Good read on the Mavs possibilities...
Mavs counting on quick help
By Dwain Price
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS - The Mavericks have very different expectations for rookies Devin Harris and Pavel Podkolzine.
Harris is expected to provide solid play as a backup point guard; the 7-foot-5 Podkolzine is seen as a long-term project.
Essentially, the Mavs want the 6-3 Harris to fill the void left when they traded Nick Van Exel to the Golden State Warriors before last season. Coach Don Nelson was dissatisfied with backup Travis Best last season and eventually turned to rookie Marquis Daniels when starter Steve Nash needed a breather.
"I was a little disappointed last year in our backup point guard position," Nelson said. "We need to continue to have a spark at that position -- that's a very important position for our ballclub -- and I feel real comfortable about [Harris] stepping right in and being able to play in the NBA at a high level and get better and better as he goes along.
"I can afford to do what we've always wanted to do, which is play Steve about 30 minutes. I couldn't do it last year."
Harris averaged 19.5 points and 4.4 assists per game last season for Wisconsin and was selected the player of the year in the Big Ten Conference. He's thrilled about the idea of learning the NBA game from an accomplished player such as Nash, an unrestricted free agent whom the Mavs hope to re-sign.
"His passes, and how he reads the floor and how he runs the Mavericks' offense, he runs it to a T," Harris said. "He's a smart player, he knows how to get his shot off, and he's got so much versatility to his game that I can learn so much from him."
Harris and Podkolzine were acquired in draft-day trades, and speculation is that Harris, and possibly Podkolzine, could be part of a package sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade for Shaquille O'Neal. But Harris feels comfortable that he'll open the season with the Mavs.
Podkolzine, a native of Russia, averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds for Varese in Italy's top league. Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations for the Mavs, said he has "no expectations" from Podkolzine.
"We like the package, obviously," Donnie Nelson said. "It's a 7-5 frame, we feel he's got real good hands, and his footwork is pretty darn good.
"He's got a decent understanding of basketball, though he's new to the game somewhat. We're just looking forward to teaching him the game, teaching him the NBA the Mavericks' way, and we feel that at some point, with his natural abilities and our ability to develop players, that he's going to be a player for us for a long period of time."
The Mavs also expect Harris to be around for a long, long time -- and test Nash on a daily basis in practice.
"When Van Exel was here, it was a great training camp," Don Nelson said. "They [the guards] battled every day, and I expect it to be the same.
"[Harris is] a quality player. I'm not going to tell you he's going to beat Steve Nash out or play ahead of him, but it's going to be a heck of a battle every day between those two guys.
"[Nash] is a fragile player, and, the less time I can keep him on the floor, the better it is for everybody. I'm going to be able to afford to do that with a good backup point guard, and I got one."
A week of words
The mind plays a reel of Shaquille O'Neal highlights. First he's leading the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals. Then he's wearing the purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers and using his bulk to win NBA titles. First there is a three-peat in 2002, then a miss for a fourth championship in 2004.
At this point, the highlight reel goes fuzzy. Shaq is carrying another team to great heights, but the colors are different. No longer wearing purple and gold, Shaq appears to be wearing blue, with a little silver. Could it be? Is that "Mavericks" written on the uniform?
That's the recurring dream of Mavs fans. Since Monday, the intensity has grown. First Shaq says he wants out of LA. He threatens to opt out of his contract after next season, trying to force a trade. Then the Mavs emerge as the team with the most toys to dangle in front of the Lakers.
As the week unfolded, the Lakers and Mavs dominated headlines with talk of a trade. Here's a review:
Monday morning
Mavs fans awaken to news that the Orlando Magic's Tracy McGrady, who has said he plans to opt out of his contract after next season and has demanded a trade, tells a Florida newspaper he and Shaq have talked about playing together for the Mavs. "We talk all the time about it," McGrady told Florida Today. "Me and the big fella are trying to get to Dallas together now."
Monday afternoon
Addressing reports that the Mavs must include Dirk Nowitzki to get Shaq, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said: "I'd be hard-pressed to see us trading Dirk. Dirk is as close to an untouchable as we can get. Never say never, because there's always something that can change it. [But] you have to balance the short term vs. the long term. I try to be a long-term thinker."
Tuesday
Talk of a potential trade continues. Antoine Walker, Antawn Jamison and Josh Howard are mentioned as a package that could entice the Lakers to deal Shaq. Mark Cuban's money is cited as a factor that could give the edge to the Mavs. But would Dirk be a necessary part of a trade?
Wednesday
The speculation increases, as the Mavs reach an agreement with the Washington Wizards on a trade. The Mavs would unload NBA Sixth Man of the Year Antawn Jamison in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner and a first-round draft pick. The Mavs appear to be loading up to go after Shaq.
Thursday
The trade agreed upon Wednesday night becomes official in the middle of the first round of the NBA Draft. The Wizards select Wisconsin point guard Devin Harris with the No. 5 pick and ship his rights to the Mavs, with Stackhouse and Laettner. Also, the Mavs trade for the rights to Utah's first pick, 7-foot-5 center Pavel Podkolzine. Will the Lakers like the rookies?
Friday
Donnie Nelson, the president of basketball operations for the Mavs, acknowledges the rumors. "Until [O'Neal] either re-signs or finds new destinations, I just think [rumor] is the nature of our business. There's going to be speculation ... but I wouldn't read much into anything. We really like our team, but at the same time, if there's an opportunity for us to take a quantum leap in our quest for the title, then we've got to look hard at it."
-- David Wellham
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dwain Price, (817) 390-7760 [email protected]
Mavs counting on quick help
By Dwain Price
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS - The Mavericks have very different expectations for rookies Devin Harris and Pavel Podkolzine.
Harris is expected to provide solid play as a backup point guard; the 7-foot-5 Podkolzine is seen as a long-term project.
Essentially, the Mavs want the 6-3 Harris to fill the void left when they traded Nick Van Exel to the Golden State Warriors before last season. Coach Don Nelson was dissatisfied with backup Travis Best last season and eventually turned to rookie Marquis Daniels when starter Steve Nash needed a breather.
"I was a little disappointed last year in our backup point guard position," Nelson said. "We need to continue to have a spark at that position -- that's a very important position for our ballclub -- and I feel real comfortable about [Harris] stepping right in and being able to play in the NBA at a high level and get better and better as he goes along.
"I can afford to do what we've always wanted to do, which is play Steve about 30 minutes. I couldn't do it last year."
Harris averaged 19.5 points and 4.4 assists per game last season for Wisconsin and was selected the player of the year in the Big Ten Conference. He's thrilled about the idea of learning the NBA game from an accomplished player such as Nash, an unrestricted free agent whom the Mavs hope to re-sign.
"His passes, and how he reads the floor and how he runs the Mavericks' offense, he runs it to a T," Harris said. "He's a smart player, he knows how to get his shot off, and he's got so much versatility to his game that I can learn so much from him."
Harris and Podkolzine were acquired in draft-day trades, and speculation is that Harris, and possibly Podkolzine, could be part of a package sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade for Shaquille O'Neal. But Harris feels comfortable that he'll open the season with the Mavs.
Podkolzine, a native of Russia, averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds for Varese in Italy's top league. Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations for the Mavs, said he has "no expectations" from Podkolzine.
"We like the package, obviously," Donnie Nelson said. "It's a 7-5 frame, we feel he's got real good hands, and his footwork is pretty darn good.
"He's got a decent understanding of basketball, though he's new to the game somewhat. We're just looking forward to teaching him the game, teaching him the NBA the Mavericks' way, and we feel that at some point, with his natural abilities and our ability to develop players, that he's going to be a player for us for a long period of time."
The Mavs also expect Harris to be around for a long, long time -- and test Nash on a daily basis in practice.
"When Van Exel was here, it was a great training camp," Don Nelson said. "They [the guards] battled every day, and I expect it to be the same.
"[Harris is] a quality player. I'm not going to tell you he's going to beat Steve Nash out or play ahead of him, but it's going to be a heck of a battle every day between those two guys.
"[Nash] is a fragile player, and, the less time I can keep him on the floor, the better it is for everybody. I'm going to be able to afford to do that with a good backup point guard, and I got one."
A week of words
The mind plays a reel of Shaquille O'Neal highlights. First he's leading the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals. Then he's wearing the purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers and using his bulk to win NBA titles. First there is a three-peat in 2002, then a miss for a fourth championship in 2004.
At this point, the highlight reel goes fuzzy. Shaq is carrying another team to great heights, but the colors are different. No longer wearing purple and gold, Shaq appears to be wearing blue, with a little silver. Could it be? Is that "Mavericks" written on the uniform?
That's the recurring dream of Mavs fans. Since Monday, the intensity has grown. First Shaq says he wants out of LA. He threatens to opt out of his contract after next season, trying to force a trade. Then the Mavs emerge as the team with the most toys to dangle in front of the Lakers.
As the week unfolded, the Lakers and Mavs dominated headlines with talk of a trade. Here's a review:
Monday morning
Mavs fans awaken to news that the Orlando Magic's Tracy McGrady, who has said he plans to opt out of his contract after next season and has demanded a trade, tells a Florida newspaper he and Shaq have talked about playing together for the Mavs. "We talk all the time about it," McGrady told Florida Today. "Me and the big fella are trying to get to Dallas together now."
Monday afternoon
Addressing reports that the Mavs must include Dirk Nowitzki to get Shaq, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said: "I'd be hard-pressed to see us trading Dirk. Dirk is as close to an untouchable as we can get. Never say never, because there's always something that can change it. [But] you have to balance the short term vs. the long term. I try to be a long-term thinker."
Tuesday
Talk of a potential trade continues. Antoine Walker, Antawn Jamison and Josh Howard are mentioned as a package that could entice the Lakers to deal Shaq. Mark Cuban's money is cited as a factor that could give the edge to the Mavs. But would Dirk be a necessary part of a trade?
Wednesday
The speculation increases, as the Mavs reach an agreement with the Washington Wizards on a trade. The Mavs would unload NBA Sixth Man of the Year Antawn Jamison in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner and a first-round draft pick. The Mavs appear to be loading up to go after Shaq.
Thursday
The trade agreed upon Wednesday night becomes official in the middle of the first round of the NBA Draft. The Wizards select Wisconsin point guard Devin Harris with the No. 5 pick and ship his rights to the Mavs, with Stackhouse and Laettner. Also, the Mavs trade for the rights to Utah's first pick, 7-foot-5 center Pavel Podkolzine. Will the Lakers like the rookies?
Friday
Donnie Nelson, the president of basketball operations for the Mavs, acknowledges the rumors. "Until [O'Neal] either re-signs or finds new destinations, I just think [rumor] is the nature of our business. There's going to be speculation ... but I wouldn't read much into anything. We really like our team, but at the same time, if there's an opportunity for us to take a quantum leap in our quest for the title, then we've got to look hard at it."
-- David Wellham
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dwain Price, (817) 390-7760 [email protected]
