Offseason Wishlist - Fully integrating the 'new' guys

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Offseason Wishlist - Fully integrating the 'new' guys

Joining a team in the middle of an NBA season is kind of like being the new kid at school. That's how Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson felt when they first arrived in Dallas.

After the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards pulled off a seven-player trade on Feb. 13, Butler, Haywood and Stevenson didn't have much time to get used to their new surroundings. Just three nights after the transaction, the trio suited up for the Mavericks in the first game after the All-Star break. Though the Mavs went on to drop that game, a 99-86 road loss in Oklahoma City, it was the start of something bigger. Much bigger.

The squad went on to win 13 straight games after that loss, doing so without any practice time with their new teammates. A 55-win season, Southwest Division title and No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs was also in the team's future, though so too was a first-round postseason exit. Now, with a full offseason to get better acquainted, the team hopes that the new arrivals can help bring a championship to Big D next season.

"The trade with Washington has been a big positive for us," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "It helped our overall toughness. I thought it put more of the right kind of players around Dirk (Nowitzki)."

Headlining the deal was the exchange of former All-Stars, as Butler and former Mav Josh Howard swapped spots. But the transformation was not seamless for Butler, as he had to adjust to playing in the shooting guard slot after spending most of his career as a small forward.

The swingman's regular-season scoring average slipped from the 16.9 points per game in 47 outings with Washington to a 15.2 average in his 27 appearances for the Mavericks. But the former Connecticut star showed that primetime players step up in primetime moments, averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals in the Mavs' first-round series against San Antonio.

"I hit a nice stride in the playoffs, and I was finding out what was expected of me and what my role was. I look forward to seeing what's going to happen next year," Butler said.

He may have served notice to the rest of the league prior to next season with a playoff career-high 35 points in the Mavericks' 103-81 blowout win in Game 5 of the series. No. 4 swished in 12 of 24 shots, hitting 3-of-8 from behind the 3-point arch and a near perfect 8-of-9 at the foul line. He also put the icing on the cake by pulling down 11 rebounds, collecting a double-double.

"(Butler) really is one of our tough guys...I was really, really thrilled to see him have a game like that. He is just a great guy. You just love to see a guy like that succeed and have that kind of night...He has just been a great pro and a guy that is really into winning," Carlisle said after the performance.

While Butler did his work on the perimeter, Haywood turned heads with his dominance inside.

The 7-footer split time with fellow big man Erick Dampier to secure the starting center duties. But when his name was called, Haywood proved to be a force in the interior. The 30-year-old, who had spent his entire career in Washington before the trade, produced five double-doubles in his 28 regular-season games for the Mavericks.

"I really liked what (Haywood) did for us. He's a guy that had an impact on both ends...Brendan is very athletic. He's got a good feel for the game. He's got a good knowledge of the game," the coach said.

Now the organization will try to keep Haywood patrolling the paint for years to come, as the talented center officially becomes a free agent on July 1.

"With (Haywood and Dampier), it gives us a really nice one-two punch," president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson said. "They do things a little bit different. But between the both of them, you've got a really solid centerpiece with youth and experience. That's something we look for with positions."


Meanwhile, Stevenson has done everything to make sure he's not the forgotten man in the deal. Though he wasn't always a fixture in the team's rotation, No. 92 found a way into Carlisle's heart. It translated into more time on the court.

Stevenson's scrappy defense gave the Mavericks a perimeter enforcer on the second unit. The veteran guard also stepped into the starting lineup five times, filling whatever role his coach asked of him.

"I've been trying to crack the rotation, but at the same time (Carlisle) has been talking to me. It's hard to get mad when you're winning -- as long as we're getting the wins. I've been getting in, sometimes starting, so I've been getting my opportunities. I've just got to go out there and do the things that I know I can do," Stevenson said.

"DeShawn's a guy that's developed into a very good 3-point shooter and is known as a good defender in this league," Carlisle added.

With some level of familiarity now with each player, the Mavericks' front office sees the trifecta playing much bigger roles next season.

"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," Carlisle said.

"They're great guys from top to bottom. They're all pulling in the same direction. We did make a transaction that hasn't fully taken, so that's a part of things. Guys are still getting used to each other out there...We like the guys that are in that locker room," Nelson concluded.

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks Practice Report (03/04/10)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report (03/04/10)

There's a bitter sweet feeling in the Dallas Mavericks' locker room right now. That's because there will be a gaping hole in the Mavericks' rotation the next time they take the court.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Though the Mavericks tallied their ninth consecutive win after Wednesday's 112-109 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, it came with a price. The health of the reigning Sixth Man of the Year was the price tag.

Terry suffered a blow to the face off of an unintentional elbow from Wolves swingman Corey Brewer in the third quarter of the win. Though the Mavs' deadly sharpshooter and unquestioned leader of the second unit returned to the court and finished the game en route to a 26-point performance, the news on Thursday was not good. Terry is scheduled for a surgery on Friday to address facial injuries from the incident. It is unclear when he'll return to game action.

"(Terry) has got some things going on in his facial area," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the team's Thursday practice. "I can't get specific on it, because they're going to check it out when they get in there...We'll know more probably after tomorrow.

"In the meantime, it's definitely a tough loss for us. But (backup shooting guard) is a deep position, and we're going to have to fill it by committee. We're going to have to have other guys step up. It presents opportunity for other guys."

If Terry is out for a substantial amount of time, the Mavs will have to make up for his output. The veteran is the only Maverick that has played in all 62 games for the team this season, averaging 17.0 points, 3.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds and knocking down 36.4 percent from 3-point range.

"It's not easy when you lose a guy of that caliber, but it's opportunity. When you face this type of adversity as a team, how you handle it continues to define who you are. We've got to make the most of this," Carlisle said.

If replacing Terry's production is a duty for a full committee, then J.J. Barea, DeShawn Stevenson and rookie Rodrigue Beaubois are each going to be asked to elevate their games.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)
"There's a lot of guys that can fill that position...Stevenson is certainly going to play some there, Beaubois can play some there and J.J. can play some at that spot," the coach added. "The different guys that we have available all bring something a little different. Stevenson's a tough, physical defender who plays well in our system. Beaubois can bring us some athleticism and quickness. Barea brings some play-making. All those guys are going to be certainly involved in the thought process, and a lot of them will be playing quickly."

"We're going to miss a great player in JET (Terry)," Barea said of his teammate's likely absence. "He'll be back soon, he's a fighter. We can't wait to have him back -- a great off the bench player. He's one of the main guys on this team, so we've got a bunch of guys that's got to step up and play for him."

While the injury undoubtedly is a depressing topic, it does allow Stevenson to crack the rotation. The swingman has seen limited time as a bench contributor, and even started during Caron Butler's two-game absence after a bad reaction to medication. If his number is called, No. 92 is ready to step up to the plate.

"(Terry) has been a real vocal guy for me. I've been trying to crack the rotation, but at the same time Coach has been talking to me. It's hard to get mad when you're winning. As long as we're getting the wins...I've been getting in, sometimes starting, so I've been getting my opportunities. I've just got to go out there and do the things that I know I can do," Stevenson said.

While Stevenson looks for his role with the team, especially with Terry out, point guard Jason Kidd returns to the squad after taking a night off to rest. The 36-year-old Kidd played heavy minutes coming out of the All-Star break, so having the opportunity to watch the team from the comfort of his home allowed the future Hall-of-Famer to see the team from a new perspective.

"I think it was a great thing for me," Kidd said of the much-needed rest. "The unfortunate thing was JET getting hit in the face, but that happens. But it was good watching from a different seat."

Kidd watched as the rookie Beaubois ran the show at the lead guard spot in the fourth quarter. He also looked on as Barea began the game at the point for just the second time in his 18 starts this season. Kidd says the experience for the two cat-quick guards will be valuable as the team creeps towards the postseason.

(Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

"It was good for my teammates, for Roddy (Beaubois) and J.J. to get some time under their belt...It was great for (Beaubois) to be in a close game, to have to make plays, to have to read and react in a game situation. You can simulate that situation in practice, but with the crowd and understanding what was at stake, I think it was great for him to be in that position," Kidd said.

Now with Kidd back, and Terry possibly on the shelf, the Mavericks focus on the task of playing basketball. That begins with matching up with the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at the American Airlines Center.

"The big thing is we've played with injuries and guys missing a couple games, so this isn't anything new to us," Kidd said. "It's something that we look forward to getting some guys some minutes, and look at it like JET gets some rest because he's been logging a lot of minutes, too.

"It's a two-way street, it gets the other guys an opportunity and it also gives JET a time to catch his breath and be ready to go once the playoffs start."

The Mavs try to run their winning streak to double digits, hosting the Kings on Friday night. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Mavs lead the season series 2-0. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Hawks Recap

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 111 at Atlanta Hawks 103

Momentum is a funny thing.

Riding a five-game winning streak, the Dallas Mavericks entered Philips Arena out to avenge an 80-75 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 5. Accompanying the Mavs on the road was the momentum from Wednesday night's 101-96 home win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

In a game of runs, where momentum was everything, the Mavericks used a late change in the tide to claim a 111-103 overtime win Friday night. Thanks to Jason Kidd's first triple-double of the season and veteran headiness, the Mavericks overcame a late double-digit deficit and extended the NBA's longest current winning streak to six.

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

"The performance that (Kidd) had was an all-time great performance, especially for someone who's 36 years old," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "I've never seen a guy have this kind of impact on a game. You don't get winning streaks without special performances, like the one that Jason (Kidd had tonight). This was one for the ages."

For the second straight game the Mavericks were without swingman Caron Butler, after the former All-Star suffered a bad reaction to medication before the matchup with L.A. Once again newcomer DeShawn Stevenson sled into the starting lineup, playing next to Kidd, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood.

"Right now, we have all three guys from the (Feb. 13 trade) playing key roles. Butler's missed a couple of games, so now Stevenson's a starter," the coach said.

The first quarter was very kind to the Mavericks, filled with above-the-rim finishes from Marion off of Kidd's feeds. With Nowitzki's lights-out shooting, the Mavericks overcame early turnovers with a 16-0 run. The Dallas defense made it possible for the team to run, holding the Hawks without a made field goal for the final 6:10 of the quarter. The result was a 29-19 Dallas lead after one. Marion and Nowitzki combined to score 20 of the Mavericks' 29 first quarter points.

Former Hawk Jason Terry kept the good times rolling for the Mavericks early in the second stanza, as Atlanta continued without a made basket for nearly four minutes of game time in the period. But once the Hawks began to connect from behind the 3-point arch, Atlanta was right back in the game. As Joe Johnson caught fire, the Hawks crept closer. Johnson's transition finger roll with 2:54 remaining in the half put the Hawks ahead 44-43. After a stretch of 16 straight misses, Atlanta made 10 consecutive shots. But Kidd's play at both ends, including a steal to pass Scottie Pippen for fifth on the all-time list, helped the Mavs tie the game at 50-all heading into the halftime break.

The Mavericks found themselves knotted at the half despite out-shooting the Hawks 61 percent to 48 percent through the first 24 minutes of play. Atlanta's 5-of-11 from behind the arch and Johnson's 17 first half points erased Dallas' 14-point advantage. Nowitzki posted 16 points through the first two quarters.

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
The third quarter was a seesaw affair for the first six minutes. But Josh Smith's do-it-all play helped the Hawks open up a double-digit lead. The Mavericks attempted to rallied behind Nowitzki, but the Dallas squad struggled through a stretch of nine straight misses. With the Hawks outscoring Dallas 26-15 in the third, the Mavericks found themselves down 76-65 entering the fourth.

Kidd attempted to rally his troops in the final period with transition offense. Defensively, the Mavericks took Johnson out of the game with a scrambling zone.

"We threw the zone defense out there to throw the Hawks off a little bit," Terry said. "If you don't practice repetition against the zone, it will cause problems for you, and I think that's what happened to the Hawks tonight. At the same time, the Hawks just didn't hit the shots they were hitting earlier in the game, so it took them out of rhythm a little bit."

Switching to a three-guard lineup of Kidd, Terry and J.J. Barea, the Mavericks sped up the tempo on the offensive end. En route to his 104th (third-most in NBA history) career triple-double, Kidd's play at both ends translated to an 18-3 run to pull the Mavs ahead 92-91 with 2:58 remaining. The future Hall-of-Famer then found himself in a shootout with Hawks point guard Mike Bibby. But not even a brief scrum with Hawks coach Mike Woodson was able to cool Kidd down, after the veteran drew a technical foul on the head play-caller when the two colliding outside of the coaching box.

"I saw him on the court and we needed to get a point somehow," Kidd said of the incident. "He's in a suit, and so I had to make the officials make something happen there...There is a coaching box and some of the coaches do stretch that box."

"I don't know if there's ever been a smarter player in this league than Jason Kidd. There may be a few equals out there -- Magic Johnson, (Larry) Bird, a few others, (Michael) Jordan," Carlisle said of his point guard's awareness.

Kidd gave the Mavs a 99-97 edge with 56.4 ticks left on his third consecutive three. Yet after the Hawks tied the game, both Nowitzki and Kidd missed on game-winning fadeaway jumpers in the final possession of regulation. The Mavericks outscored the Hawks 34-23 in the fourth to send the game into overtime.

"Jason Kidd's leadership and fourth quarter play was the difference tonight," Haywood said.

The momentum was clearly with the Mavericks in the extra period, and it wasn't going anywhere. Already up four, Nowitzki iced the game with 1:06 left on the clock, as the 7-footer's three swished in off Kidd's 17th assist of the night. Late scores from Terry and Haywood put the finishing touches on the win.

"We were down 11 points late in the game, and to come back and get this win is phenomenal. We really needed this win to boost our confidence as we go through the second part of this season," Terry said.

Flying under the radar was Nowitzki's 37 points to lead the way on 15-of-26 shooting. That's because Kidd did everything imaginable. Tallying up 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds, No. 2's fingerprints were all over the game.

"Jason Kidd is one of the smartest players I've ever seen play. We have a true point guard in him, and his stat line tonight speaks to that. More than that, he just led us tonight, and led us to a big victory," Terry said of his backcourt mate.

Off the bench, Terry posted 17 points. Marion added 14 points, while Haywood recorded his third double-double as a Maverick with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

"I feel like my job is just to be a force inside and a presence on the defensive end," Haywood said.

Johnson led five Hawks in double figures with his 27-point night.

With the late charge, the Mavericks finished the night connecting on 52 percent from the field. The Dallas defense held Atlanta to just 40 percent shooting at the other end. Much of the credit goes to Dallas' 50-41 advantage in rebounding and 29-19 edge in fast break points.

The Mavericks snatched the win from the Hawks' grasp despite 13 turnovers, compared to Atlanta's seven giveaways.

Now, the Mavs return home and play host to the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night. The Mavericks will look to run their win streak to seven, with the game airing nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA 21 and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The season series is tied 1-1.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Lakers-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Los Angeles 96 at Dallas Mavericks 101

Wednesday night's machup with the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers was built as the Dallas Mavericks' most important game of the season. It didn't disappoint.

After making a seven-player trade with the Washington Wizards on Feb. 13, the Mavericks had the fourth and final regular season game with the Lakers circled on their calender. But after bringing in Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson for the purpose of contending with L.A., the Mavs were unable to unveil their new-look squad in front of a national audience. That's because the Dallas squad was without Butler.

The two-time All-Star was out of the lineup after a bad reaction from medication. Sill, the Mavericks didn't use Butler's absence as an excuse to take the night off. Instead, the squad played inspired basketball, capping the night off with a 101-96 win on the American Airlines Center floor.

"This team has never used excuses," point guard Jason Kidd said after his team performed despite Butler's absence. "We're a veteran ball club and we understand what it takes to win.

"It's a big win. We weren't looking at it as a measuring stick game. It's just we've been playing some really good basketball of late and we wanted to keep it going."

The Mavs certainly did keep the momentum going, claiming their fifth consecutive win and equalling their best streak since Dec. 16. Dallas also knotted the season series with L.A. 2-2.

"It's a great win. Too much will be made of it probably, but we just continue to build on things," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

In Butler's stead, Stevenson got the nod from Carlisle at the starting shooting guard slot. Stevenson more than held his own with the first unit, keeping Kobe Bryant quiet in the opening quarter.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

"I thought the key guy in the game was probably Stevenson, with the way he started the game for us. He gave us great defense on Bryant. Anytime he was in there, he held his position strong. He played within what we were doing," the coach added.

But the first quarter belonged to Andrew Bynum and the Lakers. Bynum's presence in the post was too much for the Mavs early on, scoring eight points and snagging seven rebounds to lift the Lakers to a 23-20 advantage after one.

The Mavericks found life in the play of sixth man Jason Terry in the second quarter. The hometown crowd also got a rise from rookie Rodrigue Beaubois' stuffing block on Jordan Farmar's driving shot attempt. Dirk Nowitzki even got into the act in the second. But after a late charge by Bryant sparked ten unanswered points by the Lakers, the Mavs used a 10-2 run to close to within 50-49 in L.A.'s favor at the end of the first half.

"When they got up nine in the second quarter, that was the danger time for us and we had used our timeouts," Carlisle said. "We had to keep playing. We went on a 10-2 run to end the half, which gave us great momentum going into halftime."

Terry's 18 points led all scores at the half.

"I wasn't necessarily in a zone, but I got into a good rhythm. Coming out and being aggressive early is the key for me," Terry said.

But the Lakers out-shot the Mavs 51 percent to 44 percent in the first 24 minutes of play. Dallas overcame 10 first half turnovers with a 26-16 rebounding edge. But the most telling stat in the half was L.A.'s 34-16 advantage in points in the paint.

The Mavericks appeared to be on their way to a big quarter at the start of the third, building up a lead as large as five. Haywood began to put the defensive clamps down on Bynum on the inside. But after beginning the game quietly, Bryant came out of the halftime break looking for his own shot. In a quarter with nine lead changes and two ties, it was Kidd's buzzer-beating three that gave the Mavs a 74-72 edge heading into the final period.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
"That (shot) was huge. We were down one, it's a low-clock situation and they're a great defensive team. (Kidd) being able to find an opening, JET (Terry) being able to find him...He knocks in a 28-footer, and coming into that huddle it really helped the spirit," Carlisle said.

The fourth quarter was like the 12th round of a heavyweight title fight. The Mavericks played the role of the counter puncher, answering every Laker jab with an uppercut. As usual, the fourth quarter was Nowitzki and Terry time, and No. 41 and No. 31 were ready for the primetime moment.

"You know us. In close ball games, we're going to do what he have to do and get the ball in the right people's hands," Terry said.

The nine-time All-Star, Nowitzki, gave Dallas an 87-82 lead with 5:52 remaining on a hanging jumper in the lane, plus the foul on Bryant. With Shawn Marion locking up Bryant in the fourth, the Dallas defense stiffened while Nowitzki and Terry poured in the points.

"I just made it hard for him," Marion said of his defense in the fourth on Bryant. "I just didn't want him to catch a groove...I made him take tough shots with my length."

With defensive stops translating into transition offense off of Kidd's direction, the Dallas lead reached eight. But the Bryant-led Lakers had one more run left in them. Bryant's driving score with 57.9 ticks left cut the Dallas lead to 97-94. But the reigning Finals' MVP missed on a game-tying three just 32 seconds later. After a Pau Gasol foul, Terry put a little more distance between the two teams with a pair of clutch free throws with 15.9 seconds left. But Bryant answered with a pair of his own. Nursing a three-point lead, Nowitzki iced the game with a 2-for-2 trip at the charity stripe with 1.8 seconds remaining.

The Mavs finished the night victorious despite being out-shot by the Lakers, 49 percent to 44 percent. With both squads committing 17 turnovers on the night, Dallas' 41-36 edge in rebounding and 23-15 advantage in fast break points became vital.

"We wanted to make it a higher possession game than they like," Carlisle said. "The way to do that is to get stops and get the ball in Kidd's hands and get him running. We had a significant number -- 23 fast break points is a lot against them. They do a good job of getting back. Usually they are taking good shots and getting chances to get the ball back. I thought we pushed it well."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Led by Nowitzki's game-high 31 points and Terry's 30, the Mavericks more than made up for Butler's missing output. The last time two Mavericks scored 30-plus points in a game was March 7, 2009 against Washington, when Nowitzki went for 34 and Terry provided 33.

Meanwhile, Kidd recorded his 18th double-double of the season, posting 14 points and dishing out 13 assists. Haywood's 11 points and Marion's 10 made it five Mavs in double figures.

"We had a lot of guys contribute. Dirk and JET delivered big time with 30-point nights. And that's what you need, especially when you are down a guy like Butler," Carlisle said while praising his squad.

Off the bench Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Bryant finished with 20, hitting on just 9-of-23 from the field. After his huge first quarter, Bynum was quiet the rest of the way thanks to Haywood's defense. The Lakers' big man finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

"In the second half, I was definitely more aggressive," Haywood said of his defensive energy. "My biggest thing is, I was focused on getting through the first quarter with no fouls, because I knew from that point on I had set myself up to finish the game. I think was a little too passive early on, but in the second half I definitely picked up the intensity."

Now, with a workman-like mentality, the Mavericks move on to the next game on their schedule.

"On to the next one," Haywood said.

"We can match up with pretty much anybody," Nowitzki added. "We've still got some work to do...We'll just keep on working."

The next one is a road meeting with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. The Hawks captured an 80-75 road win on the American Airlines Center floor on Dec. 5, the only meeting between the two squads thus far this season. The Mavs will be out for revenge. The game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT.

"We want to put on a good show," Terry said of the upcoming matchup.

The Mavericks return home and play host to the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night, with the game airing nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA 21 and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The season series is tied 1-1.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Suns-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Phoenix Suns 97 Dallas Mavericks 107

Tuesday night's 99-86 loss in Oklahoma City was not the ideal beginning in a Dallas Mavericks' uniform for new additions Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.

Just 24 hours later, the trio took the court for a more impressive showing in their American Airlines Center debuts against the Phoenix Suns. Though the newcomers continue to learn on the fly, playing the second of four games in five nights, Wednesday night the squad got back on the winning track. With a tormenting defense and six players scoring in double figures, including Butler and Haywood, the Mavericks claimed a 107-97 win over the Suns on the home floor.

(Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"They really wanted it," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of his new-look squad. "Our new guys, being here, the guys who have been here want them to feel what it's like to win, especially in this building. We fought hard for it."

"It's always easier at home," Butler added. "The crowd just kind of carried us and lifted us and gave us that momentum we needed down the stretch to win this game."

Butler and Haywood hit the hardwood from the opening tip, starting next to Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki. Haywood got the start in the middle, with center Erick Dampier out of the lineup after suffering an open dislocation to his right middle finger in the loss to Oklahoma City. The 7-footer then had the injury surgically repaired before returning to Dallas, though a timetable for his return to game action has not been set.

"I just kind of grabbed my hand at first," the big man said explaining the injury. "I didn't think it was that serious until I tried to open my hand and I saw a bone sticking out of the skin.

"Everything is fine. We'll take this week to week to see how it feels."

After following behind by as much as eight in the opening period, the two new starters began to settle into their roles. Meanwhile, the Dallas defense held Phoenix without a made basket for the final 3:25 of the quarter. With Nowitzki and Butler handling the scoring responsibilities, while Kidd sped up the tempo for an 11-0 run, the Mavs sprinted to a 28-23 edge after one. The Suns misfired on their last six field goal attempts in the period.

Transition offense continued to be the key for the Mavericks in the second quarter.

"We're a running team," the coach said. "We have Jason Kidd. We are always better when we don't call plays or don't have to call plays. Sometimes you have to in certain situations. When you do, you better be able to execute it and put the ball in the hole... We got the ball moving up and down the court well."

"We're just playing basketball -- it's like pickup game style. We're just getting the ball to the floor general (Kidd) and just getting to spots and he's finding us," Butler said.

Simultaneously, the Suns went almost seven minutes without a made basket, stretching back to the end of the first quarter. Despite Amar'e Stoudemire racking up a double-double midway through the second quarter, the Mavericks' lead reached double digits. The scrambling Dallas defense continuously disrupted the rugged Phoenix offense in the quarter, including Haywood's block out on the perimeter on Steve Nash's 3-point attempt. But after the Mavericks led by as much as 12, the Suns cut their deficit to 56-49 at the half.

Dallas out-shot the Phoenix squad 48 percent to 39 percent in the first half, despite losing the rebounding battle 28-26. The Maverick defense stifled the deadly Phoenix 3-point attack, as the Suns hit on just 1-of-14 attempts from behind the arch in the first 24 minutes of play.

"I think against Phoenix, you've got to guard the 3-point line. That's where they really get you," Nowitzki said.

Nowitzki led the way for Dallas with his 16 first half points, but Stoudemire's 17 points and 12 rebounds kept the Suns in contention.

The Mavs blew the game open in the third quarter behind Kidd's 3-point shooting. The veteran lead guard then got help from Butler and Marion, as the two former All-Stars attacked the rim with an aggressive state of mind. With Haywood paroling the paint and sending back shot after shot at the defensive end, the Mavericks outscored the Suns 26-19 in third to take an 82-68 advantage into the final period.

But after the Mavericks' lead climbed to as much as 19 in the third, the Suns responded with a 7-0 run early in the fourth to get their deficit to single digits. Jason Richardson's three at the 7:45-mark cut the Dallas lead to 90-85.

"Next thing you know it's a five-point game. But overall, I felt we did a good job staying with their shooters and made them finish in the lane over big Haywood," Nowitzki said.

Still the game laid in the Mavericks' grasp, as seemingly every loose ball found its way into a Dallas player's hands down the stretch. With Nowitzki carrying the offensive load for most of the fourth, Jason Terry battling through a tough shooting night with back-to-back jumpers to put the Mavs ahead 103-91 with 2:29 remaining. The game then got testy, with Nowitzki and Grant Hill drawing a double technical call during a brief scrum. But on a night where Kidd was virtually all over the court, the future Hall-of-Famer iced the game with timely rebounds while racking up the steals on the defensive side of the ball. The Mavs finished the game off by nailing clutch free throws.

"This is a tough team to play. They have tons of weapons. They are quick, they shoot it, they have skill. They keep coming at you...I like the way we hung in when they got close. We made big plays and were able to close it," Carlisle said of his team's resolve.

"I don't think I've ever known a team to hold Phoenix to under a 100. So, our defense tonight was great. Everybody stuck to the game plan, everybody was in position and it just felt good to give a good defensive effort," Haywood said after his five-block night.

The story of the night was the play of Kidd at both ends. The 10-time All-Star engineered the fast-breaking offense to perfection, racking up 18 points and 10 assists.

"(Using transition offense) is to make the game simple," Kidd said. "Make or miss, get it down the court as fast as you can and hope something presents itself, whether it's a layup or a wide-open jump shot."

(Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Defensively, the 15-year veteran literally stole the show, claiming a career-best seven steals while also snatching seven rebounds.

"(Kidd) is just amazing," his coach said. "Just an amazing game, the way he led the team. The steals, to get to seven steals is a phenomenal number in one game. It seems like they were all timely...He was great."

"They put my Rookie of the Year trophy in my locker, so maybe that's what made me feel young," Kidd joked.

Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 28 points on 11-of-24 from the field, while Kidd, Terry (17), Butler (15), Marion (14) and Haywood (10) all scored in double digits.

Stoudemire led the Suns with 30 points and 14 rebounds, but the Dallas defense held Nash to just nine points on 4-of-13 shooting. The All-Star point guard and former Mav did shell out 12 assists.

The Mavericks finished the night slightly out-shooting the Suns, 47 percent to 46 percent, while also holding a 45-44 edge in rebounding. Dallas was also extremely efficient, committing just 11 turnovers, compared to 17 for Phoenix. Led by Stoudemire's big night, the Suns did outscore the Mavs 50-42 in the paint, albeit in a losing effort.

After taking a day off, the Mavericks continue their tough five-day stretch with another back-to-back. The squad heads to Orlando to battle the Eastern Conference champion Magic on Friday night. The game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 7 p.m. CT. The two teams have not met this regular season.

"Going in there and trying to get a win is going to be a big momentum-booster," Butler said of the trip to Orlando. "It's against a quality team that's playing great basketball as well."

Saturday night, the Mavs return home to host the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Center. That game will air nationally on NBA TV and locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The Mavs took the first meeting between the two teams, escaping Miami with a 106-93 road win on Dec. 11.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Thunder Recap

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 86 at Oklahoma City Thunder 99

While the new-look Dallas Mavericks figure to have a lustrous future, Tuesday night the team from the Lone Star State was not shining so brightly.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Mavericks returned to the hardwood in Oklahoma City for the start of four games in five nights. It was also the first game for the newly acquired Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, as the trio got a crash course in Maverick basketball. The Mavericks led the season series 2-0 coming into Tuesday night, but the Thunder came into the game riding a six-game winning streak and at the Mavericks' expense that number moved to seven. The week-long layoff between games and lack of practice time with the new players was apparent, as the Mavericks shot just 32 percent on the night to begin the new era with a 99-86 loss.

"The fact that myself and Caron didn't get a chance to practice with the team probably impacted us tonight in a negative way," Haywood said. "But at the end of the day, we're professionals. We have to go out there and do our jobs, and tonight we didn't get it done."

"You can easily use (the trade) as an excuse," point guard Jason Kidd added. "We have a lot of veteran players that have come over in the trade. We let this one get away from us."

Adding insult to injury, the Mavericks may have lost their starting center for an extended period of time, after Erick Dampier exited the game due to an injury late in the fourth quarter.

"Right now, I'm just concerned about Damp's situation," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "I'm not sure what's happening with him."

But the game began on a good note for the Mavs. Immediately Butler looked to make an impact on his new squad, joining the starting lineup at the shooting guard slot in his Maverick debut. The two-time All-Star took the court next to Kidd, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Dampier. But the first-stringers weren't together long before Nowitzki picked up two quick fouls after four minutes of play, forcing sixth man Jason Terry into the game sooner than Carlisle would have wanted. Still, with Butler and Haywood fitting right in early, the Mavericks sprinted to a 14-2 run before eventually holding a 26-16 advantage after one.

The Dallas defense was the story after the opening quarter, holding the Thunder to just 6-for-25 shooting in the period.

"I think we can see the potential, especially there in the first quarter. Everybody was touching it and getting open shots. I can definitely see the potential," Nowitzki said.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
After sitting the majority of the first quarter, Nowitzki came out aggressively in the second stanza. But the Thunder got right back into the game with their young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green. Finishing the half on a 10-2 run, the Thunder surged ahead with a last-second three from James Harden to grab a 56-54 lead heading into the intermission. Oklahoma City outscored Dallas 40-28 in the second quarter.

"Look, we had 54 points at halftime, so we had enough points," Carlisle said. "The bottom line is they shot over 70 percent in the second quarter and had a 40-point quarter. That got them going."

The shooting touch wasn't there for the Mavericks in the first half, connecting on just under 42 percent of their shots. Meanwhile, after the slow start, the Thunder finished the half shooting 48 percent. The two teams went to their respective All-Star forwards early on, as Durant's 16 first half points just bettered Nowitzki's 15.

Both teams picked up the defense in the third quarter and the scoreboard reflected it. But with both teams struggling to score, Dallas' turnovers in the period became costly, assisting the Thunder on its 14-0 run. After a seven-minute scoreless stretch, the Mavericks mustered up merely a season-low 11 points in the period. Meanwhile, the Thunder capitalized at the other end, leading by as much as 14 before taking a 78-65 advantage into the fourth.

"In the third quarter, we couldn't hit shots. It was defense in the second quarter and in the third quarter our offense struggled. We had looks and they were a lot of shots that we normally make, but we just couldn't...It was frustrating," Carlisle said.

"After halftime, we only scored 11," Kidd said. "You have to give those guys credit...We didn't make shots, we had some good looks. I think we started pressing and we tried to do it individually to try and stop the bleeding. It just didn't work out."


The margin widened to 17 early in the final period, before Carlisle shifted to a lineup of Kidd, Terry, Marion, Nowitzki and Dampier in hopes of sparking an offensive explosion. The unit responded with a 13-4 run, cutting the deficit to single digits. But the team's comeback attempt hit a wall with the Thunder defense keying in on Nowitzki.

The Mavs then lost Dampier with an open dislocation to his right middle finger at the 2:54-mark, attempting to block a shot. Unable to get any closer than eight, Carlisle pulled his key contributors inside of the final two minutes.

While the Mavericks struggled with their shooting all night long, the defense was not the problem, as the Thunder connected on just 43 percent of their shots en route to the win. With both teams having trouble finding the bottom of the net, the rebounding numbers were unusually high, as the Mavericks captured a 53-51 edge on the boards.

"In the second half, I think our defense was actually alright," Nowitzki said. "We held them to around 40 points, that's not bad. Offensively, we couldn't get anything going."

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Thunder's 18-7 advantage in fast-break points and 15 points off of Dallas turnovers were deciding factors in the game.

Coming off of his career-best 22-point performance in Sunday's All-Star Game, Nowitzki finished with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-22 shooting. But the Mavericks likely No. 2 and No. 3 scoring options, Terry and Butler, were a combined 8-for-31 as the two collectively scored 27 points. The cold-shooting night was a total team effort, Carlisle said.

"Tonight, a couple of the guys that would be main scorers for us were struggling shooting the ball, so a lot of it was falling on (Nowitzki's) shoulders," the coach added. "We don't want that to happen."

"We knew it was going to take some time," Nowitzki said. "We have four games in five nights coming out of the break and that is never easy. First game after the break is usually never easy."

Durant finished with a game-high 25 points, hitting that number for an NBA-best 26th straight game, though he did so on 9-of-28 from the field.

But after the game, the concern in the locker room was with Dampier. The 7-footer remained in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, heading to the hospital to have the finger surgically closed. He is expected to join the team back in Dallas on Wednesday, however a timetable for his return to the court has not been set.

"Damp's going to be out for awhile, but we've got big Haywood stepping in," Nowitzki said. "Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. Other teams have them too. Hopefully big Brendan can step in there and really get used to us playing with each other, and protect the paint like Damp does. We'll be okay.

"Big Damp is usually very tough, and I'm sure he'll be on the court sooner than later."

Now, on the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavs will host the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday. 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.

"It's a tough loss and it's a quick turnaround, so we've got to get ready for Phoenix tomorrow," Carlisle said.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Thunder Preview

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (32-20) at Oklahoma City Thunder (30-21)

Break time is over and it's time for the Dallas Mavericks to get back to work.

It has been a week since the Mavericks last hit the hardwood. My, how things have changed. In addition to playing host to the largest attended basketball game (108, 713) over the All-Star Weekend, the Mavs front office pulled off a seven-player trade with the Washington Wizards.

Exiting Dallas is swingman Josh Howard, big man Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross. Joining the Mavericks are two-time All-Star forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson. The trio will make their Maverick debuts Tuesday night as the team travels to Oklahoma City and tangles with the Thunder.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"These guys are proven veteran players," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said when the newcomers were introduced to the media on Monday. "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."

The newest Mavericks are expected to make an immediate impact. Butler, and his 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds a game, is likely to assume the starting shooting guard role, sending Jason Terry back to the bench as a sixth man.

"Over the course of the last couple of months, I've been playing three positions," Butler said, though his natural position is small forward. "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.

"I'm going to sit down with (Carlisle) 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."

Terry, who has started 12 consecutive games, has no problems moving back to a reserve role because he believes it benefits the team.

"I'm the guy that will take the sacrifice. We want (Butler) out there starting, to where he's comfortable," Terry said.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
As for Haywood and Stevenson, Carlisle has already envisioned their roles as well. Haywood, a 7-footer, will be interchangeable with starting center Erick Dampier. Dampier has battled through a left knee injury throughout the season, making the addition of Haywood even more of a necessity. And Haywood isn't just any big man, ranking 10th in the league with his 10.3 rebounds per contest this season.

"(Haywood) will be playing," the coach said. "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."

Stevenson is expected to add depth and scoring to the bench, averaging 8.2 points for his career. But the talented guard, who came straight out of high school to be drafted in 2000 by the Utah Jazz, is concentrating on helping the team on the defensive end.

"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.

All of the new additions will be counted on to adjust to their roles rather quickly, as the Mavericks embark on a stretch of four games in five days beginning in Oklahoma City.

"It's going to be tough to get everybody involved that quick," leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki said. "We've got a tough stretch here with four games in five nights, but nothing is easy in this league."

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, including a 100-86 road win on Dec. 16.

"We know (the Thunder) are a strong-willed team and very, very much that way for a younger team," Carlisle said of the team's upstart opponent. "They're mature beyond their years competitively.

"You have to play them the right way and you have to play well. You have to hit some tough shots, because they're long and they get into you defensively."

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

New Mavs meet the Media

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

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.

Mavericks-Wizards complete seven-player trade, steal spotlight from All-Star Saturday Night

(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks-Wizards complete seven-player trade, steal spotlight from All-Star Saturday Night

To say that All-Star Weekend began well for the Dallas Mavericks would be an understatement.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Before Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd represent the Mavericks in Sunday' All-Star Game, the Dallas squad stole the thunder from the midseason gala’s prized events, All-Star Saturday Night and the Slam Dunk contest, by making headlines with a seven-player swap with the Washington Wizards.

The Mavericks finalized on the acquisition of forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood, guard DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations from the Wizards, sending back swingman Josh Howard, big man Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross to the East Coast in exchange.

"This was an important move for us, at this particular time, simply because it makes us a better team," Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said of the trade. "You've got to give quality to get quality. We just thought the pieces were better fits."

The deal is headlined by the flip flopping of two former All-Stars, Butler and Howard. Though the Mavericks have watched the growth of Howard since he entered the league in 2003, the organization felt that Butler was a better fit to assist in reaching the goal of an NBA title. Howard was the second-longest tenured Maverick on the roster behind Dirk Nowitzki.

"Sometimes you have to make some tough decisions," Nowitzki said after watching his long-time teammate depart from Dallas. "It's always tough and sad to see a teammate leave, especially when you've played with him for a long time…Sometimes the franchise moves on and makes tough decisions, and that was one of them."

"Josh was a very, very difficult decision," Nelson said. "Here's a guy that started his career with the Mavericks, was a huge part of our success and took us to the Finals. We're going to miss him both on and off the floor."

But Butler is certainly no slouch.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

The 6-foot-7, seven-year pro is a two-time All-Star. He started all 47 games in which he suited up for Washington, averaging 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals a contest. All of Butler's stats this season rank higher or near his average career numbers.

"You're looking at a guy like Caron Butler that can give us an offensive push. He's been around the block, two-time All-Star, knows what it takes to win at the highest level, has the experience – that was a factor," Nelson added.

"Caron is probably more of a conventional fit for us."

The Mavericks also bring in a conventional center, in Haywood, that can spell starting five man Erick Dampier. The 7-footer 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.

"We think (Haywood) can really help us get to a level where we can put Damp and him in there, in some cases, matching up against two bigs," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said of the big man. "He can run and he can finish…He's not a go-to scorer, but he's certainly someone that can anchor our defense."

Meanwhile, Stevenson should add depth to a veteran bench. The guard has averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his career since being drafted out of high school by the Utah Jazz in 2000.

The trio of new Mavericks are expected to join the team on Monday after the All-Star break. The team will look to add the new additions into the fold immediately, playing four games in five nights when the Mavericks return from the festivities.

"It's going to be tough to get everybody involved that quick, we've got a tough stretch here with four games in five nights. But nothing is easy in this league," Nowitzki said.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.