Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 35 – NBA Blog

Uncertain future for Monta Ellis in Dallas

Uncertain future for Monta Ellis in Dallas

Here’s the Dallas Morning News with some insight on the Mavericks, who face many difficult decisions, many of which hinge on what Monta Ellis decides to do:

Monta Ellis has a decision to make. Most people think they know what he’s going to do, but until he makes it official, the Mavericks are forced to have two plans of attack ready to implement.

It boils down to whether Ellis opts out of the final season of his contract.

If Ellis does, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team in the league, presumably whoever is the highest bidder.

That likely would not be the Mavericks.

If Ellis doesn’t opt out, he will play the final year of his contract with the Mavericks, making about $9 million in the 2015-16 season.

The smart money is on Ellis opting out of his contract.

Dick Motta honored with Chuck Daly Award

Dick Motta honored with Chuck Daly Award

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on a solid coaching honor for a name long-time NBA fans will recognize:

Congratulations to the original Dallas Mavericks’ coach, Dick Motta, for winning the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015.

The honor, presented by the National Basketball Coaches Association, is given annually to honor the memory of Hall of Famer Chuck Daly, who throughout his NBA coaching career embodied the standards of high integrity, competitive excellence and tireless promotion of the league.

“Dick Motta was a true NBA coaching pioneer who brought to the game a great basketball mind, with a competitive toughness,” said Mavericks’ coach Rick Carlisle, who is president of the NBCA.

No Dirk Nowitzki retirement plans yet

No Dirk Nowitzki retirement plans yet

Here’s SportsDayDFW.com reporting what aging Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki recently said on KTCK-AM 1310:

On possibly retiring this offseason:

Dirk Nowitzki: “No. I definitely want to fulfill my contract. I signed on for three years last summer and I’m not going to retire after the first year. If I commit to something, I commit to it fully. I’ve got two more years and hopefully make it count, make it good ones. Hopefully deep playoff runs, that’s what we wanted this year. We wanted homecourt advantage to set us up for a nice little run, we just weren’t consistent enough to really get there, so, we’ll see how the next few years play out.”

Chandler Parsons undergoes knee surgery

Chandler Parsons undergoes knee surgery

The Dallas Mavericks have announced that forward Chandler Parsons underwent arthroscopic surgery today to address a cartilage injury to his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. T.O. Souryal at Texas Sports Medicine. A timetable for his return to basketball activities will be determined in the future.

Parsons (6-10, 230) played in 66 games (all starts) in his first season with the Mavericks and averaged of 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 33.1 minutes per game.

Chandler Parsons plans to actively recruit talent for Mavs

Chandler Parsons plans to actively recruit talent for Mavs

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on injured small forward Chandler Parsons, who aside from focusing on regaining health plans to do his part as a talent recruiter this offseason:

Parsons is willing work for getting those good players around him. He plans to spend the summer recruiting free agents to play for the Mavericks.

“I’m officially shifting into GM mode,” he said. “I have great relationships with a lot of guys that are out there. I have a great relationship with a lot of guys that are currently on our team, so as a guy that will be here for a while and as one of the key guys going forward I will definitely be talking to management. Anything I can do to help I’ll obviously do.”

Parsons said he hasn’t talked to management about who to target yet – the season ended yesterday – but that it was a “known thing” that he’d like be in on the recruiting pitches this offseason. He’ll be taking over for Dirk Nowitzki as the lead player recruiter. For his part, Nowitzki is fine with it.

“He’s great at that,” Nowitzki said.

Mavs players decline to share playoff money with Rondo

Mavs players decline to share playoff money with Rondo

If Rajon Rondo wasn’t going to share his heart or talent with the Dallas Mavericks, the Mavs players apparently didn’t want to share their playoff bonus with him. Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting:

During their exit interview with the media Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks players made all of the politically correct comments when asked about wayward point guard Rajon Rondo.

But when it came time for the 14 players to vote on whether or not to give Rondo a share of the pool of money they earned for qualifying for the playoffs, the Mavs players voted not to give him a share, according to multiple sources.

For participating in the first round of the playoffs, the Mavs earned a total of $208,940. Shared equally among the other 14 players, that’s an estimated $14,924 per player.

Tyson Chandler denies throwing a punch at Dwight Howard

Tyson Chandler denies throwing a punch at Dwight Howard

Here’s the Houston Chronicle clearing up something you may have heard about but probably didn’t because it didn’t actually happen. Not the Chronicle’s fault. They’re simply clarifying what’s up. Here is the report:

Dallas center Tyson Chandler said he had no idea there were rumors that he might face suspension for an altercation between he and Rockets center Dwight Howard in Game 4 on Sunday.

On Monday, a video of a play where Chandler and Howard were tangled up and both called for technical fouls floated around social media. In some angles, it looked like Chandler might have thrown a punch, which according to NBA rules would have left him with a one-game suspension.

Chandler said he hadn’t heard any of that speculation until shoot around before Game 5 on Tuesday.

“That is the first time I heard that,” Chandler said. “I didn’t throw any punches. I wouldn’t throw a punch at Dwight.”

Mavs hoping to avoid sweep by Rockets

Mavs hoping to avoid sweep from Rockets

The Houston Rockets lead the banged-up, short-handed Dallas Mavericks 3-0 in their first round playoff series. Here’s ESPN Dallas reporting:

All that’s left for the Dallas Mavericks is to play as hard as they can Sunday night to avoid getting swept in their first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

It’s doubtful effort alone will be enough to derail the inevitable.

None of the 110 NBA teams that have previously trailed three games to none in a best-of-seven series has ever rallied to win the series — and the Mavs aren’t going to be the first.

They simply don’t have enough healthy players or talent to beat these Rockets, who won 56 games and finished second in the Western Conference.

Injuries are never an excuse for losing, and the Mavericks certainly aren’t making excuses, but there comes a time when a team suffers so many injuries that it becomes compromised.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle fined for public criticism of officiating

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle fined for public criticism of officiating

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Carlisle made his comments following the Mavericks’ 130-128 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday, April 24, at American Airlines Center.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “I’m sure they’ll put the money to good use, I’m very confident of that,’’ Carlisle said after Saturday’s practice. “I accept the fine. “I have strong feelings about how I feel about my team and I’m going to fight for my team, and that’s just the way it’s going to be. I’m a lot like my owner — I’m going to fight for my guys.’’”

Dirk Nowitzki claims to not know what happened with Rajon Rondo

Dirk Nowitzki claims to not know what happened with Rajon Rondo

Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo doesn’t appear to be a Mavericks point guard anymore. Now he’s a guy that used to play for them, is still signed to the team, but allegedly has a back injury, and also seems grumpy quite often, and now is hanging out someplace else. How’s that for a pinpoint summary? Anyway, here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting:

Dirk Nowitzki has no idea what happened with Rajon Rondo

The face of the Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki – said he’s not been informed on why exactly point guard Rajon Rondo is no longer slated to play any more basketball games with this franchise.

“I wasn’t there if (owner Mark) Cuban or them talked to him,’’ Nowitzki said after Friday morning’s shootaround at American Airlines Center. “I wasn’t there, so I think that it’s something I don’t or can’t comment on.

“Maybe later on I’ll get enlighten more and I’ll be in the loop. But as of now I’m focusing on who’s here and we’ve got an important game tonight in front of our home crowd, and that’s how I look at it.’’

On Wednesday, coach Rick Carlisle said Rondo sustained a back injury early in the first quarter of Tuesday game against the Houston Rockets. But after the game – when Rondo was benched after playing 10 listless minutes – Carlisle said he didn’t put Rondo back in the game because of the effectiveness of J. J. Barea and Raymond Felton.