The agent for Dallas Mavericks center Brendan Haywood told ESPNDallas.com that his client was suspended for Friday's game in San Antonio after a heated discussion during the morning shootaround with coach Rick Carlisle. Agent Andy Miller said Saturday in a phone interview that the dispute was a "one-time isolated discussion" that had nothing to do with Haywood's diminished role on the team in recent weeks. Sources with knowledge of the incident confirmed that account Saturday, telling ESPNDallas.com that the Mavericks decided to send Haywood back to Dallas after the shootaround and hold him out of an eventual 103-94 victory over the rival San Antonio Spurs because of what was deemed an over-the-line outburst directed at Carlisle. One source insisted that the clash -- described by Carlisle as a violation of team rules -- was indeed more "strategic" and focus-related based on what was happening during the shootaround and not about playing time, with Haywood's angry reaction to his coach's criticism leading to the suspension. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=5855901
In a way, I think it has to do with Haywood's diminished role. Tyson Chandler is a the type of center the Mavs having been needing for years.
