BIG TRADES
shawn n o i r a m rent e f if d ly t n a c ifi n be sig Marion is going to be traded again. His lack of a shooting touch and low post game is still bothering teams, but as long as he can jump, he may find a team
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o er v e Dallas is going t n is m is ic t le h at at h t d n a n io r a M with p to easy to match u
eam president Donnie Nelson has seen his priorities shift during his stay in Las Vegas. Nelson had hoped to watch more basketball, especially promising firstround pick and potential Kidd successor Roddy Beaubois. Nelson also wanted to check out the other teams here, and with mingle with fellow league executives, agents and coaches in the relaxed atmosphere of the stands. Instead, he’s spent most of the week holed up in his hotel burning up the phone lines while $5.8 million burns a hole in his pocket. “We’re good to go with what we have,” Nelson said, “but we’ll keep poking around.” Free agent Lamar Odom is on Dallas’ 22
radar, though team insiders believe he’s headed back to Los Angeles. The Lakers have hardly stood pat, swapping out promising Trevor Ariza for proven Ron Artest. The other contenders in the conference have taken a more low-key approach. After their trip to the West finals, the Nuggets seem content to let their roster ferment for another season with Chauncey Billups in the fold from Day 1. The Blazers have been busy courting Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap, and have neither to show for it. Retaining players is more of a priority than adding in places like New Orleans and Utah. “Denver had a great year and extended the Lakers,” Buford said. “Houston has had a tough summer athletically, but I think they’ve added some good pieces. Dallas is going to be significantly different with Marion and that athleticism is never easy to match up to.” Carlisle has already begun studying the personnel combinations for a roster that includes Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Kidd, Kidd and Marion. After winning a Playoff series for the first time in three years, the Mavs could be poised for a return into the West’s top four. “Right now it’s about who we surround Dirk with and who we put out there with TEAR DROP MAGAZINE
Kidd,” Carlisle said. “We have to make sure Kidd has enough weapons and we have to make sure Dirk has the right guys around him. “Marion is one of the really unique players of the last decade. He can do so many things defensively. He can do so many things offensively. He plays multiple positions. He runs, he rebounds and he’s just a terrific basketball player. For us it’s like putting methane in the gas tank. It juices up our team.” It took a change of heart in the Pacific Northwest for Marion to land in North Texas. Turkoglu’s decision to spurn Portland in favor of Toronto started the chain of events. “If Hedo doesn’t go to Toronto, we’re not looking at any opportunity to get Shawn,” Carlisle said. “We could have seen a situation where Portland adds an All-Star caliber guy at forward and Marion stays in the East. There are a lot of things that operate in a fragile way with respect to each other. “If you work hard enough, you fall into some breaks.” And maybe catch the Lakers. “They’re the best, but there are five or six other teams in the West that are just as good as each other,” Popovich said. “Evbody is trying to gear up for the Lakers, so I think it could be one of the best seasons ever. And we’ve had some good ones for the fans the last four or five years.There are so many good teams that I think i could be a great year for fans watching the NBA.”