Monday Morning Links

by Wes Cox on May 6, 2008 10:26 AM CDT in News Comment 8 comments

Rick Carlisle still isn't official, but this quote from Donnie Nelson yesterday makes it sounds they are definitely in the negotiation stage.

On how the talks are going: "Negotiations take awhile. There's no timetable."

On when the hiring will happen, if at all: "When everyone feels it's right."

On the possibility of any snags: "We're keeping our options open, as they are. But it's going in a good direction."

Press conference later this week?

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Kevin Sherrington jumps in a time machine and writes about the Mavs trying to sign a very interested Larry Brown to coach the team in 1996 and instead almost end up getting fined 5 million by the league office for tampering.

This is a hilariously pathetic read, and makes you really appreciate having component people in the front office now.

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Mike D'Antoni is looking like the front runner in Chicago . That's where I thought Avery had a good chance of ending up.

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Sefko says the Mavs will have to get creative to fill the roster next season.

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At least one Spurs fan isn't feeling too good their chances after New Orleans went up 2-0 last night.

Finley has no business playing in the NBA anymore, but the occasional big 3 masks the smell. Bowen refuses to take only corner 3s on offense, but we let it slide because he can lock down on D. Ime fumbles the ball out of bounds and goes long stretches where he looks like he'll miss fifty consecutive jumpers, but he's the only guy who just might punch a guy, so we ignore the fact he stinks. Oberto can't guard anybody one and one and can't rebound, but he's crafty and an Argentine, so we just assume it's customary to bathe less in his country. And Horry? Well, we've all known Horry is dead for quite some time, but Pop apparently is immune to the smell of rotting flesh.

It's not wrong to take pleasure out of reading that is it?

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Jim Reeves says Carlisle is another Avery.

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Now that D'Antoni is likely on the way out

Has there been any Avery to Phoenix talk?

I really think that would be a good fit for everyone involved. Everyone’s biggest criticism of Avery is hyper-controlling the offense, something that I think would be mitigated by having Nash + an obviously healthy offensive system already in place. And we know the front office is apparently looking for someone more defensive-minded.

As a Mavs fan, I’d be fairly indifferent — I don’t think Phoenix is good enough with aging Shaq to win it all. I would guess that Suns fans would be pretty happy with it, though.

by MeanMr.Mustard on May 6, 2008 11:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It doesnt look like either

the suns fans generally dont want him here or here.... but seem think that bc Kerr is a Spur guy, he might end up there… and the Bulls fans dont want him here either…

Sucks for AJ, I really would like to see him help a young team… but I think its no secret in the NBA that he has a lot of issues with his control freak system he runs. I wonder if Mark still has to pay him, if he ends up as an assistant to Pop after this year?

by Toddy on May 6, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Sefko's article

He mentions Duhon, Najera and Kwame Brown as free agents. (He also says the team has been-there-done-that with Antwan Jamison, but I think the problem is we can’t afford him, not that we wouldn’t want him.)

Duhon and Najera have to be two guys towards the top of our wish list. Najera for obvious reasons — front court depth, hustle, defense, fans love him, improved 3 pt. shooting, etc. — Duhon for some back court depth. Is anyone comfortable with J.J. Barea as our back up point guard for an 82-game season + playoffs? Is anyone comfortable with J.J. Barea as our starting point guard for a stretch in case of injury? Didn’t think so.

Which brings us to Kwame Brown… Sefko writes him off immediately, but I really wouldn’t mind him if he came cheap. I wouldn’t want to spend the whole MLE on him, but if we whiffed on the other two, I think Kwame could be a serviceable bench body. Yes, he’s a historic bust, but if he wasn’t a former No. 1 I think people would think he was an OK role player. That hurts me to say, because I really don’t want Kwame Brown on my team, I just think he could be a decent bench guy depending on who else we’re able to sign and what happens with the draft. He’s gotta be better than JuHo.

by MeanMr.Mustard on May 6, 2008 11:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No on Kwame...

It would take some pressure off of Damp for being the Whipping Boy around here, and that’s about it. I really would like to go after Duhon, but cant really see the Mavs making a competitive offer.

Whats the status on Jermaine O’Neal? I know he is another 20 mil salary, but do the Mavs have any interest there?

I like idea that we have only 7 players who are locked up right now. I think the deep bench for us that we had in the past, prevented young guys from every developing under Avery, cuz he had so many options. For those of you who dont know much about Reshawn Terry, that boy can play. I went to some of the Mavs summer league games last year, and thought for sure he would be on the roster. That needs to be our project in developing. Also available is Fransico Elson. I think it would be good if we were able to pick him up, just because he is more athletic than Damp, and the combo of the two would be a nice one-two punch. He is pretty old (32ish I think), but I think he could offer some good back up minutes for Damp, and we could pick him up on the cheap end.

by Toddy on May 6, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read that PTR bit too,

and it gives me so much happiness. Those Hornets really are pretty good.

by mffeva on May 6, 2008 11:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

and the Spurs really do suck.

It’s nice to see the Sterns lose.

by mffeva on May 6, 2008 11:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

That Sun-Times article that you linked to asks the readers to vote on who they’d like to see as the Chicago Bulls coach.

The results as of today are:

Mike D’Antoni 22%
Avery Johnson 46%
Rick Carlisle 13%
Mark Jackson 8%
Other 9%

Wow…I guess Bulls fans aren’t very familiar with Avery’s tenure here, and what’s been discussed on this site and on dallasbasketball.com. They also probably didn’t see that espn.com article about D’Antoni refusing to spend more time practicing defense.

Interesting that so many COY winners are currently, or will probably be, looking for jobs:
2001-02 Rick Carlisle Detroit Pistons
2004-05 Mike D’Antoni Phoenix Suns
2005-06 Avery Johnson Dallas Mavericks
2006-07 Sam Mitchell Toronto Raptors (still w/ the team)

by dirk41 on May 6, 2008 1:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs