Tuesday Roundup

by Wes Cox on Jun 26, 2007 11:40 AM CDT in News

Mike Fisher has a world class rumors article. What do we learn: Dallas is talking about KG internally, they love Yi Jianlian, they love Al Horford even more, and contrary to earlier reports they don't love Joakim Noah at all. Definitely a fun imaginative read.

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Ricky Treon at the Star Telegram talked to Diop at a Mavs kid's camp about playing in Vegas.

Last season the big man averaged 2.3 points per game, a number he knows must increase next year.

"It's mental most times," Diop said. "I can do way better than that. I know I can because I know what I can do out there."

The Mavs agree, and becoming more of a scorer is the focal point of Diop's off-season.

"They're telling me I can score, that I got to go out there and play; if you miss a shot, don't worry about it," he said. "To have [Avery Johnson] talk to me like that is a big boost of confidence."

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Jeff Caplan ranks the top five small forwards in the draft, none of which will be available at 34. Marcus Williams and Demetris Nichols should be available when the Mavs pick and I'd be happy with either.

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David Moore writes about the draft and all the excitement around it this year.

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Eddie Sefko's article is on the contract status of Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse. George is expected to opt out of his contract and Stackhouse is expected to resign.

Stackhouse's situation is slightly clearer. The sixth man becomes an unrestricted free agent Sunday, meaning he can sign anywhere in the league.

However, only two teams will have significant money under the salary cap and neither Charlotte nor Atlanta makes much sense for Stackhouse, who can still score with the best of them but doesn't fit the profile for building or rebuilding teams like the Bobcats and Hawks.

Since it is unlikely anyone will be able to offer Stackhouse more than the mid-level salary exception (expected to be roughly $6 million), the Mavericks figure to be able to offer him more than anybody else.

Assuming neither side comes in with unrealistic expectations, a middle ground likely will be found quickly after the free-agent period opens. Teams are prohibited from discussing specific free agents until Sunday.

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Comments

How on earth

could we match salaries with Minn to get KG?

I guess the idea of signing Keith Van Horn to a one year deal to use as an expiring contract worth buttloads of money would work, but is that even legal under the CBA?

Still they'd have to want Joho back, and I'm pretty sure he has one of those weird salary base year dingies since he just signed an extension, right?

No way that happens... but it's nice to dream about. KG is marketable. We'd be able to win a title.

Dirk Nowitzki: Softer than a melted frosty.

by thedirkatron on Jun 26, 2007 2:44 PM CDT reply actions

Not Earth, Mars

Yes, as of Sunday at 12:00 am, J Ho enters into the Base Year portion of his contract where he jumps from a small amount (2 mil, I think) to 8+ mil a year.

As for KVH, I don't think that scenario is legal under the CBA...kinda like the Bradley sceario that was talked about a while back.

I agree that there is no way we get KG. Minn wants way too much for him. Marketability doesn't necessarily win titles...see San Antonio and Cleveland.

by boombacloud on Jun 26, 2007 3:00 PM CDT reply actions

did cleveland win the title?

i guess i missed that

by zkmavz on Jun 26, 2007 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Didn't Miss Cleveland Winning...

...just missed the meaning to my comment. I was trying to say that Cleveland (via Lebron) had all the marketability in the world, whereas San Antonio did not. Therefore marketability does not necessarily win titles.

by boombacloud on Jun 26, 2007 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions

ha i know

just messin' around

by zkmavz on Jun 26, 2007 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

That was Cleveland's fault

They had to keep the games close enough for the league to rig them. The league knew it was under intense scrutiny after last year's back alley f***ing of the Mavs, but they would have LOVED for Cleveland to have won, and would have done their usual job of making it happen had Cleveland given them the opportunity.

But the only game Cleveland could actually make into a contest was the finale, and by then it was too late.

The league influences who wins the games, but a team has to be close enough that the league's influence can actually push them over the top. Dwyade made that happen last year for the Heat by driving to the bucket like a crazed hooker last year. Lebron f'd up David Stern's world by settling for jumpers this year.

Everyone who knows basketball knows this is the truth.

Dirk Nowitzki: Softer than a melted frosty.

by thedirkatron on Jun 26, 2007 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Word

I like to harbor that same theory, but rarely extol it to people anymore. Some people just don't get it, and I've grown tired trying to convince them.

by boombacloud on Jun 27, 2007 8:58 AM CDT reply actions