How To Fix the Mavs - Part II: Where to Trade These Bums

HOW TO FIX THE MAVS – PART II

We're 7 games into the 2008-09 NBA season and already it's becoming clear that the Dallas Mavs, as constructed, are pretty much done. At the very best, they are likely a 6 or 7 seed in the playoffs, at worst they finish somewhere between 9 and 12. With that in mind, it's well past time to start looking at the issues that have plagued this team for the last 3 seasons and make some moves. In truth, the way in which the Mavs Brain Trust of Cuban, Nelson, and Carlisle approach the next few months leading up to the trading deadline in February will decide the direction of the franchise for the next 5 to 7 years.

There are a LOT of fans (and haters) out there who think the solution to fixing this team's problems is to trade Dirk. At some point, I may need to address the insanity of this thinking, but for the sake of time, let's just leave it at this: Dirk is one of the 10 best players in this league. He's got between 5 and 8 good to great years left in him. And unless you get a huge haul in a trade, trading a superstar almost never works out for the team losing said superstar. With that in mind, there are only two players on this roster that I would consider out of the question in a trade: Dirk Nowitzki and Gerald Green. Green has the potential to be Tracy McGrady. Seriously. The dude has more talent than 98% of the rest of the league. He is GIFTED. Up to this point, he's been just another guy who's riddled with talent and has no idea how to put it to use in a league filled with talented players. But in the short span of 7 games, Green has gone from a DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coaches Decision) against Houston to starting and playing 35 minutes against the Lakers, who happen to be the best team in the league with the best player in the league. In addition, he's turning those minutes into production. Is he going to be an All Star this year? No, but he looks to me like a guy who's about to blow up. I'd include Jason Kidd on this list if it weren't for his age and the fact that he has an expiring contract.

Of the remaining 12 players on the roster, four have significant value (or sort of significant value) that could be turned into something if the Mavs were to trade them. Those players are: Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and Erick Dampier. Let's have a look at the teams that might have an interest in those players.

JASON KIDD
The criteria: Kidd would be welcomed by all 30 teams in the league. However, there are very few that both have a need for a point guard and are in position to contend, a requirement for any team that might acquire him because of his contract. What you're looking for are good teams who need a point guard and would be able to pay him this year.

CLEVELAND – The Cavs are bordering on desperation right now. The team is good, maybe very good, and on paper, they should be able to contend for a long time. However, Lebron James is eligible for free agency in the summer of 2010. If the team doesn’t prove to James that they are willing to do whatever it takes to win a title, he could easily walk out the door. Jason Kidd might not be the perfect addition to the team. But if the Cavs want to make a statement and add a guy who will facilitate for James, Maurice Williams, and the rest of the squad, Kidd would be their best option.

DETROIT – This is a long shot. My thought process here is that, after adding Allen Iverson, the Pistons may discover that they need a point guard to set up their offense. Richard Hamilton and Iverson play very similar games and the experiment may not work out. In addition, Iverson’s salary comes off the books after this year, as does Kidd’s. Making a move for Kidd would allow them to have money under the cap in 2010 to go after Lebron, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh.

GOLDEN STATE – This is also a stretch. The Warriors are completely lost without a point guard to run Don Nelson’s offense. Monta Ellis is not a real point guard, but rather a short 2 guard. Would they consider making a move for Kidd, who would be coming home to the Bay Area? Also, the Warriors front office is a mess and the opportunity to cut payroll in the upcoming years might be an incentive to make this move.

HOUSTON – The Rockets have their Big Three (Yao, McGrady, and Artest). But they lack a point guard to run coach Adelman’s open offense. Alston is more of a shooter than a point and Aaron Brooks, despite how well he’s played of late, is a backup. If the Rockets really want to make a push to make themselves title contenders with the Lakers and Jazz, Kidd could be a huge help to them.

LA LAKERS – I doubt the Lakers are really going to be looking to make a big move with the way they’re playing right now. However, as good as Derek Fisher is and Jordan Farmar appears to be becoming, Kidd would almost make that team unstoppable. Their defensive system would hide Kidd’s man-to-man struggles and highlight his ability to play passing lanes. And Kobe loves Kidd. I think the Lakers might have the most interest of any team in the league if the Mavs put Kidd on the market.

ORLANDO - Orlando is in the “Good, not Great” category and truthfully, they aren’t going to be much better with the team constructed as is. Dwight Howard will continue to grow as a player but the rest of the team is maxed out on potential. Would they be willing to give up on the youth movement to take a chance on an aging point guard who would, undoubtedly, make Howard and Rashard Lewis a thousand times better for a short period of time?

PORTLAND – Portland seems pretty dedicated to their youth movement so I doubt that they would look to make a move for Kidd. They have excellent young players at pretty much every position (point guard is in question, however) and look to be set up as a good team for years to come. Still, if they sense that the rest of the West is fading (as appears to be the case), I could see them doing something to push them over the top now rather than waiting on next season or the year after.

2 Exceptions to the Criteria Above:

ATLANTA – Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams are an exceptional young core. They can get out and run with great efficiency and put up a lot of points. Their point guard, Mike Bibby, isn’t really the perfect point guard for that type of offense whereas Kidd was born to run with athletes like that. It’s possible that the Hawks would look at Kidd as the guy who could push them into true contending status. Both Kidd and Bibby have expiring contracts so it wouldn’t really be much of a risk and it might save the franchise from having to make a tough decision about what to do with Bibby.

SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs have had a collective man crush on Kidd for years. Pairing him with Tony Parker in the backcourt wouldn’t do a thing to address their need for athleticism and youth. But I believe everyone, including the Spurs, sense that the team’s run as a championship contender is coming to an end. They are two years (at best) away from the Lottery. By trading for Kidd, they would be acknowledging that their window is coming to a close, but before it does, they are going to take one more BIG shot at another title.

JOSH HOWARD
The Criteria: Any team that needs a fairly young swingman who scores with consistency. As much as Josh Howard drives me ABSOLUTELY FREAKING CRAZY with his refusal to drive, disinterest in defense, and disappearing as the game gets tougher, he consistently scores 18 points per game, something that a lot of teams could use from their small forward. His contract (4 more years at around $10 million a season) isn't bad. Josh is the most important trade chip because he could fit in with just about any team that doesn't have a long term solution at the swing spot, whether good or bad, and bring something significant back in return.

CHARLOTTE – Howard is from the Charlotte area and he would fit in well with the system the Bobcats are trying to incorporate. He would be the top scoring option on the team the second he stepped off the plane. He is making quite a bit of money, however, in comparison to what cheapskate owner Robert Johnson is usually inclined to spend. The Mavs would probably have to take some serious contract numbers back in return.

CLEVELAND – Cleveland would be a pretty solid location for Howard. His unwillingness to drive would be covered up by playing opposite a superstar that does drive. Howard would add athleticism and a consistent second scorer when streaky shooter Maurice Williams is having an off night. I have no idea what the Cavs could give to the Mavs in return, though.

GOLDEN STATE – Coach Don Nelson is making quick work of his betrayal of GM Chris Mullin and will likely be in charge of the franchise in short order. Nelson is a big fan of Howard and his game and he would likely fit in well with the Warriors fast paced offense. Many of the players that made the team so successful a couple of years ago (Jason Richardson, Baron Davis, Matt Barnes, etc.) are no longer on the roster and the Warriors could be looking to reload a bit.

LA CLIPPERS – I really don’t get this one to be honest. The Clippers seem to be pretty set at the small forward position with future superstar Al Thornton. But a great deal of league gossip is focused on Howard heading to the Clippers. If the rumors are correct, there are a lot of players (or maybe draft picks) that LA could send in return for Howard.

LA LAKERS – Again I doubt that the Lakers would be willing to make a major move when their team is playing so incredibly well. But the idea of pairing Howard with Kobe and Gasol is intriguing. He would clearly be the third option but one of the best third options in the league. A trade for Howard would essentially solidify 4 of the 5 spots in the starting lineup (minus the point guard spot) for the next 5 years.

MEMPHIS – Memphis attempted to sign Josh Smith to a long term contract in the off season. Smith is a very similar player to Howard, making a very similar amount of money. Personally, I don’t see where the Grizzlies have room for Howard (or Smith, for that matter). If it were me, I’d start Mike Conley at the point guard position with OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay at the swing spots. But it appears the team is set on making Mayo their point guard. If the Grizzlies are interested in Howard, they are an ideal trade partner because they have an abundance of available young players (and draft picks).

MIAMI – Any Howard-to-Miami trade would likely involve Shawn Marion. I’m not a fan of Marion by any means, but his contract expires at the end of the season and it’s possible that the Mavs could get a third team involved to take Marion and bring the Mavs something of more long-term value. Howard fits into the youth movement in Miami and would give them a formidable starting lineup with Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and of course, Dwyane Wade.

MINNESOTA – Howard would be a very good fit in Minnesota. He would be able to play off of post-presence Al Jefferson and provide the Wolves with a consistent scoring punch. This would allow Kevin Love and Corey Brewer to become the role players they are suited to be. The Wolves have quite a bit of young talent that they could give up in return, though for my money, they are not the quality of players that some other teams may have to offer.

NEW JERSEY – This is a serious long shot. The Nets are gearing up for the summer of 2010 to make a run at Lebron James, meaning they want to cut as much salary as possible. I have to believe New Jersey would only be interested in making this trade if they were able to get rid of Vince Carter, who is on my list of The Top 10 Players You Never Ever Ever Trade For, No Matter How Good They Are or How Little They’ll Cost You.

NEW ORLEANS – I’d love this scenario if it didn’t involve helping a division rival get exceedingly better. Howard would bring a tremendous amount of athleticism to a team that is a bit lacking in that department. The Hornets need a swingman badly and with Chris Paul, Peja Stojokovic, and David West positioned as the top three offensive players on the team, Howard wouldn’t be depended on for big plays. I’m not sure what they have to offer in return, however.

PHOENIX – This seems to be just about out of the question. The Suns have one of the three cheapest owners in the NBA who is constantly looking to cut costs, not add them. Also, like the Mavs, the Suns’ window has pretty much closed and they’re probably more inclined to reload than add another player to make a last ditch run at a title. Still, Howard would fit in extremely well with Nash and Stoudemire and the Suns have a few assets the Mavs might be interested in.

PORTLAND – Portland is the ideal team to make a deal with from the Mavs perspective. They have a TON of young players who are ready to break out that could be brought in with a trade and they are in need of a consistent scorer. The Blazers are more in need of a point guard than a swingman but the need is still there. Bayless, Howard, Roy, Aldridge, and Oden are a collectively TREMENDOUS future. I think the biggest hold-up here might be Howard’s off the court issues. Portland has finally gotten rid of all the trouble makers and malcontents that plagued the franchise for the last 10 years and while Howard’s trouble are small compared to those of some of the guys that have played in Portland recently, it could be of concern.

SACRAMENTO – Sacramento has perhaps the worst team in the league, both in terms of the short term and long term. Beyond Kevin Martin, the Kings are almost completely devoid of anything resembling serious talent. Shelden Williams, Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia, Quincy Douby, and Beno Udrih are decent young players but in my opinion, none of them are going to break out into All-Stars. Howard doesn’t fit here as the long term solution and future of the franchise. But what he would do would be to provide a cushion between complete and utter futility (which they’re on the cusp of right now) and the salary cap flexibility that will allow them to reload in a year or two. They have enough young players to provide the Mavs some options in a trade and Sacramento would be a good home for Josh.

SAN ANTONIO – I think San Antonio would kill to get their hands on Howard and unfortunately, I think he would really reach his potential under coach Popavich. The Spurs are absolutely desperate for youth and athleticism and Josh would fit in very nicely with their team. Still, I can’t see the Mavs willingly helping the Spurs and there’s almost nothing the Spurs have to offer that would be of any interest.

TORONTO – Perhaps more than any other team in the league, the Raptors are searching hard for a good swingman. If the Mavs were to openly put Howard on the market, I have to believe the Raptors would be first in line. Toronto badly needs a guy who can score from the swing spot. Do they have much to offer in trade, though, is the big question.

UTAH – This is another team that would I would think would show heavy interest in Howard. He would give them another dimension to pair with Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. The Jazz have lacked an athletic swingman who can score since…well, since forever. Seriously. Right now Ronnie Brewer, a Josh Howard-starter kit, is showing signs of turning into that player. The question is, are the Jazz willing to hold on the hope that Brewer will continue to progress or would they prefer to take the known commodity in Howard? The Jazz are dangerously close to the top of this league and I think they might take a swing for the fences if given the opportunity.

JASON TERRY
The criteria: A team that has a true slashing, scoring, swingman and/or a significant post presence for Terry to work off of would benefit most from Terry's acquisition. But any team that needs quality shooting could be interested, as would be a team that needs stability at the point guard position. Because of his contract, it is likely that only contending teams would be interested in Terry.
NOTE: I've been SCREAMING for the Mavs to trade Terry for the last 2 seasons. Now the two most likely trade partners, the LA Clippers and Cleveland, have moved past the point of needing Terry.

ATLANTA – The Hawks have the absolute worst bench in the history of basketball and I really don’t think I’m exaggerating with that statement. They are also short on quality outside shooters. Terry probably wouldn’t start for Atlanta but he would provide a great deal to that young team.

CHICAGO – The thinking here is that the Bulls might look to pair an outside shooter with super-freshman Derrick Rose, who is far more threatening while driving rather than shooting. Terry would be the replacement for Ben Gordon whom the Bulls are sure to lose this off season and he could bring a little bit of veteran leadership to a team that is getting ready for a rise.

GOLDEN STATE – Terry would fit in extremely well in Don Nelson’s offensive system. Without the added pressures of playing defense and making some attempt to get to the bucket, Terry would be free to just shoot the ball and shoot it often. Terry would be a good pairing for Monta Ellis as well. As with Howard, Don Nelson has been a fan of Terry in the past and could be interested in bringing him on once more.

HOUSTON – This is probably a stretch. But Terry is an upgrade over Rafer Alston and the Rockets might be willing to make a move to add him to the Big Three of Artest, McGrady, and Yao. Adding Terry would allow the Rockets to start Aaron Brooks to go up against the other young and quick point guards in the West and then go to a solid, stable guard off the bench.

NEW YORK – Terry fits in best with a team that either has a strong post presence to work off of or runs a fast paced offense. The Knicks are definitely the latter. Terry would be a great fit in Mike D’antoni’s system and would provide a little bit of backcourt stability to a team that SERIOUSLY lacks that. The Knicks are no strangers to bad contracts, either, which makes any trade a possibility.

PHILADELPHIA – The Sixers have, perhaps, the worst outside shooting starting five of any contending team in the NBA. Not a single starter is a feared shooter. I’m not sure if Philly would start Terry over Thaddeus Young or not, but my gut tells me he would likely finish games most of the time. This is really a good fit for Terry.

TORONTO – The Raptors don’t need a shooter but they could definitely use some solid backcourt help off the bench. Terry would work well both with the offensive system and in the sense of being able to play both point guard and shooting guard. I’m not sure what the Raptors have to offer in return, but this is a possibility none-the-less.

ERICK DAMPIER
The criteria: A team that is looking to make the move into the playoffs or from playoff team to contender and is seriously lacking in the middle. Dampier's contract isn't so bad at this point but his statistical contribution is pretty low.

ATLANTA – Picking up a legitimate center like Dampier would allow the Hawks to move Al Horford to the power forward position where he really belongs. Dampier is a great fit in Atlanta because he would give the team a physical presence in the middle without taking any shots away from their young talents.

CHICAGO – Currently the Bulls are starting 6-8 Drew Gooden at center, who has just about as much business playing center in the NBA as my dog does. Dampier definitely does not fit into Chicago’s youth movement, but in the weak East, if the Bulls were to make a run to get themselves into playoff contention, they could consider making a move to strengthen their front line.

ORLANDO – The Magic have been looking for a big man to compliment/effectively relieve Dwight Howard for quite a while now. Adding Damp would give Orlando the flexibility to play Howard as the power forward from time to time, a position that he needs to learn how to play, in my opinion. As with Atlanta, Orlando doesn’t really need anyone taking shots away from their numerous scorers and Dampier is perfect in that role.

SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs have been looking hard for a legitimate center to play next to Tim Duncan. The smart money is on Eddy Curry, but Dampier could be on that list as well if he was made available. As with Kidd, the addition of Dampier would only be considered if the Spurs decide they want to make one more title run before their window closes completely.

WASHINGTON – The possibility of a Washington trade lessens every day as the team just gets worse and worse. But with the small lineup the Wizards employ, a big guy in the middle who blocks shots would be a major asset.