http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/bask...icks/index.html <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Mavericks have reached an agreement in principle on a one-year deal with free agent point guard Travis Best, according to president of basketball operations Donn Nelson. The nine-year veteran, who spent last season with the Heat, will be used primarily as a backup to Steve Nash. He replaces Nick Van Exel, who was traded last week to the Golden State Warriors. Best, a member of the Pacers team that reached the 2000 NBA Finals, has a career average of 8.2 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 35.5 percent from three-point range. Last season he averaged 8.4 points and 3.5 assists while appearing in 72 games for Miami. Nelson said a formal announcement would be made shortly, once the deal had been signed. </div> Very good signing by the Mavs...the prefect back-up for Steve Nash...
didnt really want him to go to the mavs but theyve got him. meh. i bet he wont play that much with dallas anyway since nash will play ost the minutes.
Nash/Best/ Finley/Welsch/Howard Jamison/Najera/Abdul-Wahad Nowitzki/Fortson LaFrentz/Bradley IR: Mills(if not traded or cut), Daniels Dallas would take Wahad's defense over Daniels' big PG body bec. of his lack of experience. Dallas is trying to win it all; and Daniels is too raw to be much of a contributor. Now, lets see what happens with Chris Mills. He cannot be traded yet, but I wouldnt be surpised to see him traded at some point this season. He has an expiring contract at $6 million. And Dallas could use another big body(who can rebound/defend). My guess: Mills for Jerome James. Seattle wants to unload a center. Here's there chance. They can reduce payroll, and Dallas gets a big Center(Or Calvin Booth could work too).
I still think the Mavs will make another run at Kurt Thomas this year. He has been high on Mark Cuban's list of players and the Knicks could definately use an expiring contract like Chris Mills has. The Mavs have Fortson to help on the inside, but Thomas is the type of aggressive hard nosed defender the Mavs would like to add, and he will be an immediate fan favorite for playing at TCU. I think Thomas will become expendable if 1 of 3 things happen: 1. Lampe does very well 2. Van Horn is consistent 3. McDyess makes a comeback The deal to Seattle also makes sense for both teams. I think Jerome James has more upside and can run the floor better. The Sonics invested a lot in both James and Booth, but being able to dump them on the Mavs would be the first step in correcting their mistakes.
I personally would not have signed Best, I feel that if given the opportunity either Daniels or Welsch would do a great job at the 1. Besides Nash will play atleast 35mpg this season. I hope that the signing of Best does not bury great talent on the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Raptors21:</div><div class="quote_post">Very good signing. He plays a bit like Van Exel.</div> Not even close. Best is a set up guy. He is not a scorer, like some think. He is a true PG. NVE is the better shooter and scorer. NVE is more of a scoring PG.
