http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...avs/stories/070105dnspomavslede.5fe41750.html Mavs in a no-lose situation with free agency this time Team will be buyers, Donnie Nelson says 11:11 PM CDT on Thursday, June 30, 2005 By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News Friday's opening of the NBA free agency period can't possibly be as eventful for the Mavericks as it was last year. They don't have a Steve Nash to lose on the open market this time, even if they are likely to lose Michael Finley later in the summer. Instead, the Mavericks will be hunters – not the hunted – as teams begin negotiating with free agents. It's a good year for teams in need of shooting guards. But for the Mavericks, who are searching for athletic help at center, it's a less-than-compelling list of possibilities. "We have three areas of need," said president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson. "We need an athletic center, a shooter and possibly a third point guard, depending on what happens with Marquis Daniels. We are going to get involved with a lot of guys." Nelson and owner Mark Cuban planned to start talks with numerous players after negotiations were permissible at 11:01 p.m. Thursday. The top names? "Anybody who is athletic and can give you some shot-blocking," Nelson said. The most logical fits are Memphis' Stromile Swift, New Orleans' Chris Andersen, Houston's Dikembe Mutombo, Indiana's Dale Davis and Seattle's Jerome James, all of whom are unrestricted free agents, meaning their teams do not have the right to match any offer. Swift, 25, is looking for a raise from the $6 million he earned last season, probably putting him out of the Mavericks' price range. As usual, money will be the overriding factor. The mid-level exception is expected to be over $5 million – nice, but not enough to get in the Swift sweepstakes. It would, however, probably be enough to get the interest of Andersen, who has great leaping ability and has been a strong rebounder. He is considered a player on the rise. Mutombo and Davis, meanwhile, are veterans with plenty of playoff experience. Nelson and Cuban reiterated that everything the Mavericks do this summer will be with an eye on advancing further in the playoffs. Another intriguing name is Raja Bell, the former Maverick who has played the last two seasons with Utah. Bell is one of many shooting guards who are free agents, including Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Bobby Simmons, Larry Hughes and Joe Johnson. Among restricted free agents, the Mavericks certainly would have interest in Chicago's Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, Washington's Kwame Brown and Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert. Their teams have the right to match any offer the Mavericks would make, however. As far as the Mavericks' losses in the free agent derby, they have only Alan Henderson and Darrell Armstrong in the free agent pool. Both were solid last season. But both could be headed elsewhere. Briefly: Tickets for the 2005 Global Games are available starting at 9 a.m. today via the event's Web site, www.globalgamesbasketball.com, at the box office at the Deja Blue Arena in Frisco and by phone at 214-467-8277. The tournament, featuring junior teams from many countries, runs from July 24 to 30. ... The Mavericks will start summer league practice Saturday morning and will have twice-daily workouts until leaving for the Reebok Las Vegas Summer League on Tuesday. E-mail esefko@dallasnews.com ON THE MARKET Free agents who could pique the Mavericks' interest, with comment from Staff Writer Eddie Sefko: Player Age Ht. Team Comment Chris Andersen 26 6-10 New Orleans "Birdman" looking for a new nest Raja Bell 28 6-5 Utah If they need backcourt defender, he's it Kwame Brown-x 23 6-11 Washington Might require a sign-and-trade Dale Davis 36 6-11 Indiana Still has ability to be backup C/F Dikembe Mutombo 39 7-2 Houston Anything left in that tank, big fella? Stromile Swift 25 6-10 Memphis Has yet to blossom but has all the tools x-Restricted (team has the right to match any offer)
Deke would be a bad fit there, Sefko was just being silly. Instead look for a SnT with Grizz or Knicks with Damp dumped.
No Mutombo leaves Yao no where to hide. He'd be totally exposed. Which is gonna happen sometime. so I don't really care when it happens. Now or later. Yao is gonna have to stay on the court.
I dont see why Mutombo would go to the Mavs. I think he likes it in Houston and enjoys being Yao's backup.
I would be shocked if Deke goes to another team.. Les put alot of fat coin into Dekes hospital with T&T this year.. I think Deke will play here for less if Less does it again next year...
This guy is just rattling off possibilities. There is no evidence in the article that the Mavs and/or Deke have expressed any interest in even talking to each other. Every hometown writer is gonna wrattle off every free agent as possible targets for his/her team. Besides, Deke has connections to this team, Les threw his Tux and Tennies bash, and most important of all, those Dallas girls don't have what it takes to SEX MUTOMBO!
That's what I think too. He has a list in front of him. "Okay, which centers will be available? Now what's a 1 sentence blurb I can say about why they're interested in the Mavs?" <Click submit article.> Done.
steven hunter from phoenix, or like the article said dale davis of indiana is who im predicting they go after.
i don't see deke going anywhere unless we tell him we're not signing him which of course would be r****ded on our part. he's gotta be back next season.
Deke is the man and if we want him back, Yao will probably personally call Deke to tell him to come back. Deke seemed to be enjoying it! I hope so
Wow, I have to disagree. If we can sign him I think we should. I think he is invaluable for at least one more season. Besides, we definately can't let the Mavs pick him up. That hurts Houston. Our likely 1st round matchup next season...Mavs...again. SA wins division. Houston and Mavs are 2nd and 3rd. That means we'd be seeded 4th and 5th...again.
Wow! If Deke goes to Dallas then Dampier wouldn't even be the best center on his team... hard to take for the self-proclaimed second best center in the league.
This is nothing, the author just blurbed that it is a "logical" fit. Didn't Deke already say Houston would be his last stop? He said that last season was his most fun and fulfilling season he has ever had. Add the fact that the Rockets did a lot for his hospital in the Congo, I'm sure he appreciated it enough to come back to us.
I don't see why the Mavs need a center when they already have the second best center in the NBA... Our old buddy Mobley didn't even get a mention in that article...looks like that publicist he hired isn't doing his job...
DUCK FALLAS!!! It doesn't matter who they get, they will NEVER win it all. They don't have the heart. On a serious note though, I think Deke would rather finish his career in Houston.
I'm in agreement here- Deke really seems to like it here- He likes the team, likes the coach, and likes the city. I don't see him going to Dallas. J
