01/29/13: Mavericks chat with SportsDay beat writer Eddie Sefko

Sorry folks for the delay.....west coast time difference got me...in a stunning development, it's raining in Portland.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:26:11 PM
Hi Eddie, whicht route do you prefer for the Mavs: Target a good longterm roster now via Trade if the possibility is there (means also absorbing long term contracs) or wait for the free agency this summer to rebuild/reload and do only minor trades. Which way is more likely? Thx

by Flip 1/29/2013 5:26:16 PM
Tough question right out of the gate. The truth of the matter is that it's more likely that the Maveicks will be able to get a marquee free agent and build around him in the summer. They simply don't have enough trade assets to fire off a major trade and get the right pieces that can be long-term helpers. While I like Shawn Marion and think he would be a terrific fit for a contending team, I don't know how much worth he has on the open market. And the rest of the roster is enticing to another team only because of the financial relief all those one-year deals would have. So my guess is that free agency remains their best avenue to rebuilding. But that could also include an extend-and-trade type of situation if a team like the Lakers knows it is going to lose Dwight Howard for nothing in the summer.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:29:42 PM
Who could the Mavs package in a potential trade deal for Dwight Howard?

by Mark C 1/29/2013 5:30:14 PM
You'd have to hope that the Lakers would see the wisdom in adding Shawn Marion to their mix. Great defender, good rebounder and doesn't need plays called for him on offense to be effective. Any deal would have to be hinged on that. If they like him and would like to add a good shooter in O.J. Mayo, the deal might have some legs. But it probably would still require a third team involved because you know the Net are out there dangling more attractive players, albeit with worse contracts. The one thing I don't think the Lakers need back is another center. They've already seen that Gasol-Howard doesn't work. They would be foolish to think that Brook Lopez and Gasol would work any better.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:33:09 PM
The Spurs' success over the last decade can be attributed to their philosophy, coaching and great additions of role players . Winning the lottery twice didn't hurt either. Can't the Mavs hire one of their coaches away or even make Pop the GM one day?

by Ct 1/29/2013 5:33:27 PM
They did hire one of the Spurs' assistants away a few years ago. Guy by the name of Joe Prunty. I'm afraid Popovich is entrenched as a San Antonio icon. He won't be leaving for any place other than retirement. And R.C. Buford is also a keepr in SA. You might be able to copy them. But you won't be able to steal their assets.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:34:52 PM
Hello Eddie, my basketball guru i have a question concerning our last game with the spurs.Did you think Brand's man-to-man defense in Spliter and in Dajuan Blair. Blair were flying on the glass with his huge body , and Splitter seams to be "The Flash" comparing Brand.Considering that in 2013/14 season players like Al Farouq Aminu and JJ Hickson (strong, quick and very defensive SF/PF/C players) will be free agents, do you considerer that this season will be the only season that brand will be a mavs , if..just if WE GET DWIGHT (or even Al Jefferson ) on FA market next season? Long question...but i believe you have the precise answer.

by Vinicius Henrique 1/29/2013 5:35:40 PM
Aminu and Hickson, whom the Mavericks will see tonight in Portland, are having breakout seasons. But they also are considered strong assets to the teams they're already on. I agree with you that Brand s probably a one-and-done Mav, which is unfortunate. He's a good, solid player who has done well over the last month orso on the court and has some good ball left in him. But I suspect it's going to be hard to keep him around. He might have better options financially elsewhere. And by the way, Splitter has turned into a real nice player. Isn't it funny how the Spurs seem to find those kind of guys -- and keep them.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:38:02 PM
Chris Kaman is very limited in terms of rebounding and defense. Is his time with the Mavs limited? Also the Mavs didn't re-sign Chandler in part due to his limited offense. Now that they have an offensive center they don't want him. What kind of center do they want?

by Mark C 1/29/2013 5:38:09 PM
Dwight Howard.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:38:30 PM
Sorry, couldn't resist that one. And yes, I do think the reduced playing time is a sign that the Mavericks are willing to include Kaman in any trade. However, this time of year can be very difficult to get a read on players. Are the Mavericks playing Roddy B. more now because they are showcasing him and trying to drum up interest on the trade market? Or do they jus tlike the way he's playing and think he can help them win games down the stretch. These are tough situations to figure out. Only the Mavericks know for sure.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:40:17 PM
From a journalistic perspective, are the Mavs more interesting to write and chat about in an up-and-down-and-down season like this?

by Jacob C 1/29/2013 5:40:34 PM
Mediocre teams tend to be less intriguing than really good ones or really bad ones. But this team has so many plot lines that they are pretty interesting even though they are very much in the middle of the road. As coach Rick Carlisle said recently to me when I mentioned that the job wasn't as much fun this season, I have to make it fun. So prepare for a fun story in tomorrow's DMN.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:42:31 PM
Eddie, is there a playoff team that woul be interested in an offensive center like Kaman? He just doesn't seem to fit what the Mav's need with Dirk back. This would not only allow for some of our younger pieces, with Brand, to get more playing time but might net someone in return as well. Your thoughts?

by Alan 1/29/2013 5:42:37 PM
My thought is that it takes two to tango. Somebody would have to need Kaman and his expirng contract. I'm not sure that would be a contending team. Just spitballing here, but what if Boston wanted to get out from underneath a contract and offered Paul Pierce (who has this year and next year left) to the Mavericks for Kaman and some of their younger assets. Perhaps a third team sweetens the deal. Do you take it? You'd have to be prepared to eat salary for next season, but then you'd have a ton of wiggle room when Pierce and Nowitzki come off the books in 2014. This is just a hypothetical, by the way. I'm not promoting a Pierce trade. But those are the kind of deals that will be available in the next few weeks.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:47:08 PM
Yes or No, The Mavs will have at least one new player, big impact or small, after the trade deadline?

by Rob 1/29/2013 5:47:14 PM
Yes.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:47:21 PM
Who is the better player right now; Dirk or Pau?

by Big Kev 1/29/2013 5:47:23 PM
Dirk Nowitzki is the best European player ever. End of subject. As for how they are playing right now, both of them look a little out of sorts. But I'd still take Dirk.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:48:17 PM
I'm a huge fan of Coach Carlisle, but I'm starting to see the validity of criticism he's received in the past about not playing/developing rookies (Prince 2003, Beaubois 2009). This season he seems to be doing good with Crowder and James. Any thoughts?

by Jacob C 1/29/2013 5:48:20 PM
He's been a pretty versatle coach. And remember, he was the guy who put Prince in the starting lineup in the playoffs that rookie season. Crowder was more NBA-ready than Beaubois and that's why he's playing more. And Bernard James has shown that he can be an effective player in short bursts. The league is full of starters who put in six hard minutes at the beginning of each half and hten don't get much (or any) time after that. Carlisle is pretty darn respected for his work in games. When the ball goes up, few are better. And he's a really good communicator. Even players who aren't enamored with him right now admit that.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:50:24 PM
Eddie, who are the biggest names you hear/predict might realistically be available at the trade deadline? Who would you go all in for?

by Alan 1/29/2013 5:50:32 PM
I still think one of those Utah guys is going to get dealt. If it were me, I'd trade Millsap and not Jefferson, although Jefferson would fetch a higher price. Look for Boston to kick the tires of every team around the league after Rajon Rondo's injury and teams like Atlanta, Sacramento, Phoenix and Philadelphia seem like they are in a trading mood. The only guys I'd go all-in for are Howard and Jefferson. But I'm getting the impression that the Mavericks may be more likely to make a mid-level move for a rising player, trying to find another Mayo, for instance. And they've been pretty good at doing that. They found Tyson Chandler. They found Mayo. They dug up DeShawn Stevenson, etc., etc. Those are good moves and when you have found something you're good at, you tend to go back to that well again.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:54:03 PM
What're your thoughts on Kyle Lowry? Someone the Mavs would go after? Haven't seen him as much this year as when he was with Houston last year but he's due reasonable money next year so it won't mess up the cap space.

by James 1/29/2013 5:54:22 PM
Actually, his $6-million plus hit would mess up the cap space unless you could lose Marion's money. But I like Lowry, even though he's injury prone. And Calderon is the guy everybody wants out of Toronto because he comes off the books this summer.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:56:00 PM
OK, folks, time to run off to the Mavericks' shootaround over at the Rose Garden. Sorry I botched the start time. We'll do better next week after this four-game trip ends in Oklahoma City.

by Eddie Sefko 1/29/2013 5:56:45 PM