I know I know... I've been saying it over and over... the last thing the Mavs need in the Dirk Nowitzki era is another scoring guard. All Dirk has had around him are scoring guards, guards that do the same things he does, only not as well. Then the opposing defense just takes the ball out of Dirk's hands and allows these guys to shoot the Mavs out of games.
This is different, I tell you!
Baron Davis would fall under the Nick Van Exel, Jason Kidd clause. That states, that if the little guard plays like a big man (unlike all the other guards who have played with Dirk), then this type of guard will actually complement Dirk perfectly—if the coach will actually use the player to their strengths (Avery).
With Baron and Kidd, you have two guards who can post up and pass out to Dirk to hit clutch threes like a super Robert Horry at the power forward position.
If you think about it, Dirk, Kidd, and Baron would be like a play on KG, Pierce, and Allen—only an incredibly unconventional one because your guards are playing like bigs and your big, Dirk, is playing more like a guard.
And always remember kids, when building around Dirk, unconventional is the key! When you have the most unique and unconventional power forward to ever play the game, the last thing you want to do is build a conventional team around him.
Cuban lost site of this completely for a couple years. Let's hope he's come to his senses...
The deal makes sense for the Warriors because Baron is at a stage in his career where he wants to compete for a championship. Baron has been the man; he's had to carry the load all by himself for years.
Josh Howard wants that opportunity. Josh wants to be the guy in that position at this point in his career. He's had to play the lesser role since he came into the league.
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3 months ago
no do not trade for Davis. Any Mavericks fan know this guy does not have the right attitude. I can't cheer for him just soley from the playoff series 2 seasons ago.
3 months ago
Will NEVER happen! Davis will never be on another team unless the Lakers make him an offer he can't refuse. Don't count it out with Kobe making all the off season decisions he will look to dump every bench player except Farmar because they are all garbage!!!
Warriors will lock up home court and a 3 seed next year just wait for it!
3 months ago
So, the Warriors are going to give up their only true point guard for a small forward who has much bigger problems than doobie rolling?
And the Mavs are going to give up Howard for Davis so they can have two starting point guards?
Yes, more jumpshooters. That's what the Mavs need!
3 months ago
Thanks for the feedback guys.
Robert, the Celtics got three jump shooting superstars, put them together and became the best defensive team in the league! Imagine what Dirk and Baron could do together. The are actually clutch!
Davis is an excellent defender too, though. He and Kidd would feed off each other on defense.
And if Jason Terry can play the point for the Mavs I see no reason Monta Ellis can't play the point for the Warriors.
The Mavs also had 2 point guards when they had Nick Van Exel and Steve Nash. We got to the WCF and could have gone farther if dirk didn't get injured. And he was still wet behind the ears then. And Baron and Kidd are much better defensively than them as well. Baron can play the shooting guard position, too.
And the Mavs do need jumpshooters. Didn't you see them missing all those open jumpers Dirk created for them in the playoffs? And Baron is an excellent post player at his position. You could have both Kidd and Baron posting up guards constantly. And because Dirk is such a freak and shoots so well from the perimeter as a big he would spread the floor for Baron and Kidd to operate on the post tremendously.
This is why Nick Van Exel and Dirk played off each other so well. Nick was excellent at posting guards too. Dirk and Nick were feeding each other for three pointers like crazy. If Nick was as big as Baron, and played defense as well, we could have kept him, too.
To see how to build around Dirk properly, and why Baron and Kidd should play so well with Dirk, read my article "Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban Should Trade Dirk Nowitzki".. check my profile.
3 months ago
I posted this in a slightly different form in the comments for my article (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31239-Golden-State-Warriors-2008-2009-A-Few-Crazy-Trades-That-Might-Make-Sense-200608#comment_122431) too, but since it really relates more to this article, I'll re-post here (edited):
Nice article. Definitely an entertaining idea. I would certainly consider Howard for the reasons you mentioned. I'm sure Nelson would be interested to coach Howard again, and he is certainly a capable defender and developing talent still..
To be honest though, I would consider it a lot less likely. Here's why:
I couldn't see it happening. Even if the Mavs took Davis (the Mav Killer) and tried to turn him into a star there (a la Terrell Owens-- that's twice, baby!), you're adding a similar player to Jason Terry to the Mavs roster, giving them three 6'3"-ish guards (Davis, Kidd, Terry). They'd also have to start Stackhouse (getting older.. 33+) at Small Forward possibly, or someone less established (Antoine Wright) or just plain sucky (Devean George?). Ouch!
If Don Nelson were still in Dallas, he might cook up something that crazy. But with Rick Carlisle now there, this seems to move too far away from his coaching style. Also, Josh Howard makes about $10 mil this year, vs. $17 mil for Baron, so they'd definitely need to add something from Dallas to make this work.
In addition, the Warriors lose their only PG, and despite the fact that Ellis occasionally plays point and may move to point in the future, he is definitely more of a scoring guard today. Baron is also the heart-and-soul of the Warriors right now, so they'd lose their main leader. The Warriors captaincy would (I assume) fall to only Stephen Jackson then, who may or may not start with Howard, if Josh were to join the team.
So, this trade, while interesting, might not truly make that much sense for either team, and logistically would cause them more problems than just a straight-up man-for-man. Hope that makes sense... but keep the ideas flowing!
3 months ago
Thanks for the response Tim. I appreciate your input.
"If Don Nelson were still in Dallas, he might cook up something that crazy. But with Rick Carlisle now there, this seems to move too far away from his coaching style."
This is what I have been trying to explain in most of my articles.. trying to find different ways to spell it out for Mavs fans. Don Nelson doesn't do crazy stuff just to be crazy. If he had Shaq or Tim Duncan in their primes he would be nearly as conventional as everyone else. Nellie does crazy stuff because his teams have issues that he can either ignore and just let the team be mediocre like everyone else. Or he can use his creativity to try to make them better.
In Dirk's case, because he is so unconventional you have to do weird things to build around him because he is so different. If you try to build aorund Dirk conventionally you end up with the debacle against your Golden State.
This is why it is so imperative to either get guards who can post up to allow Dirk to operate on the perimeter and vice versa or get a big for Dirk to play off of. It's easier to get guards than good bigs though.
As you point out, the deal would have to involve other players. Jason Terry could be included and then Monta and Jet could play like Devin Harris and Jason Terry and alternate at the point. This would actually be better for Monta's development at the point, rather than having a guy who needs to play too many minutes at point. They can split time there and both are very effective.
Again, on the Mavs with Kidd and Dirk Jet and Josh are kind of 5th wheels. If Dirk was a conventional power forward then Josh and Terry would complement Dirk better. But, Dirk needs guards who can post up. And these aren't Josh and Jet's strengths. But they would relish their larger roles on the Warriors, and would bring more experience to that team. Jet was the starting point guard on the Mavs team that went to the Finals. And Josh was on that team too.
Very funny point about TO and Baron going to Dallas. haha After this deal, with Nellie coaching Josh and Terry I wouldn't be surprised if the Mavs and Warriors met in the WCF.. and let the best teams win! That would be fun to watch. Rivalry!
Oh yeah, and I could see Josh being as much of a leader or more of a leader than Stephen Jackson. Check out the earlier part of this last season, Tim. Josh was playing the role of our primary scorer because Dirk was getting so much defensive pressure on him constantly. I think Josh really wants that role... unfortunately for Josh, Dirk is just too good for Josh to take that role on the Mavs. On a young team like the Warriors it would be ideal though.
Thanks again for the feedback. And please.. tell your fellow warriors fans to enjoy Nellie. He's a god. Too bad people don't recognize it more, Mavs fans, Warriors fans and NBA fans and media on a whole.
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