Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
The Dallas Mavericks are all about "the now."
With an opportunity to compete for an NBA title this season, the Mavericks didn't sit on their hands during All-Star Weekend. Instead the Dallas front office put their hands on the controls and foot on the gas, making the first splash before the Feb. 18 trade deadline by working out a seven-player deal with the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
Visualizing a championship, Mavs owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson worked their magic, bringing in two-time All-Star forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood, guard DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations from the Wizards, in exchanged for swingman Josh Howard, big man Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross. According to Nelson, it is a move that has the Mavericks positioned as a definite title contender.
"We had been working on this trade for quite awhile," Nelson said during an introductory press conference as the three newest Mavs met the Dallas media.
But while Nelson feels the three additions will help the squad, the major subtraction, Josh Howard, made it hard for the franchise to cut ties. The 2003 draftee had spent his entire career in Dallas, making him the second-longest tenured Maverick to Dirk Nowitzki. Now the versatile Howard will get a fresh start in the nation's capital, while Butler attempts to step in immediately to fill the void.
"It's really tough to see Josh Howard go. He started his career here, took us to the NBA Finals and made an All-Star team. We wish him and the other players nothing but success. But Josh was especially close and near and dear to our hearts. That being said, we feel like this gives us a real chance to do some damage in the West."
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
In a competitive Western Conference, the Mavericks knew that standing pat was not an option. Despite ending their relationship with Howard, both Nelson and Mavs coach Rick Carlisle agree that the trade brings an upgrade in talent.
"It's like a nuclear arms race out here. From top to bottom, there's 11 (teams in the West) that look like they're viable and eight that are going to make it. But we feel that this gives us a real chance to take that next step," Nelson said.
"These guys are proven veteran players," Carlisle said of his new pieces to what he hopes is a championship puzzle. "Caron's a two-time All-Star. DeShawn's a guy that's developed into a very good 3-point shooter, and is known as a good defender in this league and has been a key guy for Washington's team the last few years. And Brendan is a guy that's been with (Washington) a long time and is having his best season this year. So, we feel like these guys are really going to help us. I was thrilled that this transaction could happen and we're looking forward to working with them."
But the casual NBA fan may ask what exactly are each of these three going to bring to the court?
The answer, in Butler's case, is perimeter scoring and toughness. The seven-year pro started all 47 games he played in for Washington this season, averaging 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals a contest. The 6-foot-7 swingman can play three positions on the court, though he figures to have to make the transition from his natural position of small forward to a shooting guard in the Dallas offense.
"Early on in the season, I played a little bit of the two (shooting guard position)," Butler said. "Over the course of the last couple of months, I've been playing three positions. I'm looking forward to that challenge, and I'm looking forward to this new system and this situation to do some good things.
"I'm not focusing in on just being a catch-and-shoot guy. You know, just doing everything -- a guy that pretty much does everything on the court. Trying to get better every year...I'm going to sit down with Coach and see some of the things that he would like me to do and what I can improve on. But whatever intangibles I can bring to this squad, that's what I'm going to bring. I'll do whatever I can to help this team win a championship."
As for Haywood, the Mavericks get another 7-footer that can bang in the interior, as center Erick Dampier continues to battle through a left knee effusion injury that has sidelined the big man at times this season. Haywood, a 7-footer in his on right, ranks third all-time in Wizards' history in field goal percentage (.561), fourth in blocks and sixth in rebounds, playing in 579 games for the squad.
"The last couple of years, I've really received consistent minutes. And I think I really thrive in those types of situations," Haywood said.
"(Haywood) will be playing," the coach added. "Whether or not he's starting isn't that significant at this point. I think what is significant is that we have another big body who's a proven player. It affords us, I think, the opportunity to not have to put Damp out there for extended minutes, when he is healthy."
And as far as Stevenson, the Mavericks get a another valuable scoring option off the bench. The guard, who was drafted straight out of high school in 2000 by the Utah Jazz, has averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his career.
"I'm just going to go out and work hard. Go out there and play defense, and knock down open shots...My thing is to go out there and lock down the tough offensive players and play my role," Stevenson said.
But the Mavericks will be counting on the three veterans to learn on the fly. With paperwork still needing to be completed, the newcomers were unable to practice with the team on Monday. But Carlisle fully expects the trio to be ready to play by Tuesday night, when the Mavs play their first game after the All-Star break against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"The understanding is that (the paperwork) is going to get done by tomorrow morning," Carlisle said. "So, the plan is to have these guys for shootaround and we're going to need them ready to play tomorrow night against Oklahoma City."
The Dallas core is hopeful that the meshing process is a quick one, as the Mavericks prepare for four games in five days.
"I don't think the (meshing process) is hard at all, not at this point in the season," guard Jason Terry said. "Pretty much all we got to do is go out there and play hard every night and be consistent."
Coming out of the break, the new-look Dallas squad heads to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday night, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7 p.m. CT. The Mavericks lead the season series 2-0.
On the next night, the Mavs will host the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. That game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series.
For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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