A LEGEND IS BORN III

[Axel The Great]

Great to see the breed of C's from the 90's coming back. It's a pain to watch the modern centers brick hook shots and miss easy layups and baby hooks around the basket, real frustrating. Nice to see Yao and Olajuwon get a mention, too.

[dare]

Great article, nowadays there isn't any great center in the league. Hopefully we get to see another groups irl too. Nice of you to tell Must is soft.

[Fresh8]

Magic In Trade Discussions



February 18, ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic are in discussions to make a trade deadline blockbuster with rumours swirling that Jameer Nelson and Gerald Wallace are not untouchables for other teams to approach. Dwight Howard is the only player that the Magic will not part ways with and it is believed that the team is aiming to bring in an All-Star calibre player to compliment the perennial Defensive Player of the Year.

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Cuban Happy To Deal Youth To Get Experience



February 19, DALLAS – Leo Lai asked for a trade out of Dallas because of dwindling minutes but it has been harder than expected to move the young player to another team. However, Dallas owner Mark Cuban has hinted that he would love to bring in experience at expense of youth if it meant that his team could go deep into the playoffs.

The Mavericks are on the cusp of a lower playoff seed and with its main players Dirk Nowitzki and Andrew Watson being in their 30s, one would expect them to prioritise keeping a hold of their younger guns but it seems that Cuban is ‘hell-bent’ on trying to gift Dirk with a chance to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy before all is said and done.

The Mavs have a number of young assets including the New Zealand born Lai. Whether there are enough assets to make a deal and a play at a quality veteran talent is questionable.

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Hova Trade May Happen At Deadline



February 19, TORONTO – Chris Hova has been mentioned as a potential trade target for the Phoenix Suns who are interested to see whether a trio of Martti Must, Baron Davis and Hova would work in their open court run and gun set up. The Suns are struggling this season and adding Hova for 2 months could convince the young German to resign with Phoenix at the end of this season.

The Raptors do not feel that Hova is interested to play on for the club after this season and are searching for a trade partner. The Raptors want draft picks in return for their fourth year point guard who has struggled in his first full-time season as a starter.

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[The X]

Poor Woody, he forgot Brad Daugherty

[Fresh8]

Poor Woody, he forgot Brad Daugherty

And Rik Smits

[The X]

Poor Woody, he forgot Brad Daugherty

And Rik Smits

You're a bad, bad man if you're mentioning Smits in the same class as Daugherty

[Fresh8]

Haha, wait till you hear that I was going to say Bill Wennington

[The X]

Haha, wait till you hear that I was going to say Bill Wennington

I could've handled that, everybody loves Bill Wennington. Even ask Bryn next time you see him about Bill Wennington. He knows nothing about NBA/basketball but he loves Bill Wennington

He's got no post game though

[Fresh8]

Oh really? I didn't know Mr Wennington had a cult following!

[shadowgrin]

Bill Wennington had an epic beard.
Mere mortals can only dream of having a god like beard, so they turn to worship.

[Fresh8]

Bill Wennington had an epic beard.
Mere mortals can only dream of having a god like beard, so they turn to worship.

Nice of you to drop by. I can confirm that Shad O'Greene officially exists as a prospect in my save file.

Your NBA comparison came out as Reggie Evans.

You are a 6'6" PF/SF. I can't wait to control your player in workouts to see how he moves around on the court!

[shadowgrin]

Reggie Evans! O'Greene is good at grabbing balls!

[Fresh8]

But Martti don't have any!

[Martti.]

Reggie Evans? 6'6 PF? Bring it on.

Anyway, I like the sound of Hova and Must playing together.

[Fresh8]

Good to see you want to have Hova on your team.

[shadowgrin]

Anyway, I like the sound of Hova and Must playing together.

It's like Wade and Bosh, respectively.



At least O'Grinch doesn't cry.

[Fresh8]

Anyway, I like the sound of Hova and Must playing together.

It's like Wade and Bosh, respectively.



At least O'Grinch doesn't cry.

What an insult to Wade... I think it's Bibby and Big Z...

[George7]

Interesting moves there.Hov' should help Suns

Have my player played a minute with the Knicks or I'm yet stuck on the IR?

[Fresh8]

Interesting moves there.Hov' should help Suns

[George7]

Interesting moves there.Hov' should help Suns

What? you wrote that Hova might be traded from the Raptors to the Sun's, am I wrong?

[Houndy]

Interesting moves there.Hov' should help Suns

What? you wrote that Hova might be traded from the Raptors to the Sun's, am I wrong?

The way you said it made it seem like the trades were already done..

[George7]

oh, if so,that's my bad then...

[Valor]

Oh really? I didn't know Mr Wennington had a cult following!

Bill Wennington is awesome man, what are you talking about
He's probably the B-Scal of the 90s

[The X]

Oh really? I didn't know Mr Wennington had a cult following!

Bill Wennington is awesome man, what are you talking about
He's probably the B-Scal of the 90s

Sit didn't follow the NBA until the glory years were well over so he doesn't know the greatness that is Bill Wennington. When people rave about Joel Anthony, I think "where's the token white guy with a grizzly beard?"

[Fresh8]

Mavs Make Three Trades: Major Reshuffle



February 19, DALLAS – Dallas Mavericks (25-27) owner Mark Cuban had promised fans that drastic changes would come and changes did come with two days left until the NBA Trade Deadline. The Mavs were involved in three separate trades that have undoubtedly changed the makeup of their squad; transforming them from a young and athletic squad to an experienced and hungry group of veterans.

Cuban stated that he wanted the team to ‘win now’ and with Dirk Nowitzki chiming in that he would appreciate a move to help position him for one last championship attempt, the Mavs were able to string a number of moves sending out youth to bring back poised and wily veterans. “I’m pleased with these moves,” Cuban announced this afternoon, “We tried to get Portland and New York in one deal but it fell through. I think we were lucky that we were able to work out separate deals with each (team).”

The scariest part of the press conference was when he promised that one last trade was being worked out and he anticipated that a fourth deal would be finalised on the eve of the Trade Deadline.

TRADE 1: Dallas SG Leo Lai, PG Tony Simpson for New York SF Lamar Odom, SG George Koukoulis

Promising 22 year old New Zealand/Chinese swingman Leo Lai (8.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, .435 FG%, .372 3PT%, .890 FT%) had his trade wish granted as he was sent alongside guard Tony Simpson to the New York Knicks (14-41). The move will be welcomed by the ambitious 6’7” youngster as he will have better chances to start for the Knicks. The Knicks had to give up 34 year old Lamar Odom (13.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.1 bpg, .471 FG%, .455 3PT%, .702 FT%) to have the deal go through but reportedly were happy to part ways with the 6’10” forward because they now have an athletic scorer to pair up with All-Star C Travis Ward.

TRADE 2: Dallas SF Kenneth Dela Cruz, PG Aaron Brooks, PF JJ Hickson for Portland SG Ben Gordon, C Darko Milicic, SF Herbert Horsley, 2014 First Round Pick

The Mavs had to part ways with 1-time All-Star (2012), 2-time All-Defensive First Team (2012, 2013) and All-Rookie First Team (2011) Kenneth Dela Cruz (7.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.4 spg, 2.4 bpg) in order to convince the Portland Trailblazers (30-24) to let go of their leading scorer Ben Gordon (24.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.0 spg). Cuban believes that the move was necessary because the Mavs have lacked a true and tested number one scoring option all season, “We have Dirk and Andrew (Watson) but we needed someone who is just an assassin. Dirk and Andrew are great and no disrespect to them but Ben is a whole different proposition.”

Dela Cruz, 23, is said to be regarded as a top 3 defensive player in the league but the Mavs felt that he had reached his peak offensively. His limited offensive talent and output was a huge hole for the team at the starting small forward position. The Mavs lost sixth man PG Aaron Brooks (12.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg) and PF JJ Hickson (3.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) but did gain C Darko Milicic (7.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg) and SF Herbert Horsley (.538 3PT%, 2013 Three Point Shootout winner).

TRADE 3: Dallas SG Chris Douglas-Roberts for Milwaukee SG Deshawn Stevenson, Future Second Round Pick

The disgruntled SG Chris Douglas-Roberts (6 ppg, 1.8 rpg) was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks (27-30) for SG Deshawn Stevenson (8.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.8 apg). 27 year old Douglas-Roberts will now get to play a bigger role for the middling Bucks. He provides the team with a more effective scoring option off the bench than the erratic Stevenson was. Stevenson seemed to have lost interest in Milwaukee ever since being traded there from Washington mid-season last year.

Outlook

The Mavs are teetering on the edge of the playoffs and their youth was only going to get them so far this season and perhaps the next. These three deals will help the team compete right away again. The main outgoing players are Dela Cruz, Lai, Brooks, Simpson and Douglas-Roberts. These players combine for about 44 points a game. In comparison, the main incoming players are Gordon, Odom, Milicic and Stevenson. These guys combine for 53 points a game as well as plenty of intangibles.

Odom is one of the most underrated rebounders in the league and has versatility that the Mavs will no doubt appreciate. Milicic is a great interior defender and will mitigate the loss of Dela Cruz. Gordon is one of the best scorers in the league and in his prime. Stevenson’s three point shooting and gritty defence will help the Mavs spread the floor even more. Herbert Horsley is a deadeye three point shooter who never got the playing time he deserved thanks to playing behind a guy named Brandon Roy.

Although the team has lost a lot of youth; they haven’t gone too far backwards in terms of athleticism. The biggest plus of these deals is that the Mavs now have a team all on the same page. Guys like Lai and Douglas-Roberts had their own agendas (getting playing time) but this new line up of Mavs want to win a championship.

Cuban let slip that the team will probably start Odom, Nowitzki Watson, Gordon, Jerryd Bayless for games now. Even though a starting five of Milicic, Nowitzki, Odom, Watson, Gordon makes more sense with Bayless going back to the bench as the team's sixth man (where he seems more comfortable); the 'small lineup' put forward by Cuban could work also with a second unit headlined by Milicic and Stevenson backing them up. Whatever starting five the Mavs trot out in their next game though, Mark Cuban and the Mavs’ Front Office ought to be congratulated as they have pulled off a coup here. Perhaps the Mavs' year is this year.