Mavs still in hunt for McGrady

[madape]

report from Hoopsworld's Bill Ingram "The Rocket Guy"

The Basketball News Services braintrust (Steve "BskBALL" Kyler, Bill "The Rocket Guy" Ingram, Darrin "The Sniper" Andrade) are all in New York for the NBA Draft, and we have some observations for you.

The New York media (ESPN, The Times) insists that the Mavs are sending Dirk to LA for Shaq. Nevermind that Donnie Nelson and Mark Cuban are spending all of their time denying that they would deal Dirk for anyone, including Shaq. They are, however, working to acquire both Shaq and McGrady. They are also interested in trading the 5th pick for several lower picks, but are also speaking about the possibilities of keeping the pick and maybe then trading the player they get to the Lakers in a package. Clearly the deal for Laettner and Stackhouse was made do facilitate a Shaq deal. It won't be Dirk, and it would be hard to make a Nash deal work. If you sign him you can only trade him for 75% of his value due to his BYC. Think that's going to happen?

The Rockets appear to have been pawns in the Magic's plot to get the max for McGrady, but Tracy's stance that he will only sign a long-term deal with Houston may put them back in the running. Francis' whining won't keep the deal from happening, but it could mean the Magic work out a second deal that send him somewhere else. That would be fine with Cuttino Mobley, who is ready to be the first option for a team. He's been in Steve's shadow long enough. The other factor is the Juwan Howard issue. The Magic want to include Juwan Howard in the deal and the Rockets are willing to take him. The Suns weren't and the Mavs are trying to get around it.

Tonight's going to be off the hook. Don't miss the Draft on ESPN.

[madape]

Ingram is also reporting that the Kurt Thomas trade is a done deal.

[ddh33]

There are so many possibilities that they are hard to even consider. The Mavs have positioned themselves where they can do practically anything with anyone. It does look like Shaq and McGrady are the priorities thoug, understandably.

[irontoad]

If the Mavs get McGrady, (and Dirk stays) then all the Dirk fans can pretty much give up on Dirk ever becoming the leader of this team, and the player he could be...

[FilthyFinMavs]

Am I reading this wrong? Is he saying the Mavs keep Dirk and Nash and still add T-Mac and Shaq to this team?

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: irontoad
If the Mavs get McGrady, (and Dirk stays) then all the Dirk fans can pretty much give up on Dirk ever becoming the leader of this team, and the player he could be...

Well some of us think Dirk won't ever become the leader of this team. Maybe if he was in a situation that he had no choice but to become the leader of this team but bringing in Shaq or T-Mac definately won't do that. I think if Dirk was going to become leader of this team he would've been the leader by now.

[kg_veteran]

Originally posted by: madape
Ingram is also reporting that the Kurt Thomas trade is a done deal.

Which version?

[Simon2]

Salary-wise. I think the Mavs have enough ammo. That means trading Walker, Fin and Jamison plus fillers. Whether or not other teams are willing to do it, is another story.

Originally posted by: FilthyFinMavs
Am I reading this wrong? Is he saying the Mavs keep Dirk and Nash and still add T-Mac and Shaq to this team?

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: Simon2
Salary-wise. I think the Mavs have enough ammo. That means trading Walker, Fin and Jamison plus fillers. Whether or not other teams are willing to do it, is another story.

Hell if you could turn Walker, Finley and Jamison in to Shaq alone i'd probaly consider it. If you could add T-Mac to that? Jump on it but I think we are speaking mroe than Walker, Finley and Jamison.

[Drbio]

If teh Mavs were able to get McGrady here, I would trade Dirk for Shaq....and you all know how much I love Dirk.