“We know what’s going on out there,’’ Mavs president Donnie Nelson tells us. “If there is a way to get something like that done, we’ll probe it.’’

     From what we can gather, Dallas has done more than probe. NBA sources say Minnesota has been very clear in talks what they would require from the Mavs: A draft pick between No. 3 and No. 7 overall; a package of expiring contracts; and a future young star.

     And the Mavs, we’re told, have informed the T’Wolves that “we are not scared of the money part’’ and that “we are interested.’’

     Nelson would not confirm those details except to say, “A deal like this is unlikely because there are so many moving parts. It’s sexy to talk about. But that being said, we won 67 games. We were in the Finals last summer. We love our team.’’

     There’s no denying that the Mavs could stand pat and remain elite. At the same time, there is so much logic (and just enough whispers) to affirm that the necessary homework is being done. For instance, some details on what we’ve learned:

   * The Mavs believe they are shy in the “expiring contracts’’ department. Austin Croshere is a potential piece, as is Jerry Stackhouse. But Stack’s situation is complicated: The Mavs would prefer not to part with him. And, he’d have to agree to sign his way to a trade to Minnesota. We get strong indications that his agent would balk at that request.

     DallasBasketball.com's very clever David Lord tosses out a wildly creative notion: With Dallas still technically owning the rights to Keith Van Horn, can they "invent an expiring contract'' and throw him into the deal?

     * There are those in the organization that visualize the acquisition of superstar Garnett happening without sacrificing Dallas’ collection of young talent. But the overriding feeling is that “we’d be awfully stripped down,’’ as one staffer put it. “It’d be Dirk and KG and a bunch of supporting guys. We’d look like LA with Kobe and KG and a bunch of guys. We might have no (quality) 1’s or 2’s or 3’s. Does that really make us better?’’

     * From an X’s-and-O’s standpoint, the answer to that question seems to be, “Yes.’’ One NBA assistant tells us that “KG is like Dirk’’ in the sense that he can create for himself, so Avery Johnson’s desire for a premier and pure point guard would be lessened.

     * In theory, the Mavs would be forced to part with Josh Howard and Jason Terry (and maybe Devin Harris?) if involved in a three-way deal. Part of that package would go to a lottery team in order to get a premier pick, which would be shipped to Minnesota along with the rest of the talent. We are certain the Mavs have spoken with Boston at No. 5 – but we are also told as of very late Monday night that a deal with the Celtics is “unlikely.’’

     * Why? Probably because the No. 5 spot is too far down the draft to nab Florida’s Al Horford, who we have learned is the apple of the T’wolves’ eye – and the apple of the Mavs’ eye, too. Dallas sees him as the Brand/Boozer sort of power forward we’ve been clamoring for around here for years. And if a premier pick were acquired by the Mavs but then a deal with Minny not consummated, a young Brand/Boozer would be a terrific consolation prize for Dallas.

     * Horford, however, will not get past Atlanta at No. 3, the Mavs believe. Therefore, we assume Dallas is in conversation with the Hawks. Meanwhile, the Mavs think highly of Chinese 7-footer Yi Jianlian. (Who, by the way, is more known by Mavs aide Del Harris than by another other coach on the planet.) And they do not think highly (in terms of his being a top-five guy) of Florida’s Joakim Noah. (“His hustle makes him appear to be more talented than he is,’’ says one voice. “You’d love to have him. But he’s not a difference-maker.’’) So you might be able to laugh off the rumor of Jason Terry being swapped for Noah.

     * Put another way: As a Mavs staffer tells us, “We can’t just create a top-seven pick out of mid-air.’’ And in a related issue: Can Mavs rival Phoenix create something like this out of mid-air? Well, yeah. With two No. 1 picks this year and Atlanta’s No. 1 next year, the ammunition seems easier for the Suns to load up.

     * One more thing about draft order (and while it might not necessarily be Mavs-related, you still get to hear it here first: Sources with knowledge of the thoughts of a variety of NBA teams swear Yi won’t get past Milwaukee at No. 6. And if Don Nelson has his way, his Warriors make a leap from No. 18 and Nellie gets himself another unique foreign talent.

     * Without a doubt, the Mavs have expressed to Minnesota that they believe they can top LA’s offer of Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. “A flimsy offer,’’ one source scoffs. Dallas knows it is more likely it’ll have to pattern its proposal after the Boston-Minnesota deal that would’ve happened had KG not vetoed the swap: Garnett to the Celtics for young forward Al Jefferson, a lottery pick, and Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract. Dallas has enough talent to handle the Jefferson-like part. But how to get a lotto pick? How to add up to Ratliff numbers? How to throw in enough other pieces to satisfy what will certainly be Minnesota’s desire to dump into the deal overpaid players like Troy Hudson?

     “Mark this down,’’ says a source. “You want in on this, you’re going to be taking on some of Minnesota’s bad contracts.’’

     * Maybe that what the Mavs meant when they expressed to Minnesota that they don’t care about “the money part.’’ Or maybe it’s a message to not worry about waiting until after the draft to pull the trigger. On the surface, it would seem the Mavs should hope Minnesota waits until draft night and beyond to do anything because as time goes on, a commodity like Howard becomes a “base-year’’ player (after June 30) and therefore is more financially “filling’’ when it comes to trades. David Lord has pieced together a workable idea: Diop, Howard, Terry, Croshere and a No. 1 for KG and change. That can happen by mid-July.

     But our impression is that Mavs owner Mark Cuban is willing to examine the right deal NOW as well.

     * Using very round numbers here, understand that doing Howard-for-Garnett, one-for-one, leaves the Mavs about $17.5 shy of being legal. (J-Ho is worth $1.67 mil under the Dallas cap right now; after June 30 the number that Minny would count him for moves to $8.67 mil, but the Mavs can only take back $4.5 mil. See? It’s complicated.) Add JET, Erick Dampier and a pick and you get pretty close. Or try the Croshere/Van Horn idea as you search for whether Minny would rather have players like Terry and Damp or eventually cap room from "non-players'' Cro and KVH. ... Again. … lots of “moving parts.’’

     * As one team exec puts it, “By the time real offers hit the table, the asking price is going to be outrageous. That’s the No. 1 reason I think nothing will happen: Minnesota’s going to end up wanting too much.’’

     * Oh, and there’s this: One NBA staffer suggests to us that Minnesota isn’t enamored with the idea of getting Jason Terry. And apparently plenty of teams aren’t in love with the idea of acquiring Erick Dampier.

     * We hate to even acknowledge the Chicago Tribune’s KG-to-Dallas angle, but we must: No, Dallas is NOT talking about getting Garnett by dumping Dirk Nowitzki. Dopes.

     * It should be noted: The Mavs have no desire to lose Howard. And they still believe in Harris’ future. Terry, however, is clearly viewed as valued-but-expendable. One Mavs staffer says, “I think it’s a tough call. Jason’s a leader. He’s a chemistry guy. He’s important.’’ But, adds an NBA exec who has apparently been involved in phone conversations: “I think Avery will move him if he can.’’

     * Kevin Garnett’s money comes up often. He’s got a trade kicker in his contract (we believe it's $3 million) though that could conceivably be waived. Still, the Mavs have in their minds thought of having to budget about $25 million a year for him. A 12-year vet, KG is due to make $22 mil this season and $23 mil next season, the final year of his existing deal. Oh, and Dallas can expect to be asked to give him an extension, too.

     “Mark Cuban has never been scared of making the big move,’’ says one source.

     And they don’t get much bigger – or much more complicated, or much more sexy – than this.

Comments (4)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment