<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ex-coach Westphal interests MavsHe will talk to Johnson today about opening on bench09:53 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 13, 2007By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News esefko@dallasnews.com Paul Westphal, who was a head coach in the NBA for seven years, has emerged as a strong candidate to join Mavericks coach Avery Johnson's staff. Westphal, a former NBA All-Star, has been out of coaching since 2005 after spending four seasons at Pepperdine University. He has been doing television work in the Los Angeles area the last two years. Johnson has two openings on his bench ? one to replace Del Harris, who is moving into a consultant's role, and the other to fill the spot vacated by Sam Vincent, who was named coach of the Charlotte Bobcats last month. Westphal, 56, is expected to visit with Johnson today as the Mavericks' minicamp continues. He could be the kind of veteran voice Johnson wants on his staff. Westphal was a 6-4 guard who played 12 seasons in the NBA, making the All-Star Game five times and playing in 107 playoff games. He won a championship with Boston in 1974. As a coach, Westphal led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993, losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He has a 273-168 record as an NBA coach. His last NBA coaching job was with Seattle, where he coached two full seasons, making the playoffs once, before being fired 15 games into the 2000-01 season. Johnson also is talking to prospects about Vincent's spot on the bench, with Mario Elie a possibility. Elie has been an assistant coach at San Antonio and Golden State but spent last season out of coaching. Elie also is a candidate to join Rick Adelman's staff in Houston. Former Rockets assistant Tom Thibodeau has been mentioned as a possibility for Johnson's staff."</div>Westphal and Elie would be excellent replacements to the departing Vincent and Harris.Some other tidbits is that we are bringing in PJ Tucker and Julius Hodge to summer camp. Two guards who I feel need a chance and could possibly make the team. Devean George opted out and is looking to get more money and the Mavs are interested in Theo Papaloukas. The aka "passing small forward" Donnie may be hinting at.
Oh Wesphal.... Right now he is actually a part analyst for the Lakers. He has good insight, and speaks his mind. He always seemed like he was a good coach with Phoenix. Good luck if he ends up going to Dallas.
I think Mavs have a great shot at Westphal. We really need a guy like him on the bench cause the two we lost. Elie would be good to. But it seems like we have some competition with Houston. PJ Tucker, one hell of a perimeter player. He can take Mo's spot and I would be plenty happy. I just don't know how well PJ is at a pro level. He was always a college kid. Hodge is worth a shot also. I think Papaloukas would be good to work with. Mavs need someone like him now that George is gone
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Jun 14 2007, 04:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>PJ Tucker, ugh. Well, at least he's a good athlete.</div>Man...PJ Tucker is a 6'5 Power forward if I'm not mistaken...he's in Raleigh, NC right now I believe...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jjdaman20 @ Jun 14 2007, 03:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Man...PJ Tucker is a 6'5 Power forward if I'm not mistaken...he's in Raleigh, NC right now I believe...</div>I think he's a small forward, but my biggest problem with him is that he is dumb. He had a 1.1 gpa that one semester, getting him disqualified. Then, SURPRISE, next semester he had a 3.3 (lol). I watch him play against the Aggies in '06, when he dribbled out the shot clock, allowing Acie to make perhaps the biggest shot of his college career.
Athletes always get the edge on grades. I've first hand witnessed it. Justice I do remember that game. PJ lacks knowledge for the basketball game. Can't deal with pressure much. But is a pure athlete. PJ is an damn good rebounder for a 6'5 guy
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LAZY @ Jun 14 2007, 11:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Athletes always get the edge on grades. I've first hand witnessed it. Justice I do remember that game. PJ lacks knowledge for the basketball game. Can't deal with pressure much. But is a pure athlete. PJ is an damn good rebounder for a 6'5 guy</div>I'm mostly giving the guy sh*t, but still... he is a good athlete. I just don't want a guy that folds under pressure. Let's face it, mental fortitude has not been our strongest point in the last couple playoffs.I was at that game! :worthy:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Any news on wether Kevin Willis will be returning to play next year in a mavs uniform?</div>He's more likely to die.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jun 15 2007, 12:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He's more likely to die.</div>So those could still be pretty good odds, huh?
Ain't nothing wrong with PJ Tucker (besides his height); he's strong and tough and plays good defense. You can almost compare him to Adrian Griffin.
<span style="font-family:Arial">Mario Elie was solid when he was the assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors. It seems like most of the Warriors fans were upset when he was let go. I heard alot of teams were interested in hiring him, he must have something special about his abilities.</span>
Update:Westphal is coming on board and rumor is Mario Elie will follow suit after Westphal's contract details are sorted out.Also, Cuban was supposedly in LA talking with a free agent. Luke Walton? Chris Mihm?To close, a trade rumor regarding one of the Mavs 2nd rounders for V-Span of Rockets. Not a bad deal for a playmaker.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jun 20 2007, 12:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Also, Cuban was supposedly in LA talking with a free agent. Luke Walton? Chris Mihm?</div>Hopefully Luke Walton. He's not my favorite, but he will do for what we need.I don't like Chris Mihm. Do you?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I don't like Chris Mihm. Do you?</div>From what I've seen, he looks like a jump shooting center. I asked melo061 and he said he'd be an upgrade from Austin Croshere. So if that's the case, I wouldn't mind him but I rather look elsewhere for a offensive big. He also said, they plan to keep him.I rather it be Luke Walton as well. If we can land Walton with the LLE and V-Span with the pick/trade exception, leaves the MLE for a big.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jun 20 2007, 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>From what I've seen, he looks like a jump shooting center. I asked melo061 and he said he'd be an upgrade from Austin Croshere. So if that's the case, I wouldn't mind him but I rather look elsewhere for a offensive big. He also said, they plan to keep him.I rather it be Luke Walton as well. If we can land Walton with the LLE and V-Span with the pick/trade exception, leaves the MLE for a big.</div>Yeah, as I understand it, he is a soft center who has had injury problems, right? I'm honestly not so sure that he's an upgrade from Croshere. However, he is a Laker and a former Longhorn, which pretty gives me the most biased of opinions on him.That sounds good to me.
Chris Mihm as far as a back up would be fine, nothing more. Knowing how big of a bust he has been. Pretty good offense for a 7 foot white guy. I doubt we get him. Not anywhere near a fan on him. I think he is an upgrade from Croshere.I would take Luke Walton. He can take Georges spot. I'd just take him because he is smart on the court and is a passing SF.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jun 20 2007, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We need some more Mavs fans up in this bi*ch. Funny how active it was last year compared to this.</div>I'll make another user name in a little bit
