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Isn't that a little high for this guy? Could Finley be gone now? Starting to look like that Chicago deal might actually fall through.

Kurt

Yea, seems a little weird to me. Not sure we need someone like that although I like his athleticism.

I like the pick. Howard is a quality player at #29. He brings some defense and ability to take it to the rack that the Mavs need, with or without Finley. The Mavs need to make a move for a big man even if you have to give up Finley or Van Exel in my opinion. They just cant improve as a team without one. Sounds like SMU, must be something about the Metroplex water.

[This message has been edited by Hoop Fan (edited 06-26-2003).]

Finley is great but I have a hunch they may have something in mind for him or Nash. If Howard could come in and contribute off the bat, that would open things up for a good big man trade.

They should keep Finley. If they have to trade one of the Big 3, it should be Nash (he's a free agent after next season, and if/when he re-signs, it would be in the $9-10 million range annually .... which coupled with Van Exel's contract at about $9 million per, would mean that the team is paying nearly $20 million per for two point guards -- and even Cuban probably wouldn't do that, would he?

Personally, I think Nash is a better player than Van Exel, so in a perfect world, they should trade Nick for a big guy. But given Nash's current salary of $6 million or so, and the fact that a team could create cap room by letting him walk at the end of the season, he becomes a more attractive commodity for potential trade partners. Think they could get Brad Miller for Nash? He's not a huge scorer, but he can score enough to keep other teams honest with their interior defense, and he'll plant anyone who drives the lane in the floor. He also will rebound and block a shot once in a while. To make the money work, the trade might have to include Raef LaFrentz and a guard from Indiana, but I'd make that trade in a minute, since it would be harder to trade Van Exel.

Josh Howard will surprise a lot of Mav fans. He is fiercely competitive, and he's one of those guys who wants the ball with the game on the line. Extremely confident and poised. Pretty good defender, too.

Here is the skinny.
The Mavs will sign Zo with the 4.9 million exception. Then the blockbuster, Nash and Raef or Avery to the Nets for Kidd.
How would this starting lineup sound:
Kidd, Van Exel, Fin, Dirk, Zo....then have Eddie, Howard, and Raja come off the bench.
Bring on the Lake Show, Spurs, and Kings!!!

Not gonna happen. I'd definitely take Kidd for Nash though. As much as I love the little guy, he's just not a scorer.

Finley is a minimal defender, and Van Exel and Dirk don't defend at all. Even with the addition of 'Zo, who is a great defense/rebounding presence, I'm not sure they're any better defensively under LA_Stang's proposal.

And part of what makes Dirk so great is that he's playing small forward. Do you really want him facing power forwards now? He wouldn't have as lopsided mismatches as before.