A Maverick Possibility

The Mavericks are in a limbo sort of state at the end of this year.  Even if they were to strike a puncher’s chance and knock out the LA Lakers in the first round (if indeed that turns out to be who they play), they almost certainly will not compete for and win a championship this year and in their current form not next year either.  They need to change something, get lucky with who they draft or get lucky with a key small free agent signing.  It is the change something that I am interested in here as I consider a trade that would certainly peak my interest. 

Young players who are good, relatively cheap and signed for a long period of time are, of course, valuable.  The Mavericks having traded Devon Harris, not having Jason Kidd under contract another year, and with Josh Howard’s character and play receding, obviously don’t have a whole lot of value to barter with other teams.  But I came across a trade (checking it out at realgm.com’s trade checker) that I think may make sense for both teams and give the mavericks such a player in return.  Here’s how the trade breaks down:

Dallas gets:
O.J. Mayo – 18.3 ppg; 3 years at about $14 million and a fourth qualifying year starting at $7.39 million.
Darko Milicic- 5.7 ppg; 1 year left at $7.5 million.
Hamed Haddadi- 2.8 ppg; 2 years left ???.
Marko Jaric – 2.2 ppg; 2 years left at at total of about $14.7 million

Memphis gets:
Jason Terry – 19.7 ppg; 3 years left at a total of about $32 million
Josh Howard – 17.5 ppg; 1 year left at $10.89 million, with a team option for a second year at $11.84 million. 

This seems like a trade that would boost Memphis by giving them 2 players who score around 20 ppg (and I believe Memphis is going to have a lottery pick in this years draft), while giving Dallas a young player who scores about 20 ppg and has more years under his contract.  It would also allow Memphis to dump salaries of players who don’t play very much.  I think this is one of the more realistic and prudent moves Dallas could make this summer, but this wouldn’t make them a championship contender.  However it would give them a stronger foundation on which to make moves having O.J. Mayo and Dirk Nowitzki could attract better players to sign here.  Also, the mavericks would have much more pliable salaries in the years to come.

If I were . . .

Gm of any team in any sport, these would be my beginning principles.

1.  Coach and Systematic Approach

Hand pick a coach with whom you share the same overall systematic approach to the game.  So that both you and the coach have the ability to step back and follow the same certain principles set down before intense personnel decisions have to be made.  Someone smart and confident, and has enough patience to allow a systematic approach of the game to work.  When hiring this coach and agreeing to the system, you are saying “no player will be above the team, no player will be above the system.”

This is the most important decision a team can make, and the beginning principles would need to be both overall and narrow.  For instance in the overall issues you would decide:  Do we run a west coast or run driven offense;  do we value big or speedy lineman;  do we rely on power or contact hitters; do we play inside out or movement offense.  Then you move to more narrow issues like what kind of character do you ask your scouts to zero in on, what kind of drills and offseason workouts to enhance precision, are left handed players miles and away better than right handed players at certain positions, etc.

This can go on forever and should.  There should be a well thought out system in place that gives you an advantage over all other teams who wing it.

2.  Playoff Mentality

This one is sort of weird, because you would think that it is really obvious.  But a lot of teams go through the season with simply a hope to get into the playoffs and then MAYBE move forward.  It is not in the organization’s way of thinking that making it to the playoffs is the beginning of the real season – not the end of it.  You have put your heart into the offseason, practices and regular season games to get to this starting point.  The playoffs is where it all begins.

That means there is no sense of accomplishment.  No loss of focus, because the goal of the season still remains empty.  But something does happen at the end of the regular season.  The real season starts and your team ought to be able to smell it and be hungry for it.  This can be influenced by environment, but also you have to make sure you draft, sign and trade for hungry players.

There is also a second aspect to the playoff mentality.  The One Game At A Time mentalaty  A mentally strong team knows what game they are playing and what they want from the game.  They know games aren’t won on paper, in the media or in Vegas (except for in the NBA).  They don’t come out and play last week’s game or next week’s game.  They, as a team, exist to demolish this weeks opponent.  They get up for the game they are playing in.

Obviously the Dallas Cowboys are the worst offender of this rule.

 3.  Freshness

Having a long term system that is known and followed by the team can have the unwanted side effect of stagnating creativity.  With this I might give the illustration of Devon Harris.  He was in a Maverick’s uniform for a while.  But the people chosen to lead the organization had a specific role they tried to push him in.  Not that that is bad, but when you see talent and know that it is there yet not coming out in all the ways you thought it could, you should then readjust your own glasses and try different things with him.

This quality in an organization is all about not getting caught standing flat footed.  Just because you have certain long term principles you follow does not mean there is no room for creativity and experimentation.  John Danks goes to the White Sox and picks up a cutter which really helps him in his second year.  Someone had to be convinced a cutter would really help him, convince him and then have him add this to his arsenal.

Freshness is about eyeing the players, the team and yourself and then moving beyond the trenches you have dug for yourself that are not working or not working as well as possible.  You should always keep a team on their toes, it has a way of making the opposing team the one always chasing you. 

4.  Irrelevant – Relevant Media

Never allow the media to effect, or should I say infect, your decisions.  If something is not working right you should have a firm grasp of why it is not working.   The media is not there to think, it is there to feed an unhealthy appetite of newspaper columns, blogs, talk radio and television.  The media is DUMB.  It does not think more than one step ahead – if that.  Consider it irrelevant when it comes to anything involving personnel decisions.

I think the Texas Rangers may actually make a number of their decisions based on how they think the media will react.  It’s as if whenever they make a decision the media is in the room looking at them.  Which is why oftentimes they look like a chicken with its head cut off.  The media is there for interacting with your fan base, that part of the media is relevant.  The media that thinks it can and should think for you is not.

5.  Crisp Short Window Transactions

These are situations that shoot up for a short time every now and again while not always looking the same.  Sometimes you’ll have a Milton Bradely on the free agent market not getting any interest, sometimes Eric Gagne, sometimes there will be a team willing to trade you Travis Hafner for Einar Diaz, sometimes Manny Rameriz will be on the market being short shrifted with a two year offer, sometimes a team will be willing to trade you Kevin Garnett for a bunch of cheetos and Al Jefferson.

When these spontaneous short windowed situations occur, you must have the vision and capacity to capitalize.  Teams can rise and fall with how these situations turn out.

6.  Winning at The Edges

Pretty simple, just find those small areas were you can gain an honest advantage against your opponent.  Whether in certain drills, certain odd usage of the rule book.  Whether it be in the locker room, on the field or in the front office, search high and low for that HONEST edge and take it.

Dallas Mavs Roster Oct. 30 2008

The Dallas Mavericks roster this year seems to be set.  No major changes this year.  It’s talented, it could compete – but the title is still far from reach.  Talent is not the main obstacle, in the drags of the nba season it is the tendency to lose and cool, extinguish the fire to hold that trophy high that will be this team’s greatest enemy.  The fire they had in the 2006 nba playoffs, but let the fire morph into fear and hesitancy as the 2007 season turned into the 2007 playoffs.

This year they come to the floor armed at point guard with:

Jason Kidd, Josea Berea with Jason Terry filling in at this position as well.

Old and fragile, but capable of suppling the play necessary if Kidd comes through.  It is a big if and will only succeed wildly if Kidd is inspired by his greed for a new LARGE Contract.

At shooting guard they come armed with:

Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Antione Wright and Gerald Green.

Again fragile.  Jason Terry is streaky by nature – which is common among shooters.  He is small for this position and despite his preseason talk in the past two years – he hasn’t come to play and play hard in the postseason.  Jerry Stackhouse will play inspired for 10 games, get injured and then take a while to get back to inspired play, then go through the whole cycle again.  The wild cards here are Antione Wright and Gerald Green, let’s hope they bring something consistently good to the table.

At small foward the Mavs come smoking with:

Josh Howard, Devon George and Shawn Williams.

If the Mavericks season turns out how they want it to, these boy will be running and dunking.  Easy baskets, easy baskets, easy baskets.  These guys have to play like kids, happy and energetic.  I think if Josh Howard isn’t too sparse between the ears it will show this year.  He could come out swinging and completely turn his image back around.  Devon George needs to get back to being a role player – a good role player.  Giving the defense, the hustle and the occassional 3 that championship teams need.  Go figure Shawne Williams, I don’t know much about him.

The overwhelming strength:  Power Foward

Dirk Nowitzki, Brandon Bass and Jason Singleton.

Nowitzki and Bass can bring it.  They’ll need to.  This team doesn’t run without Dirk and losses its margin for error without Bass.

Center

Eric Dampier and Desagana Diop.

Not a strength but not bad, I imagine Bass will be spending a lot of time here.\

Prediction:  Same old, same old.  They’ll be fun to watch, fun to track, but ultimalely it won’t amount to much as the harsh reality of getting bogged down in referee calls, opponent superstar play and lack of self will to seperate them from the pack in the playoffs will eventually paint the Dallas Mavericks in the 2008-2009 season – not the best.  Now for the fun part go PROVE me wrong.

The Dallas Mavericks Roster – both trick and treat.  Happy Seasons.

I love this guy.  He’s my favorite person in the world.

And I found this recently too.  It was hard for me to believe it at first, but if you see it – it makes sense.  If you click on more info you will receive a play by play of naughty stern.  The guy throws the fourth card against the bubble denting the corner of the card.  Stern looks in and grabs a card with a card on top of it.  Guess which card comes out – that’s right the dented one.  The dented corner ends up in David Stern’s left hand.  This guy is filthy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mN3OGRGybA

Elton Brand and Baron Davis Opt Out

It’s very surprising considering Elton was set to make 16.44 million and Baron 17.18.  The story, I guess, is they want to play together.  Elton Brand is going to take less money from the Clippers and Baron Davis is going to also sign with the Clippers.  This would make the Clippers a more formidable team, but not a championship contender in the west.

Now, my hope for the Mavs is somehow they can get their hands on Tayshaun Prince, since Detroit wants to make major changes in personal after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals and firing their coach.

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

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
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.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

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.

Taking It For Granted

Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.  -  Aldous Huxley.

The universe around us is complex, intricate and goes on forever; yet we know pretty much all there is to know about life and how it works.  Right?  Sure the earth is complex, people are diverse and not just sterotypes buuuutttt, I’ve got the score.  I’ve been given a brain that can observe all the complicated factors and make decisions, judgements, about people and things.  I know what things should be like and what I deserve.  God has sent geniuses amidst the backdrop of this earth and I am one of them.  I’m a reasonable man.

But how does this work out with our sports teams.  We forget these are actually people, who are actually made up of flesh and blood, and not just robots in which you invest a certain amout of money into and it always does the same thing again and again.  So where are we going with this?  Let’s talk about the Mavericks for a bit.  For eight staight seasons they have finished with 50 or more wins, making the playoffs in each of those years.  They’ve made a run to the NBA finals – losing in six games (The other team had a player who was terribly stricken with a disease every time a maverick came near him.  The refs acted accordingly and blew the whistle on those cruel mavericks – giving that player the record for the most free throw attempts in an NBA finals.  Did I mention it was a six game series and not seven?  Did I mention it was the all time NBA record in the NBA finals, surpassing the infamous Jordan partiality?  OK.)  The Mavericks have had a good run.

Now it looks inevitably like they’re going to lose in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.  The future doesn’t look bright with 2 future first round picks seemingly gone along with a solid young point gaurd under contract for years, while the other western conference teams get tougher.  There are many people who believe Avery Johnson will not be back next season and that this team’s future is decending like Josh Howard’s game towards the end of this season.  But we’ve taken this team for granted and forgotten that there was a time, specifically the 90’s, when this team played like our beloved Rangers have this decade.

That is - becoming too angry over getting to the playoffs and losing (in a very tough western conference) could have lasting repercussions and set this team back for years to come.  You need not look beyond this season’s trading deadline to have evidence of what overlooking, and taking for granted, the good things you have on this team can do to harm the future of this team.  And to remember we have short memories and just because Josh Howard is in a funk now, doesn’t mean he will never be able to play like an all star again.  And just because Avery Johnson doesn’t look like the best coach now, does not mean he has lost his ability to coach.

Does this team need changes?  Yes.  But making changes to make changes, or because we’re dissapointed in our beloved Mavericks exiting the playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive year and heads need to roll because of that, does the Mavericks and their fans no good.  What is best for this team moving forward, that is the question.

The Four Horsemen

Our four major teams all have business to attend to this weekend.  Let’s start with the Mavs:

The Mavericks played horribly in game 2 and come back home in need of 2 victories.  The Mavericks have played a total of 4 halfs in this series, giving up 40, 64, 67, and 60 points respectively each half.  The first one (the 40) is good, the rest are abysmal.  My three Keys to the game going forward are:

1.  Fast break points.  They have to go up for the Mavs and down for the Hornets.  In Game 1 the Mavs had 10 fast break points, the Hornets 15.  In Game 2 the Mavs had 13, the Hornets had 29.  The Mavs need to score in the 20 to 30 range and hold the Hornets under 20.

2.  Play defense.  This shouldn’t be as hard as the Mavs are making it out to be.  And I have some concern that Avery just doesn’t look like he knows how to coach this team anymore, the attitude to play defense just isn’t there.  The easy baskets and points in the paint for the Hornets are out of hand.  Also the turnovers run the New Orlean’s way as well.  In Game 1 the Hornets only turned the ball over 8 times, the Mavs 14.  In Game 2 The Hornets 6, The Mavs 15.  The Mavs should be causing more turnovers and allow less points in the paint.  In Game 1 they allowed 36, in Game 2 they allowed 48, that’s terrible.

3.  Jason Terry.  In Game 1 he shot 3-7, in game to he shot 5-8.  He has to take more attempts than seven and eight.  Then he has to make most of them.  What has happened to him since he received his contract I don’t know, but he has to start doing the things he did in the run to the finals.  I don’t know how he lost it, but most point guards have the shot where the beat their man, but when they see someone hanging around the basket pull up and float the shot in.  Jason Terry did have that shot, it’s a shot you have to practice.  I don’t know if he just doesn’t practice it anymore, but he was good at it and now he just doesn’t attempt it anymore.  Shots like that and three pointers he has to attempt and make.  Jason Terry has to become a scorer, then that will open things up for everyone else while Dirk and him are on the floor. 

This men have to grow some intestinal fortitude on the way from New Orleans to Dallas if they want to have a chance in this series, they need to be the aggressors.

Now the Stars:

Marty Turco was good, not great.  I’m glad they’ll be taking on the San Jose Sharks, it gives them a chance to go back to Caly and play two road games to start off a series.  This series will go 6 games, don’t know who wins.  But offense will be the key.  The Stars were the aggressors against the Ducks.  They will need to continue that, winning the battles along the boards and flying to loose pucks.

Now for the Cowboys:

If no one falls unexpectedly to pick #22 I trade the pick and pick #61 if I can for a first rounder next year and an earlier pick in round 2 this year.  I then pick a WR at pick #28.  I like Mario Manningham although there have been character issues and concerns with him.  If his character checks out I pick him.  If not, going with a Malcom Kelly isn’t too bad.  I don’t like the DeSean Jackson pick just because of the overvaluing of a punt returner.  I then try and go for a corner with my early second rounder and a running back with one of my later picks.  Obviously I wouldn’t go to far away from my pick the best player on the board, but I would lean toward the WR, CB and RB positions.

As for the Rangers:

Pitching, starting and bullpen need to work together in order to win.  Until they do this we won’t go on any prolonged winning streak, but we will go on prolonged losing streaks as we are in right now.  And just for fun I’m going to point out the guys I think should be on the team looking at the rest of this season.  Catalanotto.  Botts.  Kinsler.  Young.  Blaylock.  Hamilton.  Bradley.  Vasquez.  Duran.  Murphy.  Byrd.  Salty then Laird.  Millwood, Padilla, Jennings (if only to trade or cut in mid season, unless something unforeseen happens here), Gabbard, McCarthy, Loe, Rupe, Littleton, Franscisco, Wright, Benoit, Wilson.  And if had to pick I might bring a young lefty up in place of Loe and bring Loe up when a righty was hurt.

A Love Poem For Devean George

The Kidd Trade nixed by George, by George.  George Please, Please!!! don’t allow this trade to go through ever.  And on this Valentine’s Day I would like to tell everyone who I love, so I made a love poem.  Enjoy.

Devean George I Love You 

Devean George I love you,
there is no other way to say,
the feelings I have for you,
on this our valentine’s day.
While others drink in heated passion,
and burn their shallow lusts too fast,
We defy all of culture’s trendy fashions
with a gentle tickle of love that lasts.
The secret is my admiration,
for a city you helped save,
The epic tale of a terrified nation
where one man steps up to block its grave.
Yes our love goes beyond the flesh,
the 6 foot 8 frame and piercing eyes,
the gazelle like motion and muscular chest,
It is your will that breaks and ties.
The will pictured in heroic dreams,
And it is that will I emphasize,
The one in which you saved my team,
And won my love as your prize.