http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1691419 Last February, Dallas was divided regarding the prospect of trading Van Exel for Miami's Brian Grant. Coach Don Nelson wanted Grant. Owner Mark Cuban didn't want to give up Van Exel or absorb Grant's long-term contract. After Van Exel got hot in the playoffs and carried Dallas to the Western Conference finals, Cuban was asked about Grant and said through a smile: "Who? ... Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make." The Mavericks subsequently discussed a trade for Grant over the summer in which they were the aggressors, with Miami balking because this time the deal didn't involve Van Exel or any players of consequence, only offering the Heat some salary-cap relief. The back-and-forth continued last week when the Heat seized back the initiative and pitched Grant to Dallas for Antawn Jamison. The Mavericks, though, have cooled considerably on the 6-foot-8 power forward, having decided that he's too small and too expensive to help them significantly in the mighty West. The divide in Dallas these days centers around Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Nelson wants the 7-3 Lithuanian, who might or might not be available ... depending on the day in Cavsland. Cuban, though, is apparently reluctant, concerned about Ilgauskas' ability to play at an up-tempo pace. Another center from Cleveland whom the Mavericks like is DeSagana Diop, the third-year behemoth from Senegal, a homeland shared by Dallas director of scouting Amadou Fall. Diop, though, is injured and likely unavailable anyway. Dallas has inquired about him, but the Cavs think Diop is finally starting to blossom as an athletic defensive presence -- and they aren't peddling centers like they were before sending Chris Mihm and Yogi Stewart to Boston in the Ricky Davis trade. We'll even talk trades a little bit more... A trade possibility that makes some sense for Cleveland and satisfies Portland's newfound determination to be fiscally responsible would feature Ilgauskas to the Blazers for Rasheed Wallace. Ilgauskas, remember, has only one season left on his contract, which wouldn't interfere with the Blazers' plans to be well under the salary cap in 2005. But this one will probably never happen, because conservative Cavs owner Gordon Gund is not about to have 'Sheed on his team.
If the Mavs are offering A Jamison for B Grant, I wonder if they would bite on a Cato + filler + Trade exception?
