Top 5 Likeliest Trade Partners for the Dallas Mavericks on Draft Day
With the 2013 NBA draft just 10 days away, 28 NBA teams are preparing for the offseason’s biggest night, and the other two will join them soon once their quest for a championship is completed.
Although there are certainly some high-quality players available, many are regarding the 2013 draft class to be one of the weakest in recent memory.
The Dallas Mavericks could have used a stronger one.
After missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, the Mavericks are in need of more pieces if they want to get back into the playoffs, much less the NBA Finals.
Ever since the lottery balls didn’t fall their way, there have been rumors that the team is looking to shop their 13th overall pick to the highest bidder to save cap room to go after high-profile free agents.
At the tail end of the lottery, the 13th pick still has a high value, and there likely will be plenty of teams inquiring about that pick in the next week and a half and on draft night itself.
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Top 5 Draft Prospects for the Dallas Mavericks
There is much speculation that the Dallas Mavericks will not be staying put on June 27 for the NBA draft and will likely move out of the lottery spot they currently hold at No. 13.
Still, Dallas has plenty of options when talking about draft night. The team is looking to save up cap room for a run at free agents Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, but perhaps they could find the answer to their problem sitting somewhere in Barclays Center on the final Thursday of June.
If the team does elect to keep their pick, there are lots of players out there who could end up being fits for the Mavs.
While the organization has not had the best draft track record over the past decade, the right move this year could end up being the difference between whether or not the Mavericks make the playoffs in 2013-14.
Whether they stay at 13 or decide to move down to a later pick in the first round, here are the players who have a chance of still being on the board who would make an immediate impact on the Mavericks’ roster.
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Mark Cuban Throws Cash at Problem; Mavericks Owner Gives $100K to Study Flopping
If you thought the constant debate over NBA players and their growing propensity for flopping was taxing on the mind, consider the poor academics tasked with studying those specific antics thanks to money donated by Mark Cuban.
ESPN reports the Dallas Mavericks owner is funding a flopping study to determine what constitutes an actual flop.
One of Cuban’s company has provided $100,000 to Southern Methodist University for an 18-month investigation of the forces involved in basketball collisions and try to figure out if video or other motion capture techniques can identify legitimate collisions and instances of flopping.
Just when you thought the debate and scrutiny over NBA players wildly throwing themselves to the ground wasn’t outrageous enough, Cuban steps up to push the bar just a little bit higher.
As the report reminds, the NBA has tried to curb the amount of flopping in the league by instituting fines for each melodramatic instance of acting.
Unfortunately, flopping remains as much a part of the game as overpriced seats. Players given a flopping violation are hit with a $5,000 fine on their first offense, which is a drop in a very big bucket for most players.
Per the report, “A total of 19 players were given warnings during the season, and no player was assessed more than a $5,000 fine.”
It’s best not to worry your head on the problem of stopping flops from taking place around the league, because it’s a losing battle. This example of gamesmanship has arrived en masse into the Association and it’s not going anywhere.
That hasn’t stopped Cuban and Southern Methodist academics from attempting to solve another problem that is just as daunting a task. Cuban provides that with this tweet:
Peter G. Weyand, a SMU biomechanics expert, expounds in an SMU post on the study.
The issues of collisional forces, balance and control in these types of athletic settings are largely uninvestigated. There has been a lot of research into balance and falls in the elderly, but relatively little on active adults and athletes.
Cuban and SMU experts are undertaking a grand study to show the world what constitutes a flop. For 10 dollars I could help them out just by using my own eyes.
Here are just a few examples of the most extreme versions the NBA could provide.
I don’t think I need a study to tell me that in each case the acting was far more severe than the physical contact.
I enjoy the enthusiasm, but defining a flop will do little to rid the game of the growing scourge of athletic theatrics. We know exactly what makes a traveling violation, but we continue to see those take place every single game.
Hit me up on Twitter for more sports shenanigans: Follow @gabezal
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Mark Cuban Refuses to Rule out Mavericks Pursuit of Chris Paul and Dwight Howard
Mark Cuban continues to dream big, some would even say irrationally.
Speaking on 103.3 FM’s ESPN Dallas Game Day, the Dallas Mavericks owner refused to rule out his team’s pursuit of Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.
“No, not at all. Nothing has really changed,” Cuba said (via Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com). Our approach has always been to be opportunistic and explore all of our options, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
“We haven’t closed any doors, and as far as we know, there haven’t been any doors that have been closed to us,” he added.
Removing the Mavericks from any sort of superstar sweepstakes would be unlike Cuban, so his most recent assurances are to be expected.
Considered long shots to land either Paul or Howard, Cuban’s vote of confidence must not be misconstrued as arrogance or senselessness. Dallas will find themselves in a better position to land one of the NBA‘s two best free agents than most comprehend.
Had the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers been partaking in the Western Conference Finals, the Mavs‘ chances at whisking Howard or Paul away from winning situations would have bordered on nonexistent, something Cuban himself admits.
Neither the Lakers nor Clippers are still playoff participants, though. Luring them to Dallas is then that much more plausible.
We believe that Howard will re-sign with the Lakers because they can offer him the most money, they play in one of the most desirable markets in existence and because, well, they’re the Lakers. And we maintain that Paul has too much control over the Clippers to leave now. They’re a collective puppet and he’s the one pulling the strings.
None of that matters as much as it would if either team had made it out of the first round.
Cuban, Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of the Mavs have an opportunity to point to their two-year plan (cap space, Dirk’s voluntary pay cut, etc.) and say “First-round exits are not an option here.” Howard and Paul are going to listen. After the way their seasons ended, they have to.
Convincing sales pitches, admittedly, may not be enough. Howard and Paul could elect to sign with their incumbent organizations or elsewhere entirely. Signing with the Mavs, however, is well within the realm possibility—even after Dallas couldn’t hold Deron Williams’ attention last summer.
That has been a hot-button issue. Williams was left unimpressed by the Mavs‘ sales pitch, mostly because Cuban was nowhere to be found.
Is Cuban worried that Williams manufactured a stigma that will follow Dallas into this offseason? Hardly.
“Did you see that episode of Shark Tank I filmed that day?” he exclaimed. “It was amazing!”
The Mavs are in a position to be as “amazing” as Cuban’s television excursions—so long as he’s actually in the room to explain to Paul and Howard what he’s already told the rest of us.
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Dwight Howard Must Spurn Dallas Mavericks Despite Rumored Interest
Impending free agent Dwight Howard has been reportedly torn between returning to the Los Angeles Lakers or signing with the Houston Rockets (h/t USA Today), but the Dallas Mavericks franchise is reportedly positioning itself for a big push to sign the center this offseason, according to Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
After the nightmare that was the 2012-13 season with the aging Lakers, Howard must see the collective age of the Mavericks roster—six players over 30 last year—and spurn the team for the more appealing options on the table.
Price’s report claims that Dallas’ offseason free-agent hunt will now be focused on Howard instead of Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul:
I think Chris Paul, depending on who [the Clippers] hire, is going to stay with the Clippers. The Mavericks are really interested in Chris Paul, but I think they want Dwight more. They think they can make them a point guard…They’re trying to go after [Howard] pretty hard. They think they’ve got as good enough of a chance as anybody, but I think Houston is a better fit for him.
For the Mavericks, seeing the writing on the wall about Paul staying in Los Angeles shows the savvy of the franchise, and pursuing the talented center instead is the smart backup plan.
While it’s the right move for the franchise, it’s not the right fit for the player.
Dallas would offer Howard a chance to be the featured star of the team, with current No. 1 player Dirk Nowitzki heading toward retirement. The same can be offered by the Lakers with Kobe Bryant, but Howard is great right now and should be the star of a team immediately.
In Houston, Howard wouldn’t play second fiddle to James Harden.
Howard made it clear during his time with the Orlando Magic that he wanted to play for a major-market team, but the way his season in a city like Los Angeles went, there should be no questioning that signing in a place with less pressure may be appealing once again.
Dallas may not be a prototypical basketball town, but with an owner as outspoken as Mark Cuban has been during his time in the NBA, an old roster and the expectations coming from the franchise’s 2011 championship, the spotlight would burn bright on Howard.
After watching how the center handled the pressure of impending free agency and the transition to the Lakers, a move to a smaller market with less pressure like Houston is Howard’s best option on paper.
Let’s hope this doesn’t become another Dwightmare.
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Report: Dwight Howard Favors Rockets or Mavericks, Plans to Take His Time Deciding Whether to Stay With Lakers
Dwight Howard has said he doesn’t want a big, circus-like atmosphere surrounding his free agency decision this summer. But a small circus may do.
While the Lakers reportedly want to figure out quickly whether Howard will return, Howard “has privately indicated he plans to give strong consideration to multiple teams,” Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports league sources as saying. “Howard re-signing with the Lakers is far from a done deal,” Berger says.
The Lakers’ ability to bring Howard back is hampered by the amount of money they have available — not for him as much as for his supporting cast. While Howard can get a larger contract by staying in Los Angeles, which can offer him a max deal, the Lakers may not be able to get other key players due to the large contracts the team has already handed out.
A couple of other teams, however, already have good pieces in place if they want to add Howard. Berger says Howard is most interested in the Rockets, who have a good core as well as Kevi…
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2nd-Round Draft Prospects Guaranteed to Interest the Dallas Mavericks
While much of the attention is being focused on what will happen in the NBA lottery, there can be potential value in all 60 picks on draft night.
Just in recent years, Marc Gasol, Gilbert Arenas, Manu Ginobili and Carlos Boozer are among the players picked in the second round of the NBA draft who went on to become All-Stars in their NBA careers.
Last year, the Dallas Mavericks picked up Jae Crowder in the second round, who ended up being a solid rotation player for the club, and Bernard James, who got some playing time at the center position as well.
While this may not be a strong draft class up front, plenty of players who are currently projected not to be first-round picks could end up making a serious impact in the NBA.
The Mavericks need all the help they can get if they want to get back into the playoff mix, and if they play their cards right, they could end up getting a second-round pick who can help their squad.
Here are some potential second-rounders who will be capturing the Mavericks’ attention in the next month.
C Jeff Withey
Depending on where you look, Jeff Withey is either projected as a late-first- or early-second-round draft pick, and if he does slip into Round 2, the Mavericks should do whatever they can to bring him in.
The Mavericks are in need of a big man who can make a difference defensively, and that is certainly where Withey could come in.
Withey is a legitimate 7-footer who averaged over eight rebounds and three blocks a game at Kansas last year. He is excellent at protecting the basket and could give the Mavericks a great backup, or even starting, center for years to come if he can develop his offensive game.
PG Myck Kabongo
Myck Kabongo is an under-the-radar point guard prospect who could easily fall into the mid-second round come draft night.
However, Kabongo has shown in his college career that he has the ability when he is on the court to be a serious playmaker.
Kabongo is an excellent passer and is extremely quick in the open floor, and he also operates very well in the pick-and-roll.
Kabongo isn’t a good shooter and still needs to get much stronger defensively, which is why he will slip to the second round. However, if the Mavericks can bring him in and slowly build him into the rotation, he could end up being a huge bargain.
SF Adonis Thomas
Adonis Thomas out of Memphis is a player who could be exactly what the Mavericks are looking for late in the draft.
Thomas is a work-in-progress on the offensive end, but the former Memphis standout is an extremely tough and gritty player who can end up being a bruiser defensively.
Thomas can use his athleticism to rebound the ball effectively at the pro level, and he could be a player who develops into a stopper if he can work on his perimeter game.
The Mavericks already have a player similar to Thomas on their roster in Jae Crowder, but if Dallas decides to part ways with Crowder via a trade in the offseason, it would be nice to have Thomas there to take on that role.
PG Nate Wolters
Nate Wolters may end up being limited on the defensive end and needs to bulk up and improve his quickness if he wants to make it in the NBA.
However, one thing is for sure, Wolters can flat-out score the basketball.
Wolters can shoot from distance, get into the lane, hit free throws, and he also has the ability to get his teammates involved in the game.
He has a great presence on the court and a high basketball IQ. It would be smart for the Mavericks to at least consider Wolters if he is still on the board when Dallas picks in the second round.
C Dewayne Dedmon
If Dallas still finds itself without a big man in the second round, it may want to look into USC big man Dewayne Dedmon.
Dedmon without a doubt had a disappointing college career. He never made the impact that many believed he would in SoCal and has big strides ahead of him if he wants to make it in the NBA.
Still, Dedmon has serious potential, especially on the defensive end. Considering that he didn’t even pick up basketball until age 18, Dedmon has come a long way and should only continue to improve.
Make no mistake, Dedmon is a project, but with his shot-blocking ability to go along with his athleticism, he could be worth taking a flyer on in the second round.
SG Vander Blue
Anyone who watched Marquette’s run to the Elite Eight in last year’s NCAA tournament can tell you: Vander Blue can straight-up play.
Blue’s jump shot may be unconventional, he needs to improve his ball-handling, and his basketball IQ simply must get better.
However, Blue is a playmaker, and even though his jumper is a bit unconventional, it is still highly effective. He can create for himself off the dribble and hit the jumper, or get to the rim. Defensively, Blue’s quickness and athleticism should make him a good NBA defender.
The Mavericks took a chance last year in the middle of the second round on a Marquette player who was undervalued, and they may be smart to do the same this year with Vander Blue.
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Dirk Nowitzki Talks Paycut, Wants Dallas Mavericks to Contend
After a tough season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time this century, the Dallas Mavericks have reason to be optimistic heading into the near future. Dirk Nowitzki, who has been the heart, leader and best player for the Mavericks for several years now, is reportedly planning on taking a major pay cut in order to help his team win sooner rather than later.
According to ESPNDallas.com’s Tim MacMahon, Nowitzki plans to take a “significant pay cut” one year from now when his current (guaranteed) contract runs out. Said Nowitzki, “At this point of my career, it’s all about competing and winning. It’s not about money.”
Now heading into his 16th year in the NBA, Nowitzki continues to amaze me with his loyalty, selflessness and pure dedication to basketball and the city of Dallas. I still remember vividly prior to the 2010 NBA season when people around the country expected Nowitzki to go and join a contender.
That was the summer of free agency, when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and others were all trying to find their respective paths onto teams where they could win without having to carry the load. Already people were talking about Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Amar’e Stoudemire and all the other players who switched cities in 2010 and 2011 in the pursuit of winning championships.
While plenty of players went with the biggest paycheck and many more went with the best team, I remember Nowitzki’s experience the most because he had a very specific goal. He wanted to win a championship, and he wanted to win it in Dallas.
When Nowitzki decided to stay in Dallas, choosing to not even take a maximum contract, it surprised nearly everyone. With no star power beyond Nowitzki himself, the Mavericks were written off quickly enough as no longer being title contenders.
While the Miami Heat were the obvious favorites, the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and even the young Oklahoma City Thunder all seemed more interesting than the Mavericks, whose only remaining star lingered only out of loyalty.
It would be an understatement to describe the national reaction to the Mavericks winning the championship that year as shock.
What separated Nowitzki from his contemporaries that year in terms of his legacy was not that he had won his first championship. It was that he had won it in the city where he began his career with some of the same teammates he had spent years losing with. Rather than simply skipping town and joining a team that was already ready to win, he transformed the team that was already there into a team that was capable of winning.
Many stars in their later years join up with teams that are obvious contenders. Some well-known examples include players like Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Ray Allen (twice) and a plethora of others.
There is nothing necessarily wrong with doing so. However, in this era when players have far less attachment to the cities in which they play than they ever did in the past, it is refreshing and at least intriguing to see that Nowitzki still cares about playing in Dallas. It appears to be obvious that Nowitzki would rather try and fail in Dallas than go anywhere else and succeed.
For all of these reasons, I believe Nowitzki completely when he says that he will willingly accept a pay cut to help the team win one year from now. Doing so opens up the possibility for the Mavericks bringing in top-tier players to help them win a second championship in the city where he wants to win.
Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are obvious targets but not the only ones. With Nowitzki presumably willing to play for as little money as it takes to help the team win, one would expect that the Mavericks will find a way to turn that salary cap space into players of value, one way or another.
With free agency being more important than ever and with players more so than ever being judged on how many rings they win instead of what they did to win those rings, players like Nowitzki are a dying breed.
At least, health providing, we will be able to watch Nowitzki for a few more years.
Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report who writes primarily about the New York Jets and the NFL. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.
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Dirk Nowitzki Reportedly Will Take Huge Pay Cut to Help Mavericks in Offseason
Dirk Nowitzki is ready to do anything necessary to help his team win, including reducing his salary in the offseason.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, the power forward is willing to take a “significant pay cut” in the summer. Nowitzki recently told the media:
At this point of my career, it’s all about competing and winning. It’s not about money. Obviously, Cuban took care of me for a long, long time. I always tried to pay him back by hard playing and being here for this franchise, so I don’t think we’re going to fight over money. I want to compete over these last couple of years. That’s going to be the goal.
The intention is for the team to sign a high-priced free agent along the lines of Dwight Howard or Chris Paul, although it remains to be seen whether there is mutual interest from the superstars.
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Mark Cuban Invites People to Help Design New Mavericks Uniforms, Isn’t Interested in Paying (Video)
There’s nothing more democratic than appealing to the common man — or capitalizing on the common man, sometimes without leaving him much in return for his work. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, entrepreneur extraordinaire, appears to know that well. Cuban is looking to redesign his team’s jerseys for the 2015-2016 season, and he is turning to the masses for some help. Cuban put up a blog post saying the team will go with a new look if it gets “a unique and original design.” His method is to ask anyone and everyone to jump into the process of deciding on the new design and colors. “You know what an NBA uniform looks like,” he writes. “You know what the Mavs colors are for today and the past. We want some new ideas that stay true to our logo and at least close to our current color schemes. Show us what you got!” Next, however, Cuban warns that any designs posted on the site will be immediately owned by the Mavs, with which he included these punctuation- and grammar-challenged (and space ba…
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