Shawn Marion And The 2009 Free Agent Class

The Dallas Mavericks have had two consecutive first round losses, a fired coach, and their starting small forward admit to enjoying an illegal drug (every now and again) during the off-season.  They have had a mid-season trade seemingly backfire on them and face the reality of having lost the “one of the best in the west” title this year.  So I thought I’d take a look at the different directions this team could go in the off-season.  If this team is going to make a trade and semi-dramatically change their overall team look, then only one option really jumps out at me – The Shawn Marion Scenario.

I’m sure Donnie is making the calls and might have a couple better options than this one, but I’m not privy to what other teams are asking for or willing to give up.  But the Shawn Marion Trade is a trade that makes some sense for both teams.  Miami gets a Shawn Marion type player for more years.  Dallas gets a better player than Josh Howard and salary cap space at the end of this year.

There are two places to check and see if your brilliant tade can actually take place under the convoluted nba rules:  place one, and place two.  And if you want to check out Mark Cuban’s thoughts on end of the season, and the thought process to the Jason Kidd trade you can here.  One of the ideas, the cash for a late first round draft pick, might actually be helpful to the Mav’s future.  As I think there is good nba talent in this draft – maybe even late.

(FA) = Free Agent
(R) = Rookie
(T) = Traded For

2008 Mavs Offseason

It starts out with a Miami – Dallas trade.  Dallas receives Shawn Marion, Miami receives Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie Jones (if he agrees to it).

Draft
In the draft the Mavs would trade 3 million dollars for a late first rounder, then trade that pick and three million to move up again and select Brandon Rush.  And with their second pick select a small forward, we’ll say Victor Calver.

Free Agents
Earl Boykins- made $542,040 last year with the Bobcats and, while being the shortest player in the league, offers real value at that price.  He is quick and gifted offensively.

Jannero Pargo - signing him to a deal close to 4 or 5 years – 24 million.  Jannero Pargo made 2 million dollars last season and has a player option for $2 million this season, but will probably opt out for more money.  He’s a fairly quick point guard who can shoot and defend.  With Devon Harris gone he would be a very nice pick up.

Patrick O’Bryant- is a 7 foot center who has been in the league two years.  He only played last year due to being injured in his rookie season.  He was the ninth pick in the draft two years ago and is worth taking a shot on - as he is a skinny 7 footer who could run the floor and block shots.  Hoping for a poor man’s Tyson Chandler here.

The 15 Man Roster
PG    Jason Kidd             Jannero Pargo(FA)           Earl Boykins(FA)
SG    Jason Terry            Brandon Rush(R)             Antoine Wright
SF    Shawn Marion(T)    Deveon George               Victor Calver(R)
PF    Dirk Nowitzki           Brandon Bass                  Malik Allen
C     Erick Dampier           Patrick O’Bryant(FA)        Jamal Magloire

2008 Team Review
Shawn Marion is an upgrade from Josh Howard and is comfortable in an up-tempo offense.  Part of the reason I like this year’s draft so much is the fact you can find talent in the middle of it, Brandon Rush is one of the guys I like.  He is 6′ 7″ and can do a little bit of everything.  With Rush, Marion and Pargo added to the team it becomes more athletic, taller, and better offensively while gaining good defensive players.  This team would probably finish in the 3 to 6 seed area and could advance multiple rounds.  In all likely hood they would compete for a championship and be fun to watch.

The Future
Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion would be free agents at the end of the season giving the Mavs plenty of salary cap space.  With the convoluted rules the nba employs I’m not sure how big of an advantage this could be for signing free agents.  That year’s class may look something like this:

Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers
Corey Maggette, Los Angeles Clippers
Allen Iverson, Denver
Jason Kidd, Mavericks
Shawn Marion, Mavericks
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (Has a player option for 23 million)
Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers
Steve Nash, Phoenix (Team option for 13 million)
Andre Miller, Sixers
Baron Davis, Warriors
Rasheed Wallace, Pistons
Ron Artest, Kings (If he doesn’t opt out this year)
Drew Gooden, Bulls
Ben Gorden, Bulls
Mike Bibby, Hawks

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Update July 1, 2008 – Baron Davis and Elton Brand have opted out a year early.  Surprising considering one was set to make 17.18 million and the other, Elton, 16.44 million.  Things like that, players opting out of that kind of money, don’t happen very often.  Especially considering they aren’t top twenty players.  Corey Magette has also opted out, but that was more expected considering he would have made only 8 million next season and he scored over 20 ppg this season.
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With perhaps Josh Smith of the Hawks and Emeka Okafur being in that group as well, I’m not sure because I don’t know the rules having to do with qualifying offers.  This is an interesting scenario as the possibilities are open.  I wouldn’t mind seeing some of those free agents on this team.   But there is also a danger with this plan, there are so many variables the Mavs could end up seeing the door close on them real quick- (but would that ever happen to a Mark Cuban run team)?

Other Possible Trades ( All can happen as of May 29 2008 )
Dallas Receives                                          Minnesota Receives                                  New York Receives
Antoine Walker                                          Josh Howard                                              Jerry Stackhouse
Jared Jeffries                                                                                                                        
Minnesota’s #3 overall Pick

Dallas Receives                                          New York Receives
Zack Randolph                                           Jason Kidd
Malik Rose

Dallas Receives                                          New York Receives
Zack Randolph                                           Josh Howard
Renaldo Balkman                                       Jerry Stackhouse
New York’s #6 overall pick                           Eddie Jones (if he agrees to it)
                                                               Dallas 2009 first round pick + $3 million

Dallas Receives                                          Utah Receives
Andrei Kirilenko                                         Jason Terry
Morris Almond                                           Jerry Stackhouse + 3 million

Dallas Receives                                          Indiana Receives
Jermaine O’Neal                                          Jason Kidd
                                                                3 million 

Dallas Receives                                          Indiana Receives
Jermaine O’Neal                                          Josh Howard
Jamaal Tinsley                                             Jason Terry
                                                                Jerry Stackhouse
                                                                Eddie Jones (if he agrees to it)

Dallas Receives                                          Milwaukee Receives
Michael Redd                                             Josh Howard
Charlie Villanueva                                         Jerry Stackhouse
                                                                Eddie Jones (if he agrees to it)
                                                                Brandon Bass

Moving To First – Last Place Move

Hank Blaylock has made a Ranger career decision, he’s moving to first base.  The team is not smart to let him do so, but then again when were they ever accused of being smart.  First Base is a position you put baseball players who aren’t good at defense.  It’s the position you put your offensive fire power in order to hide their defensive inequities.  It’s a position you manage until your 22 year old, Double A hitting .313 with 10 homers and 33 RBI’s, prospect is ready to break into the Majors.  It’s not a position you put your solid defensive third baseman in order to let Ramon Vasquez play, and I like Ramon Vasquez.

This can be traced (in my opinion) to Ron Washington’s inability to A:  Stick with Jason Botts; and B:  Allow Frank the Cat to be Frank the Cat.  Ron has certain players he goes out of his way to play (last year it was Jerry Hairston Jr., this year Ben Broussard) and certain players he refuses to give a fair shake – Jason Botts and Catalanotto come to mind.  He puts them in bad situations and expects them to impress him.  He pulls them early and often while playing them very little to begin with. 

Frank’s situation has changed a little because of Broussard’s release, but is now going to change again with Hank’s move.  Opposing managers know all they have to do is bring in a lefty around the sixth or seventh inning and you won’t have to see Frank anymore.  They desire their lefty against whatever righty we have to throw up there because, A:  Frank is a good hitter, and B:  Frank won’t be able to face whatever righty you have out there later in the game.   Frank hit .231 with a .375 on base percentage against lefties in 19 PA’s last year.  I don’t know which one is worse the fact he was only allowed the opportunity to hit lefties 19 times, or the fact that somebody needs to tell Ron a .231 average and .375 on base percentage is not reason enough to pull him for Jr. Jerry Hairston or Chris Comcast Shelton.  Frank hit .299, .293, .301, and .300 in the four years prior to becoming a Ranger.  In the three years he was healthy he averaged 117 more AB’s than he did last year.  He hit .260 last year and is hitting .247 this year.  If you want to know how to screw up a good .300 hitter I suggest a chat with none other than Ron Washington.   Frank is and has been a good hitter in this league, why is he the first guy Ron pulls for hitting?  It’s not a trick question – Ron’s a jackass.

A good manager puts his players in the best position to help the team win.  The reason I call Ron a jackass is because there is no reason to be a dirty, rotten, fool about this game.  There is no reason to stand in your own way.  Jackasses have to be coerced.  They’re stubborn beasts of burden who refuse to move even if it benefits them.  And because of Ron’s refusal (for whatever reason) to get out of his own way, Hank for no apparent reason (oh, other than the great Ramon Vasquez, and I like Ramon) is going to move to first base.  Congratulations Rangers, for being intellectually baseball challenged.

Rick Carlisle Dallas Maverick’s New Head Coach 5-3-08

Per dallasbasketball.com Rick Carlisle is the Dallas Maverick’s new head coach.  He’s a good pick.  He stresses defense and has a good knowledge of the game.  He lost his job in Detroit after two seasons of a  50-32 record and one Coach Of The Year honor, because Joe Dumars decided he wanted Larry Brown.  He lost his job in Indiana because, to a certain degree, he lost his players.  But that’s okay if your players like to get into brawls and take target practice around strip clubs, maybe its good you don’t relate to them.

Coming soon I hope to provide you with multiple scenarios of what the Mavericks could end up looking like this offseason.  Maybe the roster will shake, or it could remain the same – there are a lot of possibilities.

Avery Johnson Fired From Dallas Mavericks 4-30-08

Reportedly Mark Cuban has fired Avery Johnson less than 18 hours after their Game 5 loss to the New Orleans Hornets.  Now why are Donnie Nelson and Mark Cuban getting away with their roles in the Jason Kidd Trade and 2 first round losses?  More on the Mavs later.