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Dallas Diesel? Mavs' draft-night moves hint toward push to acquire O'Neal
June 26, 2004
BY EDDIE SEFKO
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks said they got their point guard of the future Thursday night. How far in the future is the big question.
By getting Wisconsin junior Devin Harris with the fifth pick in the draft, the Mavericks believe they have an NBA-ready prospect who could ease the burden on All-Star Steve Nash.
Or, if the big picture still has the "Big Diesel" in it, maybe take the burden completely away from Nash.
The Mavericks spent much of their post-draft analysis trying to convince everybody that a flurry of trades and behind-the-scenes action was not part of a long-term, line-the-ducks-up project designed to eventually get them the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal.
The first order of business was to prove that drafting the 6-3 Harris wasn't an ominous sign that Nash would be packaged in a deal later this summer for O'Neal.
"Steve Nash, along with Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki, is the heart and soul of the Mavericks," said Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations. "We're not kicking him to the side of the curb."
Nash's agent, Bill Duffy, was concerned about the Mavericks' maneuverings with regard to his client.
"It sounds like they're going in a different direction," Duffy said.
Nash is an unrestricted free agent. The Mavs have made it clear that re-signing him is paramount this summer. However, they also have made their desires public that they will try to get involved in the chase for O'Neal, who twice has demanded a trade from the Lakers.
Nash, the big contract of Antoine Walker, the usable contract of Christian Laettner and the young legs of Josh Howard could bring O'Neal to Dallas.
Harris actually was drafted by Washington, then the trade sending him and former Pistons Jerry Stackhouse and Laettner to the Mavs for Antawn Jamison was finalized. The Wizards had to make the pick because their 2005 draft pick already has been traded and teams cannot trade their first-round picks in consecutive years.
Nelson was coy about his options, saying, "There's a lot of smoke and mirrors this time of year." He talked about the Pistons' championship serving as the Mavericks' model. "That's our mind-set," he said. "Deep bench, team mentality, no superstars."
He didn't mention that Larry Brown asks his team to play 48 minutes of hellacious defense.
Of course, a big man in the middle like Shaq might help.
June 26, 2004
BY EDDIE SEFKO
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks said they got their point guard of the future Thursday night. How far in the future is the big question.
By getting Wisconsin junior Devin Harris with the fifth pick in the draft, the Mavericks believe they have an NBA-ready prospect who could ease the burden on All-Star Steve Nash.
Or, if the big picture still has the "Big Diesel" in it, maybe take the burden completely away from Nash.
The Mavericks spent much of their post-draft analysis trying to convince everybody that a flurry of trades and behind-the-scenes action was not part of a long-term, line-the-ducks-up project designed to eventually get them the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal.
The first order of business was to prove that drafting the 6-3 Harris wasn't an ominous sign that Nash would be packaged in a deal later this summer for O'Neal.
"Steve Nash, along with Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki, is the heart and soul of the Mavericks," said Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations. "We're not kicking him to the side of the curb."
Nash's agent, Bill Duffy, was concerned about the Mavericks' maneuverings with regard to his client.
"It sounds like they're going in a different direction," Duffy said.
Nash is an unrestricted free agent. The Mavs have made it clear that re-signing him is paramount this summer. However, they also have made their desires public that they will try to get involved in the chase for O'Neal, who twice has demanded a trade from the Lakers.
Nash, the big contract of Antoine Walker, the usable contract of Christian Laettner and the young legs of Josh Howard could bring O'Neal to Dallas.
Harris actually was drafted by Washington, then the trade sending him and former Pistons Jerry Stackhouse and Laettner to the Mavs for Antawn Jamison was finalized. The Wizards had to make the pick because their 2005 draft pick already has been traded and teams cannot trade their first-round picks in consecutive years.
Nelson was coy about his options, saying, "There's a lot of smoke and mirrors this time of year." He talked about the Pistons' championship serving as the Mavericks' model. "That's our mind-set," he said. "Deep bench, team mentality, no superstars."
He didn't mention that Larry Brown asks his team to play 48 minutes of hellacious defense.
Of course, a big man in the middle like Shaq might help.
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