[didnt see it reported anywhere else on this board]

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/12/mavericks-move-on-udonis-haslem-ian-mahinmi/

quote:

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The Mavericks are close to signing Spurs forward-center Ian Mahinmi for the bi-annual exception ($1.9 million), according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. Mahinmi, a 23-year-old native of Rouen, France, never got much playing time under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, but made the most of what he did earn and performed superbly in his long 2007-08 NBA D-League stint. He expects to play for France along with Maverick guard Rodrigue Beaubois in the 2010 FIBA World Championships later this summer.

Dallas also has its full mid-level exception to use in free agency, and has reportedly offered it up to Heat forward Udonis Haslem, a tough defender (as resident Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki knows all too well). Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Mavericks have offered Haslem a three-year, $20 million deal; the most the new-fangled Heat can offer is a starting salary of $4.3 million, due to the signings of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Mike Miller. A three-year deal from Miami would only be worth about $14 million to Haslem.

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I like both guys, and they both add a little size and toughness up front [which the mavs significantly lack], but I'm not sure if Haslem is worth the entire MLE. More importantly, I'm hoping that the Mavs offering contracts to these 2 guys means that they found something better than Jefferson in exchange for Damp's contract [although I have no idea who what would be, as the Mavs getting Paul seems exceptionally far-fethced]. If they sign these 2, then trade for Jefferson, there's just not enough minutes to go around for everybody. Dirk gets about 35, Haywood is at 30, leaving another 30 minutes for [presumably] Haslem, Mahinmi, and Jefferson to split? Hopefully not, but of course the Mavs have done dumber things with big men in the past

Mahinmi will impress you with his athleticism as he fouls out exceptionally fast.

Good luck with Ian. That experiment failed miserably in SA. Dude wouldn't know defense if you beat it into him with a crowbar. That, and he was completely lost for the majority of the time he was on the floor. Bigtime bust in a long string of good late 1st round picks for the Spurs.

Haslem, on the other hand...I could see that paying off a little bit.

quote:

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Mahinmi will impress you with his athleticism as he fouls out exceptionally fast.

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The Mavs will need another awkward big that makes dumb fouls to replace Damp. Mahinmi sounds like he'll fill that role well

Haslem will pay off just by keeping Miami from having him.

Guys left to sign with Miami:

Shaq
Haslem
Mahinmi
Z
Scola (is restricted, so not really an option)
Al Harrington (not really a post player. More of a stretch 4)
Brad Miller (averaged 9 and 5 on .430 shooting)
Craig Smith (7.8/3.4 for the Clippers last year, only 6'7)
Kwame Brown
Hilton Armstrong (has yet to break 5ppg or 4rpg in a season)
Josh Boone (the Nets don't want to resign him)

So the Heat are all kinds of ****ed at post if Cuban gets Haslem. I bet it is more of a Screw Miami thing than a Help Dallas thing. Kudos to Cuban.

I think Haslem ends up somewhere other than Miami...at least I hope he does.

More realistically, I could see aging near-minimum vets like Kurt Thomas, Theo Ratliff, Jamaal Magloire, Tony Battie, Adonal Foyle, Oberto, Joe Smith, or even Brian Scalabrine going there.

If your a minimum contract type guy, it would be a good place to go as you will probably battle for minutes with other old aging vets.

Miller has decent numbers for 24mpg

the Mavs offseason gets continuously worse with each passing day



"I like to drink out of the creek and sleep near mud."

Thuggets also going after Haslem.

Haslem is playing in Miami next year

quote:

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Haslem is playing in Miami next year

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Is he going to play for the minimum?

Not sure, Follwill just reporting it on the radio.

Well that fills a pretty big void for them.

Haslem signed a five-year deal Monday worth around $20 million, more than $10 million less than he could have gotten had he accepted offers from the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.

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Sweet, no Haslem. That effer would have been useless for us anyways.



"I like to drink out of the creek and sleep near mud."

These guys HAVE to be getting money under the table. Something smells here. That's a lot of people taking a pay cut to play together. Something doesn't add up.

Haslem is a Miami native, a Florida Gator, has his whole family in South Florida, is currently playing for the NBA team that gave him his chance to realize his dream and oh yeah has Wade, Lebron and Bosh.

"And also, the opportunity to be a part of something special. We all play this game to win. I've never been a person driven by money."

Haslem is the man.