No Knees, No Problem?

by Wes Cox on Jul 11, 2007 10:04 PM CDT in News Comment 19 comments

The Mavericks were used in the same sentence with a couple of veterans today. Sefko says the Mavs might look to Chris Webber for their bi-annual exception.

A veteran center. P.J. Brown is considered the best of the bunch and probably could be had for the $1.8 million bi-annual exception. Another possibility is Chris Webber, whom the Mavericks coveted when he was released by Philadelphia last season and signed with Detroit to be near his hometown. Darko Milicic, released by Orlando to make room for Lewis, is not believed to be a candidate.

And Newsday says the Mavs are one of three team will be looking to employ the jobless Steve Francis.

So essentially, the Knicks traded Channing Frye for Randolph and let Paul Allen, the Blazers' billionaire owner, take care of Francis, who will get a chance to revive his career in a more favorable situation. The Heat, Clippers and Mavericks are the most likely landing spots for Francis.

----------------------------------------

Also Gerlad Wallace has reportedly agreed to a 6 year 57 million dollar deal with Charlotte. Bad news for all the Mavs fans who wanted top see him Dallas.

On the bright side, it makes Josh Howard's 4 year 40 million dollar look like a real bargain -- Rashard Lewis's latest contract, not so much.

0 recs | Comment 19 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Don't get me started...

...on Rashard Lewis' contract. He's a good player, but he's not worth that much money. I don't know what it is about the Magic and their questionable decisions. Since they're my home team, I'd like to see them do well.

by Marie on Jul 11, 2007 10:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Word

my roommate is a Magic season ticket holder. He's had it rough this off season. First Greasy Billy Donovan made the team his bitch, then they gave Rashard Lewis one of the most obscene contracts I've ever seen. Otis Smith is a dolt, and it pains me to know he's the one in charge of Dwight Howard's future. I really like that kid.

F*** you, David Stern.

by thedirkatron on Jul 12, 2007 12:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

A season ticket holder...your roommate must have patience and a lot of faith in the team. I hate to say how I'm back and forth on the Magic sometimes, mostly because of decisions by the GM and other people as well as the crappy coaches. It's so easy to get fed up. I really hope that SVG will be able to make a difference this year. He can start by playing JJ Redick more rather than letting the guy collect rust on the bench.

by Marie on Jul 12, 2007 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts

Webber- Eh. Whatever. Works for me. Expect him to be a third or fourth option. If he can be had for a year or two at less than the full MLE, I'd be great with that.

PJ- I'd be happy to give him the full BAE, ane even happy to give him a chunk of the MLE if he'd sign with us. Great bargain player. Good situation, good role.

Francis- Not on your life, not if he signed for a dollar, not if he agreed to be a 13th man. Not on my team.

And does anyone else think that the signing of Darko by the Grizz means that Gasol can be had for half pennies on the dollar? Someone, quick. Fire up the trade machine. Are there any Gasol for Damp deals that are workable?

by BrodyV on Jul 11, 2007 10:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Webber

I remember watching the detroit-suns game last year, right after the mavs got owned by the suns, and I remember webber being fairly good against amare... granted he is old and he has no knees whatsoever, but he wouldve been huge for us against the warriors . He could possibly work an in and out game with dirk when the both of them are on the floor...

by Toddy on Jul 11, 2007 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last year.

I would have loved him on our team. Last year.

Each year Webber gets older, the more it's like inviting Bill Walton out of retirement.

by BrodyV on Jul 11, 2007 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes but...

if we get him at a reasonable deal... would you agree that that move is a VAST IMPROVEMENT of a backup power forward than croshere and van horn? I would have to say so... he might not be the first choice, but he still is without a championship, which makes him hungry, he still is a great passer and playmaker, and he to me is a hell of a lot better improvement over cro and van horn... especially if we get him for half the price we were paying those guys

by Toddy on Jul 12, 2007 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

shards deal is just STUPID

dear god... a guy who shouldnt get more than JHogets 86 mil more than howard... its ridiculous... he is a one dimensional score who plays zero D... it just makes me mad.. but not near as mad or angry or depressed as the 06 nba finals and the nba in general... it ruins my life...

mavs in 08.. i love you all... beer is good

by zkmavz on Jul 12, 2007 2:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe...

...that he's getting more money than Dwight, who is the franchise player. It boggles the mind.

by Marie on Jul 12, 2007 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

George

I heard that George's deal for $2.5 actually bit into the MLE, effectively reducing it from the approximate $5.4 that we had to start with. Anyone know anything about this? And if so, how much of that deal cut into the MLE?

Followup question: Can the MLE and the other exception be combined to sign 1 player? I don't have anyone in particular in mind, was just curious.

by boombacloud on Jul 12, 2007 4:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No

You don't use the MLE to resign your own dudes. So we still have it all.

And no you can't combine the MLE with the vet exemption.

You can however spread the MLE around and use it on more than one players.

F*** you, David Stern.

by thedirkatron on Jul 12, 2007 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I thought

...until I read this and it kinda made sense. The key being he'd only been here for 1 year and was a free agent:

One team that was definitely interested in Barnes, a source says, was Dallas. But contrary to reports, the Mavericks do not have their full mid-level exception. When they re-signed small forward Devean George for one year and $2.5 million, that did, in fact, come out of their mid-level exception -- George had only been in Dallas for one year, and thus was not eligible to be signed with a "Larry Bird" exception or even an "Early Bird" exception. That money for George, then, had to come out of the midlevel.

If this is true, than that stinks and I question this signing even more than I did originally.

by boombacloud on Jul 12, 2007 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, that's correct.

This deal used some of the MLE.

I always thought that it would, but I kept reading it wouldn't so I doubted my self and said otherwise originally.

Next season we will be able to resign George without it counting against the MLE or bi-annual.

by Wes Cox on Jul 12, 2007 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, damn

Now I really hate that signing.

George is humongous pile of mediocrity who adds nothing to the team.

F*** you, David Stern.

by thedirkatron on Jul 12, 2007 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fortunately,

there is no player out there who I'd want to give the full MLE to anyway.

by Wes Cox on Jul 12, 2007 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you here.

I don't think there's any player out there available right now that makes sense for that kind of cash that could make a significant improvement to the team.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I thought resigning George made sense. He seems to fit in AJ's system fairly well. He's size at the 2 and can defend.

I'm also a fan of trying to keep players and rotations together for multiple seasons. I think this gives a team a better chance to compete when they're against unfavorable matchups.

by DitchThePlaybook on Jul 13, 2007 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Was Wrong

...and so was that sporting news article I linked to, at least according to Eddie Sefko @ the DMN:

"Clearing the air: There is some misinformation on the Internet stating that the Mavericks had to dip into their mid-level exception to re-sign Devean George.
That's not the case, however, as George signed a one-year deal Thursday at a 20 percent increase of last year's salary. His pay for next season will be about $2.336 million.
Had it been for more than a 20 percent increase, it would have come out of the mid-level. But the Mavericks still have the full $5.3 million to work with, as well as their $1.8 million exception that teams get every other year."

by boombacloud on Jul 13, 2007 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Webber

From what I saw of Webber over the season (after the Pistons signed him) and in the playoffs he was still very impressive (the guy's only 34 years old!). His inside passing ability is among the best in the league. Our defense is solid so I don't think Webber makes an impact postively or negatively - he should just fit into the mix.

Let's face it, we have a very good shot at landing a bargain of a veteran based on the fact that there's a great probability Dallas will win a championship. Guys like Webber or Steve Francis, for that matter have, been kicked around the league, racked up a few injuries, took part in bad trades or terrible contracts, so the offer for a 1 year deal with a possible championship run will look very enticing. Shit, Webber and Francis should both split the 2.5 million remaining and just play.

by charlesbronsonpinchot on Jul 12, 2007 7:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

I agree, both have attitude issues though, and I worry more with francis than with webber about that. Both think they are still the shit, but if I had to pick one, Id pick up webber to back up dirk and let francis go on by. Webber is more of a play maker with his passing skills, and could be (unfortunately) possibly one of the best down low presence guys we have if he's not lazy... thats a big if though.

by Toddy on Jul 12, 2007 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs