Jefferson is a decent player, but he is slow on defense, overpaid, and fairly injury prone [if he's so great, why did Minnesota add about 6 other PFs?]. While he's probably way better than what the Mavs currently have at low-post, I don't think he's as good as his stats indicate [see Lee, David]. However, there's no way in hell the Mavs are getting Chris Paul. But I suppose it doesn't hurt for the Mavs to try to do better than Jefferson, as Minnesota isn't EVER pulling that deal off the table.

[This message has been edited by Dan 07 (edited 7/10/2010 3:11p).]

I dont think that a low-post scorer is really a pressing need for the Mavs at this point, especially as Dirk works the high post with increasing frequency. Sure they need help on interior defense, but Jefferson doesnt really bring that.

I'd say they mainly need:
1) Someone that can score off the dribble/get to the FT line
2) Someone to play perimeter defense
3) Big energy guy off the bench [Verejao/Big Baby type]
4) PG that isn't a dinosaur and can do something on offense or defense [as the current PG can do neither]
5) A true SG

[1 & 2 might be the same players as 4 & 5]

[This message has been edited by Dan 07 (edited 7/10/2010 3:28p).]

And I'd personally love to see Jefferson in a Mavs uniform instead of Damp's rotting corpse, but I think the Mavs have the current luxury of shopping around a little bit then coming back to the Jefferson deal if they dont find anything better

if the mavs think they can get paul, then you have to pass on jefferson. If they don't get either, than he is a moron.

have to agree with DC here... if this deal is actually on the table then the Mavs would be effing retarded to not do it. Al Jefferson is a damned good player and would make the Mavs a much more interesting team to watch. This is pretty much the best they can do at this point... they arent getting Chris Paul.

Say the Mavs pull the trigger on this deal...

You could never have Dirk, Haywood, and Jefferson on the court at the same time and expect any defense to be played. Jefferson isn't a defensive presence and Dirk would be guarding the 3 on the other team. It would look like garbage.

Don't do it mavs.

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if the mavs think they can get paul, then you have to pass on jefferson. If they don't get either, than he

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This!
Jefferson is a last case scenario.

I've been saying it since the Spurs dispatched of the Mavs... somebody like Al Jefferson is exactly what the Mavs need. I saw a 34 year-old Tim Duncan more or less be very effective for 35+ MPG against the Mavs in that series. I don't think he'd be able to do that if the Mavs just had a banger to wear the other team down.

That's what Dirk needs. He's a great player, but not physical in the least on offense. Dirk needs a bruiser to pair with if the Mavs ever hope to win a title IMO. The Mavs should have taken this deal 2 days ago.

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if he's so great, why did Minnesota add about 6 other PFs?

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Are you really using the moves Minnesota makes to justify something? They have had the worst front office in basketball for pretty much forever.

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While he's probably way better than what the Mavs currently have at low-post, I don't think he's as good as his stats indicate

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Who could Dallas possibly get that is better between now and whenever you have to waive Dampier anyway (July 31st?)

AlJeff is still a legit 20/11 post player. If you get him for free, you do it, especially when the one thing your team has lacked for the last 30 years is a post player with any sort of talent.

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I dont think that a low-post scorer is really a pressing need for the Mavs at this point, especially as Dirk works the high post with increasing frequency.

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That's insane. Dallas keeps getting bounced from the playoffs because they can't score in the paint; they can't get those tough points; they can't play inside.

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I'd say they mainly need:
1) Someone that can score off the dribble/get to the FT line
2) Someone to play perimeter defense
3) Big energy guy off the bench [Verejao/Big Baby type]
4) PG that isn't a dinosaur and can do something on offense or defense [as the current PG can do neither]
5) A true SG

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Hilarious. I'm not sure you know the Mavs at all. Or really understand the team. Or the NBA.

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Is there a date that Damp's contract expires or it automatically extends another year?

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I think it is the end of the month.

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You could never have Dirk, Haywood, and Jefferson on the court at the same time and expect any defense to be played. Jefferson isn't a defensive presence and Dirk would be guarding the 3 on the other team. It would look like garbage.

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Why do you have to have all three on the court? You can play any two of those guys together. You have 96 minutes at PF and C, and you generally don't want to play your players (especially guys over 30) much more than 32 minutes. 32*3=96. Wow. That works out nicely.

And you don't want to get him because those three couldn't be on the floor at the same time? Insane. Yeah, lets stick to Haywood/Dirk/Najera rotation at post. That's much better.

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I've been saying it since the Spurs dispatched of the Mavs... somebody like Al Jefferson is exactly what the Mavs need. I saw a 34 year-old Tim Duncan more or less be very effective for 35+ MPG against the Mavs in that series. I don't think he'd be able to do that if the Mavs just had a banger to wear the other team down.

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Wow. A Mavs fan that isn't a moron.

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Since Cleveland now has a $16M trade exception because of the Lebron James S&T, I could easily see them taking Al Jeff off Minny's hands.

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Yep.


Obviously, if Chris Paul is possible, you don't do it. But Chris Paul isn't possible for anything Dallas has.

[This message has been edited by Guitarsoup (edited 7/10/2010 10:45p).]

Damn, how can Donnie be this effing retarted. Al Jefferson is a sure bet and if Minny wants to give him away you have to effing do it. Haywood can come off the bench and you just start Dirk and Jefferson in the frontcourt with Marion at SF, Butler at SG, and Kidd/Roddy at PG. That's the best that the Mavs can do at this point going into next season and if they're going to use the excuse of bad contracts then that's effing ridiculous. Cuban and Donnie gave the likes of Shawn Bradley, Raef Lafrentz, Erick Dampier, Haywood, Diop, and Eschmeyer prolly close to $200 million over the past 10 years. Someone give me an effing shotgun. DC and Guitarsoup are making too much sense

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Wow. A Mavs fan that isn't a moron.

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Not a Mavs fan

That explains it.

I am praying to the NBA gods that Morey gets Al Jefferson... best possible consolation for the Rockets after missing on Bosh.

Brooks/Lowry
Martin/Buddinger
Battier/Ariza
Jefferson/Scola/Hill/Hayes
Yao/Patterson

If you look at some of the early FA threads I also said that Al Jefferson was who I wanted for the Mavs, mainly because it's the most realistic option. Nobody is/was ever going to part with a Lebron James or Chris Paul type player for a Dampier cap space rebate.

Al Jefferson would finally give us a low post option that didn't face up from 15 feet. If this offer was on the table before they signed Haywood, then it's pretty foolish to let it slide. After promising Haywood he'd be the starter when he signed, now their hands are tied. Al isn't coming off the bench.

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After promising Haywood he'd be the starter when he signed, now their hands are tied. Al isn't coming off the bench.

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You know, if we were talking about a premiere center in a short-term deal, I'd understand this. But Haywood is pretty average and just grabbed up a pretty good payday. If Haywood cries about it, who cares?

This sounds like the first cheap opportunity that the Mavs have really had to grab the bruiser they've needed for years now. They have to go for this... if not, they aren't THAT serious about winning in my opinion.

GS where's your laughing/crying face? You're losing your form

well, its not exactly dampier's contract for chris paul. The contract is so they can have cash money, I'm sure we'd be parting with roddy b.

So after the luxury tax, we would have to pay $84 million for Jefferson and give up 2 first rounders? All for a guy who would probably come off the bench?

I don't disagree, but Jefferson off the bench? Are you high?

Normally Jefferson would start, but Rick promised the starting spot to Haywood.

Then at the first stoppage in play, Haywood comes out and Jefferson comes in to play his 35 minutes.

But don't be stupid - AlJeff wouldn't be a bench player. He would get huge minutes and put up great numbers on Dallas.

Losing him to cut salary is not a winning move.

... and Dan Gilbert guaranteed a Cavs title before the Heat... who cares?

There's no way, Haywood would have started ahead of Jefferson. Zero.

Is he worth $84 million?

And don't be stupid. If we do that to Haywood, he would want out and we would have 1 6-10 center without a back up.

Worth 84mm to who? To me? No. I don't make all that much.

To a guy who has a net worth in the billions and has spend hundreds of millions of dollars to achieve his dream of leading the Dallas Mavericks to a title? You'd have to ask him.

But if I have pretty much unlimited resources and the opportunity to bring in my franchise's first low post threat in the history of the franchise for the grand cost of a player I was going to cut anyway AND two draft picks that will be in the bottom 5-10, I do it immediately.

Instead, he is letting a rival that was on the brink of the lottery retool after two devastating free agent losses of starters and they will probably again have a team that goes farther in the playoffs than his.

Bad decision.

Also, can you please show me how you are getting to this $84 million that Jefferson alone would cost the Mavs?