Backup Center?

[MAVMAN41]

Saw him at the mall yesterday...gotta say guy looked real down. He was alone just walking around didnt notice anyone with him. Went over to him and said good luck next game. Dont think many people knew who he was since its his first year on team. Not sure if any other issues going on (besides the recent bad play). crap well maybe it was nothing..just didnt want people bothering him (like i did).

[Underdog]

With Wright gone, our depth chart at center looks like this: Chandler/Smith/Dirk... I'd be shocked if the FO doesn't already have a plan in place, but what?

Do we kick the tires on O'Neal or Okafor, see how much tread they have left?

Can Bernard James come back to the NBA, or does his contract in China prevent him from doing that?

Does the FO have another trade brewing?

[EricaLubarsky]

I fully support hiring a 500 pound gorilla as our backup center as long as it has the right wingspan

[jthig32]

Tim Cato is reporting that he has a source saying the Mavs are working on signing O'Neal.

But that can't be the only move. For one thing, Brandan was playing backup 4 relatively frequently, and O'Neal can't do that. And O'Neal can't be the only rotation center on the bench. He's too brittle.

Maybe Smith will step up to the challenge. They don't really have anything in the way of assets to go get something else, unless they want to move Devin, which I think is very unlikely.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by jthig32

Tim Cato is reporting that he has a source saying the Mavs are working on signing O'Neal.

But that can't be the only move. For one thing, Brandan was playing backup 4 relatively frequently, and O'Neal can't do that. And O'Neal can't be the only rotation center on the bench. He's too brittle.

Maybe Smith will step up to the challenge. They don't really have anything in the way of assets to go get something else, unless they want to move Devin, which I think is very unlikely.

Parsons played more 4 in the Pistons game than we've seen this season. Perhaps it was prescient-- like Nelson bringing nothing.

[Underdog]

We could always ditch that trade-filler guy, Powell, and sign (a healthy) Rashard Lewis as Dirk's backup... That just leaves us with the center position to figure out.

[sefant77]

JO makes the most sense, he actually played really really well for the Warriors last season. He also knows RC from his Pacers time.

In other news the Celtics released Faverani because they had to create an open roster spot. He had an injury, so i dont know how is his status now but Celtics fans are kind of pissed and when did Sarge something like that:

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400488897

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400489015

If he is healthy i probably pick him up and keep the other spot for JO or Okafor.

[NeedlesKane]

Originally Posted by Underdog

With Wright gone, our depth chart at center looks like this: Chandler/Smith/Dirk... I'd be shocked if the FO doesn't already have a plan in place, but what?

Do we kick the tires on O'Neal or Okafor, see how much tread they have left?

Can Bernard James come back to the NBA, or does his contract in China prevent him from doing that?

Does the FO have another trade brewing?

What are the league rules in regards to signing species that are not human?

[MFFL]

Felton is pretty much our only trade asset (quit laughing) and he makes a little over $3.7M

Workable trades
Atlanta Elton Brand $2M
Detroit Joel Anthony $3.8M
Indiana Ian Mahinmi $4M but out with injury for next 6 to 8 weeks

[grndmstr_c]

Originally Posted by MFFL

Felton is pretty much our only trade asset (quit laughing) and he makes a little over $3.7M

Workable trades
Atlanta Elton Brand $2M
Detroit Joel Anthony $3.8M
Indiana Ian Mahinmi $4M but out with injury for next 6 to 8 weeks

Felton's just the salary. Ledo (and/or Smith, I suppose) would be the bait. And if Ian is healthy at the trade deadline and can be had for some combination of those three players, I think you pull the trigger on that deal.

[sefant77]

http://www.dallas-mavs.com/vb/showthread.php?t=39112

Joel is garbage

[rimrocker]

So who would be available via trade to replace Wright?

Pachulia, Mihinmi, Withey, Aldrich, Biyombo, McGee, Garnett?

[MFFL]

This is from Sefko so it might not be accurate

Question: Do the mavs still hold the rights to Bernard "Sarge" James? He wasn't great last year. But he could provide some needed size in the paint.

Sefko: They no longer own his rights. When they waived him at the end of camp, he became an unrestricted free agent. After a couple games with the D-League Texans, Sarge went to China, where I believe he is obligated until February. At this point, he'd be an upgrade but I think the Mavericks are aiming a little higher than that. Not saying they can pull something off, but they have aspirations.

[Underdog]

@SkinWade: Since DET has given up on Monroe, could you get him for a future first and second and salary match? Would you do that even if it's a rental?

[mavsfan1000]

Expecting Chandler to carry the load is ridiculous. This trade was a total buzz kill.

[sefant77]

Oh, lets forget Faverani...he is utter trash since over a year and his NBA career is pretty much done.

Also with Bogut out i could see the Warriors running to JO again.

And regarding Monroe: I just read if they trade him in his QO year, the new team doesnt get his Bird rights. Thats pretty much kills it for the Mavs anyway

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Underdog

@SkinWade: Since DET has given up on Monroe, could you get him for a future first and second and salary match? Would you do that even if it's a rental?

Eww, no.

Won't happen. Monroe would veto the trade as is his right, because it would lose him all of his bird rights to get the 10-13/year he was looking for. If he gets traded, he can only get 6.5mill.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

Expecting Chandler to carry the load is ridiculous. This trade was a total buzz kill.

Seriously?

[mavsfan1000]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Seriously?

We'll see what happens. But no backup center behind an injury prone Chandler could be our downfall.

[grndmstr_c]

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

We'll see what happens. But no backup center behind an injury prone Chandler could be our downfall.

Sure…but why would you think Dallas would go through the rest of the season without bolstering the C rotation?

[sefant77]

Yeah because the FO doesnt know that and probably gonna have allready certain ideas /made phone calls.

And even with Wright a Chandler injury would have been our downfall anyway.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by sefant77

Yeah because the FO doesnt know that and probably gonna have allready certain ideas /made phone calls.

And even with Wright a Chandler injury would have been our downfall anyway.

This.

The trade is only the beginning. The FO isn't going to have a depth chart of Chandler/Smith/Charlie.

Also, let's not pretend that if Tyson got injured that Wright/Smith/Charlie is great either, particularly against Memphis, San Antonio, Houston, etc.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Get JO as a temporary stop-gap solution, and then try to trade for Mahinmi. I think that's the Mavs' best option.

[mavsfan1000]

Originally Posted by grndmstr_c

Sure…but why would you think Dallas would go through the rest of the season without bolstering the C rotation?

Yes since getting big men is so easy. 2003-2004 Mavs prove you need big men. Dirk at center doesn't work.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

Yes since getting big men is so easy. 2003-2004 Mavs prove you need big men. Dirk at center doesn't work.

Dude, they're going to get another back up C. They're not about to start throwing a 36 year old Dirk out there at C. They're not idiots.

Whoever they get probably won't be as good as Wright, but they're not dumb enough to let the deadline pass without getting somebody.

[grndmstr_c]

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

Yes since getting big men is so easy. 2003-2004 Mavs prove you need big men. Dirk at center doesn't work.

Probably factored into Dallas decision to bring Chandler back this offseason.

[j0Shi]

Not that I see better options, but JO is dead.

But we definitely need one, Dirk at the 5 has never constantly worked out too well. We played some pretty effective 3-guard lineups in our championship season though.

[spreedom]

I've seen more than one person mention that our roster is down to 13... aren't we still at 14, since we got Dwight Powell too?

If we're really sitting at one available roster spot, I think I'd be more comfortable going after a more dependable guy (in the Elton Brand/Zaza Pachulia mold) than someone like JO. Jermaine is probably the most dynamic defensive presence available right now, assuming Emeka Okafor won't be ready to go for some time yet, but he just hasn't ever really stayed healthy. I'd be more comfortable with a steadier, more reliable guy, even if it meant that he had a lower ceiling.

And I want no part of Greg Smith as a regular rotation player, even if he's playing less than ten minutes a game. He's a fouling machine, and not in a physical, protecting-the-paint sort of way. Just stupid fouls. If he has any trade value, I'd love to package him with Felton for any sort of asset.

[spreedom]

Also, while I share the common opinion that bringing Mahinmi back would be great, why the hell would Indiana trade him, and aren't there a bunch of other teams with better assets?

Guys I'd be looking at would be Aldrich (once Bargnani is healthy, Cole likely falls way out of the rotation), Biyombo (if the Pacers are serious about getting Lance back, we might have some way at getting in on a three-team trade), Chuck Hayes (who doesn't ever seem that productive, but has that intangible ability to make his teammates better defensively), or somebody of that ilk.

[dirt_dobber]

Originally Posted by MFFL

Felton is pretty much our only trade asset (quit laughing) and he makes a little over $3.7M.....

Felton salary is $4,360,000 and he has a player option next year that he will surely exercise for $4,540,000

I wonder if he will miss (cough, cough) the 40 games required for insurance to pick up half his salary this season?

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Not that I see better options, but JO is dead.

Didnt look dead last season with the Warriors, almost 9/6/1 in 20min

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelo...jermaine-oneal

We need this season a solid emergency solution and im guessing next summer they blow the entire mini-MLE on a backup center

[Sportstudi]

Originally Posted by mavsfan1000

We'll see what happens. But no backup center behind an injury prone Chandler could be our downfall.

Even without that trade we would be fu**ed if Chandler goes down. Wright was a really nice piece to have from the bench, but he lacked size and strength against the bigger C's in the league. He got pushed around vs. guys like Gasol, Howard, Bogut or Duncan.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by spreedom

Also, while I share the common opinion that bringing Mahinmi back would be great, why the hell would Indiana trade him, and aren't there a bunch of other teams with better assets?

Guys I'd be looking at would be Aldrich (once Bargnani is healthy, Cole likely falls way out of the rotation), Biyombo (if the Pacers are serious about getting Lance back, we might have some way at getting in on a three-team trade), Chuck Hayes (who doesn't ever seem that productive, but has that intangible ability to make his teammates better defensively), or somebody of that ilk.

I'd add Withey to that group. Withey and Aldrich are shotblockers with good size which is what we need. Not interested in Chuck Hayes but Biyombo would be a good one too.
Withey doesn't seem to get much PT but appeared to have had a very good preseason. Pelicans are deep in the frontcourt.

[Skywalker]

Havent checked his stats but Biyombo always seemed to me like a foul magnet as well.

[rimrocker]

I don't know what it would take to get Pachulia but he'd be a great banger for us.
Felton/Smith/Ledo and/or picks/cash for Pachulia would do it salary wise but not sure Bucks would bite.


Rondo/Barea
Ellis/Harris
Parsons/RJ
Dirk/Aminu/CV
Chandler/Pachulia/Powell

Leaves us with 3 open roster spots to fill with aging vets or development guys.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

I don't know what it would take to get Pachulia but he'd be a great banger for us.
Felton/Smith/Ledo and/or picks/cash for Pachulia would do it salary wise but not sure Bucks would bite.


Rondo/Barea
Ellis/Harris
Parsons/RJ
Dirk/Aminu/CV
Chandler/Pachulia/Powell

Leaves us with 3 open roster spots to fill with aging vets or development guys.

Call up Kidd and offer him a statue in front of the AAC and a jersey in the rafters

[sefant77]

Didnt know JO lives in the DFW area...so yeah we should be absolute frontrunner now

[EricaLubarsky]

There are a few guys out there that don't have contracts that we've been rumored to be in contact with. I doubt the FO would do something like this without at least a lead on someone decent. Remember when the Heat picked up crazy-pants Andersen off the scrap heap? JO, Okafor, or a few other guys could be that guy. Luckily, we're seeing a bumper crop of decent and even great centers. It's not like back in the Haywood days where a stiff could absolutely clean up just for being decent.

[Underdog]

So, i guess Greg Smith gets a chance to prove himself tomorrow against the Spurs?

[Kante]

Yup. His time to shine.