Continued..............................
Antawn Jamison
Forward
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 22.2 7.0 1.9 .470 .789
Jamison will look a lot better as the third or fourth option on offense. For the past three seasons, he has had to carry the Warriors offensively. While he has put up great numbers at Golden State, those numbers rarely translated into wins. Things may be different in Dallas. If Jamison can accept his role, rebound, try to play a little defense and work on his shot selection (quit shooting threes Antawn), he could be a big time role player for the Mavs. He's obviously a huge upgrade over last year's small forwards -- Adrian Griffin and Eduardo Najera.
However, Jamison isn't the tough, blue-collar, rugged defender the Mavs really needed. Much like the rest of his teammates, he's a shoot first, ask questions later offensive powerhouse. There's no question the Mavs should be able to drop 110-120 points on most nights. The question is whether they'll be giving up 130.
Fortson is one of the best rebounders in the league when he's healthy and given minutes. Two seasons ago, he averaged 11.7 rpg in just 28.8 mpg. That's unbelievable. Fortson was in Musselman's doghouse all last season because of conditioning issues, but that wasn't the whole story. Musselman didn't believe Jamison and Fortson were good fits together on the court. Jamison likes to hang around in the paint offensively, and Fortson often clogged that up for him. Murphy's more perimeter-oriented offensive game simply worked better.
We know Jamison will be a good fit alongside Dirk Nowitzki, but that raises the question, can Fortson and Jamison get along in Dallas? Coach Don Nelson will once again have his hands full juggling two very fragile egos and finding playing time and situations where the two players can coexist.
If he makes it work, Fortson will give the Mavs some much needed toughness and rebounding in the paint. If he can't, Fortson will be spending most of his time in Dallas waving towels.
Welsch was a steal. His ability to swing to the point gives the team another versatile option. He's also a terrific perimeter shooter, a must in the Mavs' offense. While it's doubtful that Welsch will be a major contributor this year, down the road it's a great pick-up.
Mills is a throw in, though he could end up seeing a few minutes behind Jamison and Najera.
Dallas obviously walks away from this deal with more talent, but did they catch the Lakers, Kings, Spurs and T-Wolves in the Western Conference arms race?
It's debatable. The Mavs should be the best offensive team in the league next year. Their starting five of Nash, Finley, Jamison, Nowtizki and LaFrentz rivals the Lakers, Kings and T-Wolves starting five . Defensively? They'll battle the Warriors for the worst in the league.
Danny Fortson
Power Forward
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
17 3.5 4.3 0.7 .370 .655
However, defense shouldn't be their biggest concern. I wonder about chemistry. The Blazers have proven year after year that you really can have too much of a good thing. When players start competiting with each other for shots, disaster can ensue.
How will Steve Nash, Michael Finley, Jamison, Nowitzki and LaFrentz all get along? Will they play with or against each other? And if it doesn't work, has Cuban painted himself into the same corner the Blazers and Knicks have?
It's great to have a wealthy owner with unlimited resources. The problem, down the road, is what happens if the team you overpay for doesn't actually win it all? Currently the Mavs will have three players with max contracts on their roster -- Nowitzki, Finley and Jamison. They have one other, LaFrentz, signed to a major long-term deal. Nash is making a much more reasonable amount, but he becomes a free agent next summer and will be looking to get paid.
Right now the Mavs are looking at $75.8 million in guaranteed salaries next season. The number doesn't go down significantly until the 2008-09 season. If things go sour in Big D and they find themselves looking up at the Lakers, Kings, Spurs and T-Wolves for the next few years, will they be able to convince anyone to take the likes of LaFrentz, Fortson, Jamison or Finley off their hands?
Recent history suggest they won't, making Dallas' gamble a monumental one. If Jamison and Fortson aren't the missing pieces to the puzzle, the Mavs are in the same position as the Warriors in a few years -- knee deep in salary crap.
Around the League
Erick Dampier
Center
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 8.2 6.6 0.7 .496 .698
The Mavs-Warriors deal can't be officially approved until this afternoon. Once word leaked out late Friday that the two teams had struck a deal, numerous teams started working the phones in an attempt to either derail it or get in on the action.
Several league sources told Insider there's a chance that by the end of the day, this could expand to a three- or four-team deal. The Warriors also have been shopping Bobby Sura and Erick Dampier and really have no use for Avery Johnson. Sura and Johnson both have expiring contracts, and Dampier is coveted by several teams, like Memphis, still looking for a big man.
The Mavs know Chris Mills' expiring contract might bring them some depth at point guard (right now it's just Nash and Welsch) or another serviceable big man (like Nazr Mohammed). Given their bloated salary cap numbers, what's another $6 million in long term guaranteed salaries?
Speaking of the Warriors, Skip Bayless has a great piece in the San Jose Mercury News suggesting the Warriors fire St. Jean and make head coach Eric Musselman the team's GM. If Musselman had been running the show, Bayless argues, there is no way any of the bumbling moves the Warriors made this summer would've happened.
"This isn't to say Musselman could be the next Red Auerbach, but you can bet your season tickets his instincts on personnel would be far superior to St. Jean's. Musselman, after all, was a coach/G.M. for eight years in the CBA, where he built a Billy Beane-like reputation for acquiring talent."
Bayless is right. Musselman was the guy who begged St. Jean to take on Earl Boykins last year and never would have signed Speedy Claxton, traded for Nick Van Exel or assumed Mike Dunleavy was even remotely ready to assume the starting small forward duties. Dunleavy could barely handle the responsibility in the summer league, leading his team to a disappointing 1-6 record.
The Nuggets ended their month long search for a two guard on Sunday when they decided to sign veteran Jon Barry to a one year, $2 million deal. Barry beat out the Spurs' Stephen Jackson and the Hawks' Dion Glover for the job. The Nuggets were looking for an experienced shooter who could mentor young Rodney White at the two.
"He has the experience," GM Kiki Vandeweghe told the Rocky Mountain News. "He has a lot of playoff experience (in recent years) with Sacramento and Detroit."
--------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Monday, August 18
Updated: August 18
9:04 AM ET
Iverson
Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson has never played for any other NBA team than the Sixers. And even with two years remaining on his contract, he doesn't plan on changing that, either. "I think that is one of the most important things for me to get done in my life right now," Iverson said in the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's important to make sure I am inked in and know where my career is going and where I am going to be and where my family is going to be." Iverson plans on signing an extension that would add five years onto his contract, which is the longest league rules will allow. "I always said from the beginning that I wanted to be a Sixer until my career is over," Iverson said. "I always looked at and respected players like Magic [Johnson] and [Larry] Bird for being able to be with one team. That's the way I want to be . . . I don't want any kids to see me in another uniform unless it's an all- star uniform or a U.S. Olympic uniform," he said. "I hope it can get done and I'm pretty sure it will."
Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan isn't back in Chicago but Scottie Pippen is and so are the expectations. "We can go to the playoffs this year and make some noise," said point guard Jamal Crawford to the Chicago Tribune. "If we don't, it will be a disappointment for everyone. What is this, the fifth, sixth year [of losing records]? That's ridiculous. The fans deserve better than that. If we don't do it, there'll have to be some changes. You just cannot keep doing the same thing."
Cleveland Cavaliers: In an all-star-type game held in Chicago and featuring mostly Bulls and a few clippers, Ricky Davis ended up scoring a game-high 52 points and had one thing to say about LeBron James. "We don't expect him to lead the team in scoring," Davis said in the Chicago Tribune. "There's going to be a bull's-eye on his back, so it's up to the other guys to come and help out. I'll put up my numbers, and hopefully they won't be so concerned with him right away."
Antawn Jamison
Forward
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 22.2 7.0 1.9 .470 .789
Jamison will look a lot better as the third or fourth option on offense. For the past three seasons, he has had to carry the Warriors offensively. While he has put up great numbers at Golden State, those numbers rarely translated into wins. Things may be different in Dallas. If Jamison can accept his role, rebound, try to play a little defense and work on his shot selection (quit shooting threes Antawn), he could be a big time role player for the Mavs. He's obviously a huge upgrade over last year's small forwards -- Adrian Griffin and Eduardo Najera.
However, Jamison isn't the tough, blue-collar, rugged defender the Mavs really needed. Much like the rest of his teammates, he's a shoot first, ask questions later offensive powerhouse. There's no question the Mavs should be able to drop 110-120 points on most nights. The question is whether they'll be giving up 130.
Fortson is one of the best rebounders in the league when he's healthy and given minutes. Two seasons ago, he averaged 11.7 rpg in just 28.8 mpg. That's unbelievable. Fortson was in Musselman's doghouse all last season because of conditioning issues, but that wasn't the whole story. Musselman didn't believe Jamison and Fortson were good fits together on the court. Jamison likes to hang around in the paint offensively, and Fortson often clogged that up for him. Murphy's more perimeter-oriented offensive game simply worked better.
We know Jamison will be a good fit alongside Dirk Nowitzki, but that raises the question, can Fortson and Jamison get along in Dallas? Coach Don Nelson will once again have his hands full juggling two very fragile egos and finding playing time and situations where the two players can coexist.
If he makes it work, Fortson will give the Mavs some much needed toughness and rebounding in the paint. If he can't, Fortson will be spending most of his time in Dallas waving towels.
Welsch was a steal. His ability to swing to the point gives the team another versatile option. He's also a terrific perimeter shooter, a must in the Mavs' offense. While it's doubtful that Welsch will be a major contributor this year, down the road it's a great pick-up.
Mills is a throw in, though he could end up seeing a few minutes behind Jamison and Najera.
Dallas obviously walks away from this deal with more talent, but did they catch the Lakers, Kings, Spurs and T-Wolves in the Western Conference arms race?
It's debatable. The Mavs should be the best offensive team in the league next year. Their starting five of Nash, Finley, Jamison, Nowtizki and LaFrentz rivals the Lakers, Kings and T-Wolves starting five . Defensively? They'll battle the Warriors for the worst in the league.
Danny Fortson
Power Forward
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
17 3.5 4.3 0.7 .370 .655
However, defense shouldn't be their biggest concern. I wonder about chemistry. The Blazers have proven year after year that you really can have too much of a good thing. When players start competiting with each other for shots, disaster can ensue.
How will Steve Nash, Michael Finley, Jamison, Nowitzki and LaFrentz all get along? Will they play with or against each other? And if it doesn't work, has Cuban painted himself into the same corner the Blazers and Knicks have?
It's great to have a wealthy owner with unlimited resources. The problem, down the road, is what happens if the team you overpay for doesn't actually win it all? Currently the Mavs will have three players with max contracts on their roster -- Nowitzki, Finley and Jamison. They have one other, LaFrentz, signed to a major long-term deal. Nash is making a much more reasonable amount, but he becomes a free agent next summer and will be looking to get paid.
Right now the Mavs are looking at $75.8 million in guaranteed salaries next season. The number doesn't go down significantly until the 2008-09 season. If things go sour in Big D and they find themselves looking up at the Lakers, Kings, Spurs and T-Wolves for the next few years, will they be able to convince anyone to take the likes of LaFrentz, Fortson, Jamison or Finley off their hands?
Recent history suggest they won't, making Dallas' gamble a monumental one. If Jamison and Fortson aren't the missing pieces to the puzzle, the Mavs are in the same position as the Warriors in a few years -- knee deep in salary crap.
Around the League
Erick Dampier
Center
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 8.2 6.6 0.7 .496 .698
The Mavs-Warriors deal can't be officially approved until this afternoon. Once word leaked out late Friday that the two teams had struck a deal, numerous teams started working the phones in an attempt to either derail it or get in on the action.
Several league sources told Insider there's a chance that by the end of the day, this could expand to a three- or four-team deal. The Warriors also have been shopping Bobby Sura and Erick Dampier and really have no use for Avery Johnson. Sura and Johnson both have expiring contracts, and Dampier is coveted by several teams, like Memphis, still looking for a big man.
The Mavs know Chris Mills' expiring contract might bring them some depth at point guard (right now it's just Nash and Welsch) or another serviceable big man (like Nazr Mohammed). Given their bloated salary cap numbers, what's another $6 million in long term guaranteed salaries?
Speaking of the Warriors, Skip Bayless has a great piece in the San Jose Mercury News suggesting the Warriors fire St. Jean and make head coach Eric Musselman the team's GM. If Musselman had been running the show, Bayless argues, there is no way any of the bumbling moves the Warriors made this summer would've happened.
"This isn't to say Musselman could be the next Red Auerbach, but you can bet your season tickets his instincts on personnel would be far superior to St. Jean's. Musselman, after all, was a coach/G.M. for eight years in the CBA, where he built a Billy Beane-like reputation for acquiring talent."
Bayless is right. Musselman was the guy who begged St. Jean to take on Earl Boykins last year and never would have signed Speedy Claxton, traded for Nick Van Exel or assumed Mike Dunleavy was even remotely ready to assume the starting small forward duties. Dunleavy could barely handle the responsibility in the summer league, leading his team to a disappointing 1-6 record.
The Nuggets ended their month long search for a two guard on Sunday when they decided to sign veteran Jon Barry to a one year, $2 million deal. Barry beat out the Spurs' Stephen Jackson and the Hawks' Dion Glover for the job. The Nuggets were looking for an experienced shooter who could mentor young Rodney White at the two.
"He has the experience," GM Kiki Vandeweghe told the Rocky Mountain News. "He has a lot of playoff experience (in recent years) with Sacramento and Detroit."
--------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Monday, August 18
Updated: August 18
9:04 AM ET
Iverson
Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson has never played for any other NBA team than the Sixers. And even with two years remaining on his contract, he doesn't plan on changing that, either. "I think that is one of the most important things for me to get done in my life right now," Iverson said in the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's important to make sure I am inked in and know where my career is going and where I am going to be and where my family is going to be." Iverson plans on signing an extension that would add five years onto his contract, which is the longest league rules will allow. "I always said from the beginning that I wanted to be a Sixer until my career is over," Iverson said. "I always looked at and respected players like Magic [Johnson] and [Larry] Bird for being able to be with one team. That's the way I want to be . . . I don't want any kids to see me in another uniform unless it's an all- star uniform or a U.S. Olympic uniform," he said. "I hope it can get done and I'm pretty sure it will."
Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan isn't back in Chicago but Scottie Pippen is and so are the expectations. "We can go to the playoffs this year and make some noise," said point guard Jamal Crawford to the Chicago Tribune. "If we don't, it will be a disappointment for everyone. What is this, the fifth, sixth year [of losing records]? That's ridiculous. The fans deserve better than that. If we don't do it, there'll have to be some changes. You just cannot keep doing the same thing."
Cleveland Cavaliers: In an all-star-type game held in Chicago and featuring mostly Bulls and a few clippers, Ricky Davis ended up scoring a game-high 52 points and had one thing to say about LeBron James. "We don't expect him to lead the team in scoring," Davis said in the Chicago Tribune. "There's going to be a bull's-eye on his back, so it's up to the other guys to come and help out. I'll put up my numbers, and hopefully they won't be so concerned with him right away."
