Looks like Dallas is looking for some defense http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2137729 DALLAS -- Free agent Doug Christie plans to sign a contract with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent said Thursday. "For us, it's been exactly what we wanted," agent Bradley Marshall told The Associated Press. He wouldn't disclose details of the agreement, but said it was for more than one year. Marshall said Christie, a guard, likes the Mavericks style of play and believes his defensive prowess makes him a good fit for the team. "They have got a coach [Avery Johnson] who knows how to win and make players better and the ownership is strong," Marshall said. "It's a solid situation." The Mavs scheduled a Friday morning news conference with team owner Mark Cuban and Johnson, but didn't say what would be discussed. In an e-mail note, Cuban offered no details. He deferred to the 10:30 a.m. news conference at the American Airlines Center where the Mavs play. Telephone messages left for Donnie Nelson, the Mavs president of basketball operations, were not immediately returned. Christie, expected to be a successor to Michael Finley, was waived by the Orlando Magic last week. The Mavs waived Finley on Monday. Last year, Christie played 52 games and averaged 6 points per game. In his 13-year career with five teams, he has averaged 11.4 points per game. Christie may look familiar to Mavs' fans from the time he wore a Sacramento Kings uniform during playoffs series in 2002, 2003 and 2004. A strong defender who would fit well into Avery's scheme, Christie didn't necessarily command a lot of money because Orlando still owed him about $8 million. So Christie could narrow his selections to front-running teams who may not have a lot of salary-cap wiggle room. Because of salary cap constraints, the Mavs could offer no more than $5 million and were not likely to use all of it on one player. While Marshall would not offer details of Christie's contract, he did say that his client turned down a one-year, $4-million deal and a 4-year, $20 million deal with other NBA teams. "He was sought after by six or seven teams very strongly and one other team very aggresssively," Marshall said. "If that doesn't tell you that he is more interested in winning and more interested in making his family comfortable with a nice place to live, I don't know what more he can do to indicate that." Christie was among a group of players released by 18 NBA teams who took advantage of a one-time chance to avoid luxury tax obligations. Teams whose payrolls exceed $61.7 million for the upcoming season must pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on the overage. But they had until Monday to cash in on an "amnesty" option that allowed them to avoid the luxury taxes by releasing players. Players still received guaranteed money from their old team and whatever they could get from the new team. The development is part of the six-year collective bargain agreement reached during the summer between the NBA and the players union. Marshall said being released will work well for Christie. "Nothing happened with respect to amnesty that we didn't urge or encourage," Marshall said. "They were seeking to exercise that option, too." The Mavs were also in negotiations with free-agent center DeSagana Diop, who could be a backup behind Erick Dampier. Messages were left with Diop's New Jersey-based agent Leon Rose, but he could not be reached for comment.
On 1310 in Dallas, they said they signed Diop, not in negotiations. It doesn't matter...the fat b*stard sucks.
I dont think Dallas gets any better cutting Finley just to add Christie and Diop. Have they made any other moves this offseason? They didnt even have any picks did they? I dont think Dallas will be taking anything home next year.
if anything, finley for christie makes them worse. as for us sweeping them next year, i wouldn't go that far. we will beat them though. the addition of lets say DA on last years team might have been enough to beat them in 6. take away finley and replace him with christie and we win in 5 because finley was out of bounds! add stro and I guess you are right that we will sweep. however, it never really works out that way does it?
Doug's wife ought to just put a dog collar on him with video and sound so she stay home and stop following the team bus around. I guess she thinks he's going to start hanging out with Kobe the minute she turns her back. Dallas has gotten weaker and so has the Suns we should match up better with both of these teams next season.
no it does not but the Rockets have to be steeming pissed when they see them blue jersey again. It will bring back memories of cheats, whiners, and p*****s who cried their way out of that series. our team will be amped to take it to dallas and they'll show no mercy.
Who says they're going to the playoffs? Those jackasses suck. I bet the lakers will be better than those assclowns.
so dallas let michael finley go for a guy who can't contribute a damn thing to an NBA team anymore????.... SWEET, that means a higher seed for the rockets...and yes, mark cuban is the most overrated owner ever because he isn't smart with his money. yes, his does what he can to TRY to make his team better but letting nash go and signing dampier for similar money was comical. and now letting arguably the franchise's best player EVER walk and then get doug christie who couldn't find his way off the magic's bench last season is almost as worse. but hey, at least the rockets are pulling such bonehead moves.
Sad thing is, the best seeding we can realistically get is #4 - unless we manage to pull off a better regular season record than the spurs. 4th seed means a second round showdown with SA-lets hope we can hang.
You guys are making it sound as if Finley was important to us. For years we've been calling for his аss to get traded long before this mysterious ankle injury he seems to be using as an excuse. Him getting traded was the best thing this franchise has ever done for the last 5 years, other than drafting Josh Howard. Now with regards to Christie: I agree, he's on the downside of his career and his defense is not up to par with his 1st team seasons... but still, he's going to help us more than Finley in the sense that he could do much more albeit adequately.
we all know orlando is a horrible horrible place to end up, and look what christie had to say about it -- http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/nba/dallas_mavericks/12433638.htm "I kind of look at Orlando as just a blip," Christie said. "It's not really like I was there. "I'm just happy to be back with an organization with the class that Dallas has, and the respect that they give their players."
