.

craggmac · 08-09-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tokey41
Wait until next year for the big moves

Yeah, like, where KG will go after Sota doesn't make the playoffs again.

Thespiralgoeson · 08-09-2006, 11:06 PM

Let's worry about re-signing Dirk before we even think about other big-name free agents.

sike · 08-10-2006, 09:29 AM

if George starts one game for the Mavs this season...that is bad sign for the season..

Flacolaco · 08-10-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craggmac

Yeah, like, where KG will go after Sota doesn't make the playoffs again.

Not that I wanted Mike James, but the concept of athletes making choices of where to sign based on money rather than probability of winning championships confuses and angers me so much, that I simply CANNOT WAIT for Minny to miss the playoffs. lets see how he likes his decision then.... idiot.

Anyway, back to Mavs....

Some Guy · 08-10-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

This is the same group that said that kobe had no one on his team who was any good last year. Yet now that George who was a backup on that team goes to the mavs he is some great player?

That can't really surprise you, can it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

Devean george is not good.

I've been wondering why LA didn't seem to want him back.

Five-ofan · 08-10-2006, 10:33 AM

No it didnt surprise me but it was still worth pointing out.

V2M · 08-10-2006, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Not that I wanted Mike James, but the concept of athletes making choices of where to sign based on money rather than probability of winning championships confuses and angers me so much, that I simply CANNOT WAIT for Minny to miss the playoffs. lets see how he likes his decision then.... idiot.

Anyway, back to Mavs....

I agree... Mike's an idiot. Period. And I'm glad he isn't a Mav!

But just to be fair though, I don't see anything wrong with his decision to pick a team for money over winning. He's 31 and he's already got a ring. This could, in all probability, be his last chance to a decent contract and he maximized on the opportunity.

V2M · 08-10-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sike

if George starts one game for the Mavs this season...that is bad sign for the season..

Agreed. He's an insurance and it's always better to not have to use it.

grndmstr_c · 08-10-2006, 11:15 AM

sike, does that mean that you think any injury to Josh is a bad omen? or that you think someone else should start in his place if he has to miss a game?

Five-ofan · 08-10-2006, 11:19 AM

Im not sike and I realize that you meant it for him but I would rather start, I cant believe im saying this, Jerry stackhouse if Josh misses a game. Devean is the 11th or 12th man. He should not start unless something really bad happens.

grndmstr_c · 08-10-2006, 11:28 AM

Fair enough 5-0. I'm obviously more optimistic about George's potential to contribute than you are, but I still see him as a backup, and Stack's unquestionably the better player pound for pound. I think I'd argue Stack might be a better choice as fill-in starter if Buck's manning the 2, whereas a Devin/JT backcourt might find a better SF compliment in George. In general, I'm sort of expecting the coaching staff to stay away from having Buck and George at the 2/3 together for any extended minutes.

Five-ofan · 08-10-2006, 11:34 AM

I agree with that as a buck and george combo is horrible offensively. I do think he can contribute some just not much. I just think that many on this board need to tap the breaks on the ideas of what George is capable of. When we signed him i thought decent signing. An 11th or 12th man who has won titles and has a history of being able to shoot and defend pretty well. Then all of a sudden i heard that he could play the 4(where did that come from?) and was a "shooter" and could start for many teams in the nba. Thats when i went on my devean george isnt any good rampage as far as posting it about 30 times in various threads. As an 11th or 12th man he is a solid 11th or 12th man. As anything more he isnt very good.