The Dallas Morning News says the Mavs are "almost certain" to trade the #13 pick to free up cap space to go after Dwight Howard. I know it's not a strong draft....but trading for this pick seems like a nice backup plan if we can't make the "lopsided deal for a veteran center" move Portland seems to be looking for on draft day. It sure seems like a better plan than hoping to sign a difference maker in free agency. Guys like Caldwell-Pope, Shabazz, and Gobert have been listed as available at #13 on various mock drafts. We could also use it to package with the #10 to move up if there's someone we have our heart set on.
Here's the link to the article: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/da...t-pick-to-free-up-money-for-dwight-howard.ece
If I controlled the world, we would buy that pick and take Schroeder and Dieng at 10 and 13. Alas, I do not.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined BaDD Radio on KTCK-AM 1310 on Monday. Here are some highlights from the interview. On if he wants to trade his draft pick: “That is the case. The numbers are the numbers. If I’m going to talk about cap and CBA I can’t BS my way around that. … There’s risk involved. If somebody falls that we think is going to be a superstar and nobody else does, then we’ll make the pick. I don’t think that’s likely.” On what he’s looking for: “We’ll look at taking future draft picks. We’ll look at moving down and getting multiple draft picks. We’ll look at trading for players that we think are good. There are a lot of opportunities.”
I would be pretty happy with one of the shooters (Pope or CJ) and Dieng. It would take a chunk out of our cap space, but it would be worth it if it doesn't look like it will get us anything. A defensive center and a shooter who could play now would really help this team.
Dallas likely wants a trade partner to take VC or Marion for the pick. I'd take VC and offer a couple of our seconds and the Greek guy for 13.
since they have Thabeet and Orton AND Perkins I can certaily see why they would take a C! utter crap at C
The mavs want a 2014 First Rounder or a team to take back Marion. Neither of which is worth the 13th pick, for us at least.
I go back and forth on Marion, he's overpaid but still very effective, and he's only got a yr left, really depends on what Olshey and crew think of picks available at 10 and 13 and if they think they can get a C they want in FA or trade? He's going to earn his money or PA will fire him...lol
As weak as this draft is in terms of superstar potential, I actually think there are going to be a lot of good players available in the 10 - 20 range. These guys will likely be specialists (defenders, shooters, etc.) - aka role players. And with the Blazers weak defense and incredibly weak bench, I wouldn't mind seeing the Blazers with two picks in the 10 - 13 range. Guys like Dieng (interior defense) and Caldwell-Pope (perimeter defense and outside shooting) would address glaring needs and could contribute immediately. BNM
yours is the thinking I lean toward, draft a C (Dieng is most ready IMO) and another player who can play some now, we'd also get a vet like Marion who remains very useful, use what capspace we have left for a guy like JO as a vet C and Maynor or someone similar as a backup PG. If something better comes along then fine, if not this seems a reasonable plan.
Okay, forget my Freeland stipulation - I'd take Marion in order to get the #13. Marion instantly becomes our best bench player and also becomes an expiring contract trade chip, or helps us preserve some cap space for next summer. Sign me up!
Sign you up? Fuck, beam you up..that would be accepting that the best we can do in FA or trade this off season, is Sean Marion? yech..
And, he's aging gracefully (12/8 with an 18 PER and he still plays good defense). As an expiring contract, he's low risk. We get a productive vet for our bench, and two young assets that improve our depth and defense - our two biggest weaknesses last season. Adding Dieng, Caldwell-Pope and Marion would instantly make us much better defensively. Yeah, it would be great to land a proven center through free agency, but I didn't see anyone attainable that would be worth the money we'd throw at them. In addition to Aldridge and Lillard, I'd be fine with a Dieng/Leonard center rotation, Batum and Marion at SG, Wes and Caldwell-Pope at SG and Lillard/Maynor at PG. Pick up another veteran big man with the vet minimum and that's a much better top 10 than what we had last season. BNM
and acquiring another pick like #13 and adding Marion and a couple bench guys with our remaining capspace "MIGHT" be the best we can do as opposed to overpaying in a FA environment where too many teams have to much capspace and there aren't that many good plays the Blazers would likely have a chance at. I am not saying it's the best option, but it may be better than creating a bad contract by overpaying, and we'd have some cap again next summer. and BTW ASIK is my dream this summer, but in reality it is unlikely but not impossible, we'll see what summer brings
Marion earns $8.6M. You'd have to ask Paul Allen how he feels about that... But if it was up to me, I'd do it in a shot! Especially if it helps the Mavs screw over the Lakers. Actually, what I'd do is this: go to Houston and say "we're about to help the Mavs clear up EVEN MORE cap space to sign Howard. But we'd prefer to use our cap space on Asik so YOU can sign Howard. You have until a couple of days before the draft to decide."
