Mavs have no need for Artest 01:26 PM CST on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News Three words apply to those dozen or so e-mailers who junked up my inbox in the first hours after Ron Artest revealed that he would like to be traded by Indiana and that Dallas is on his long list of potential destinations: No, no, no. This is not a knock on Artest's personality – although we can go there if you really want to. If Allen Iverson is "The Answer," and Paul Pierce is "The Truth," Artest is "The Headache," unless Doug Christie still has that nickname. Nor is this a critique on his play. He's good enough to be the third guy on a championship-caliber team. But this is a plea to the Mavericks to realize they have a chance to become something that every team wants to be (besides a champion, of course). They can be stocked with players that other teams want. Josh Howard is one of the best young players in the league. Period. Marquis Daniels is showing last season was an injury blip on his radar screen. Devin Harris has oodles of potential ahead of him. Even DeSagana Diop, Jason Terry, Keith Van Horn and Jerry Stackhouse are well regarded around the league for one reason or another. Keep this team together and the chances for a deep playoff run are good for several years to come. Trade two or more of those key components for Artest and the future is compromised – and with no guarantees for the present. So far, the Mavericks have said they are not interested in Artest. So far, I believe them, although I fully expect them to kick the tires with a telephone call. I mean, if Indiana wants to take back the Mavericks' riff-raff (unlikely, of course), then by all means, bring the Headache to Dallas. Avery Johnson has plenty of aspirin. MAVERICKS Q&A Q: It seems like the only post-up position Dirk Nowitzki can get is 15 feet from the basket, no matter the size of the defender. Does Dirk lack the ability to take up and hold a position near the low block? Also, why is he so hesitant to use his jump-hook? Michael Bond SEFKO: I hate it when people come up with hard-to-answer questions. First, I'd say that Dirk is relatively weak when it comes to planting himself in the low post. He is relatively skinny, if you haven't noticed. And while he's strong by regular human standards, he's not so much by NBA standards. Opponents know that if they stick a forearm in his lower back (a tender spot for him, by the way), Nowitzki can be bullied a few feet farther away from the basket. This is a flaw in his game. He knows it and the coaches know it. They're working on it, but it takes time. As for the jump-hook, I've seen him spend the better part of an hour working on it after practice, but he still doesn't get the chance to use it in games because, partly, of the first part of your question – he can't get position. I agree with you. He needs that in his arsenal. • • • Q: When Jason Terry went out, Devin Harris seemed to handle the starting point guard job well. He's obviously not the shooter Terry is, but he's a better distributor and defender. And his ability to penetrate gives the Mavs an additional dimension. Has he shown enough to hold down the starting job? Or will he go back to 15 to 20 minutes off the bench with everybody healthy? Adam Morris, Houston SEFKO: Though coach Avery Johnson harps on defense, he likes players who can make shots, which is Terry's strength. For that reason, Terry is going to be the starter this season whenever he's healthy. But I share your thought on Harris. The guy still plays wilder than Keith Richards in his prime, but all that talent has to be respected. And he's learning by the minute. You can't help but wonder if the Mavericks are headed toward a tough decision next summer. If Harris proves he's ready to take the reins of the offense, can he and Terry be successful on the same team with limited minutes for the small backcourt? I doubt it. But that would be a no-lose proposition for the Mavericks. Whichever one they considered trading would draw plenty of interest around the league. • • • Q: I understand the concern over Terry's lack of defense. Perhaps we need to rethink the notion of putting him on the trading block too soon. I think he's a pretty good fit, but that's just my opinion. What's yours? Kirby Hidy, Cresson, Texas SEFKO: I don't recall saying Terry should be on the trading block. And by the way, almost all players are, in the right situation. Tim Duncan would be gone faster than a frozen margarita on the Riverwalk if Cleveland wanted to trade LeBron James for him. But realistically, Terry has a nice fit here and, as mentioned above, Johnson is infatuated with his shooting. This team needs a gunner, having lost some good ones the last couple of summers. Terry fills the bill. My only caveat is that if Harris continues to bloom, the garden can handle only so many flowers. Man, was that ever a corny line. • • • Q: In one of your recent articles, you said Jason Terry was sitting with both feet in buckets of ice water and both knees iced down. Is this the type of after-game therapy standard for many NBA players, or is it special to Terry? Bob Arnold, Dallas SEFKO: This is what is known as preventive maintenance in the NBA, and a lot of players do it, particularly those who are susceptible to specific trouble spots. For instance, when the season starts to drag on, Dirk Nowitzki usually starts spending eight to 10 minutes after games with his lower legs in ice water, hoping to keep his ankles in as good a shape as possible. It's not unlike pitchers wrapping their entire arms and shoulders in ice after a game. • • • Q: If the Mavericks knew Adrian Griffin was at home in Houston not playing for any team and didn't have any career-threatening injuries, why didn't they bring him in during the summer instead of taking a crap-shot at Doug Christie? Kevin Blackwell SEFKO: Griffin wanted more money in the summer. Guaranteed money. When that didn't come, he had to wait with his hat in his hand. The Mavericks made a nice move in getting him. • • • Q: Will Griffin continue to play when Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Howard both are healthy? Derrick Jeka SEFKO: I think you'll see him kept on the roster, at least until Jan. 10 when all contracts become guaranteed. If the Mavericks aren't sold on their health, they'll have to keep Griffin around as insurance. We've seen that he can be used in most situations without the coach having to worry about a lot of mistakes. But if the Mavericks are healthy, Griffin is the 13th man. There's nothing wrong with that if there's a paycheck in it for him for the whole season. • • • Q: What is this whole Shaquille O'Neal-Erick Dampier thing about? When Shaq was asked about Dampier recently, he said, "I thought we were talking about the NBA, not the WNBA." He's never been respectful toward Dampier. Why? James Warren SEFKO: I too am somewhat befuddled that Shaq even cares. Dampier isn't even a blip on Shaq's butt. But he seems preoccupied with him. But I think Shaq and Mark Cuban are kindred spirits – kids at heart. I wouldn't take anything Shaq says too seriously. He certainly doesn't. • • • Q: I live out of town, but I can instantly tell the next morning whether they won or lost by Dampier's line. When he's not putting a bunch of zeros next to his name, we win. Is there a chance we could trade him for a center that would consistently give us 75 percent of what Dampier gives on his best nights? I can't believe this guy once claimed he was the third-best center in the NBA. Jeff Oates, Cincinnati SEFKO: Actually, he claimed he was No. 2, behind only Shaq. And exactly what sucker out there do you want to trade with? Who is going to take Dampier and give you a ready-made center who brings it strong most nights? Won't happen. But I would suggest that the Mavericks already have that player. DeSagana Diop has been more active than Dampier and is situated perfectly as the energetic center off the bench, much the way Samuel Dalembert was for Philadelphia the last couple years. And, in a weird way, the Mavericks are getting their money's worth out of their centers – for whom teams almost always have to overpay. Dampier is overpaid, Diop underpaid. • • • Q: I joined the big-screen, high-definition club last year, which of course was when I learned most channels still don't have it. Fox Sports Southwest doesn't seem to be in any hurry to add it. Don't they know how much money I spent on that TV? Ken Badt, Dallas SEFKO: Write your cable company. Write Mark Cuban ( mark.cuban@dallasmavs.com). Write your congressman. Write your newspaper. Of course, my thought is that television makers are telling cable systems not to offer high-def yet so they can come out with yet another video concept that will make the set you just bought obsolete next year. See, who said I wasn't full of Christmas cheer? • • • Q: After the first quarter of the season, do you think the Mavs will win more games than you first predicted? Jay Martin, Irving, Texas SEFKO: No. I'll stick with 52. It's going to be hard for anybody to keep a 60-win pace this year, Spurs included. E-mail esefko@dallasnews.com http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...er.7b1f6d1.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mavsfan1000:</div><div class="quote_post">Mavs have no need for Artest Keep this team together and the chances for a deep playoff run are good for several years to come. </div> I though this was interesting, haven't the Mavs had deep playoff runs as per usual? Isn't their biggest critique that "Sure, you can make the playoffs but you can't go any further..not against the Spurs". Whilst I don't agree with it, it seems to be true..but with our improved defense lately hopefully we can get past the Spurs Pretty good article, but I'm not sure if Diop is highly regarded around the league.. <font size=""1"">I'm thinking of sending in a question next week</font>
If the Mavs did go for him then I think the Mavs will have to give uo either Howard or Daniels or if ther really wanted him maybe both. Which I think would be a bad move, but I doubt it will happen.
I don't see any good trade that would make us better. Maybe if Indaina would take Van Horn and Daniels for Artest and a filler to match salaries than it could happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Indiana Trade Breakdown Outgoing Scot Pollard 6-11 C from Kansas 2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.0 apg in 12.8 minutes Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes Jonathan Bender 7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS) 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes Austin Croshere 6-10 PF from Providence 8.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 27.1 minutes Incoming Marquis Daniels 6-6 SG from Auburn 13.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.1 apg in 34.9 minutes Jerry Stackhouse 6-6 from North Carolina No games yet played in 2005/06 Keith Van Horn 6-10 SF from Utah 11.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.7 apg in 25.8 minutes Change in team outlook: -11.0 ppg, -7.9 rpg, and -0.4 apg. Dallas Trade Breakdown Outgoing Marquis Daniels 6-6 SG from Auburn 13.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.1 apg in 34.9 minutes Jerry Stackhouse 6-6 from North Carolina No games yet played in 2005/06 Keith Van Horn 6-10 SF from Utah 11.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.7 apg in 25.8 minutes Incoming Scot Pollard 6-11 C from Kansas 2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.0 apg in 12.8 minutes Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes Jonathan Bender 7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS) 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes Austin Croshere 6-10 PF from Providence 8.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 27.1 minutes Change in team outlook: +11.0 ppg, +7.9 rpg, and +0.4 apg. Successful Scenario Due to Indiana and Dallas being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Indiana and Dallas had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.</div> Big trade, but I doubt it will happen.
why mess with team chemistry...the mavs have a great overall team with now some playoff experience. keep the team like it is for 2-3 more years, and i see a good title run. maybe this year!!!
I have to agree. There really is no need for Artest. We have our team. All we really have to do is improve on our defense a little more.
Yeah I heard in a news article that Indiana wants Harris and Howard for Artest. No doubt that is too much to ask.
