Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 65 – NBA Blog

Dallas Mavericks still look good

The Mavericks will go into next season with a pretty good team. No, not a championship-contending team, but at least a club that will compete for the playoffs and should make the playoffs because Rick Carlisle is a good coach.

Plus, the quick overhaul is not just about now. There are possibilities for the future with a rebuilt backcourt of guards O.J Mayo and Darren Collison. Granted, they are both here because they were out of favor elsewhere, but if there is talent involved, there’s hope for a career jump start.

The new center is Chris Kaman. He can score. He’s OK if he stays healthy.

Kaman may not be long range, but he’s a good pickup for now.

And then veteran Elton Brand is the new front-line swingman, and is a do-it-all welcome for any club, plus has the “great guy” reputation.

Add that to Dirk and Marion, then add the re-signing of Delonte West (a personal favorite) for the backcourt, and I’ve got to admit the quick remake of the roster went far beyond where I thought it would go.

— Reported by Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

A look at the Dallas Mavericks rotation

So let’s begin this exercise with the known, or at least what we suspect to be the known: The five starters will be Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman. There was some early politically correct whispering within the organization that Beaubois would compete with Collison for the starting job, but that is more likely wishful thinking. President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson has said Collison is “penciled” in as the starter.

Those figuring to have clearly defined backup roles include: Delonte West, Elton Brand and Vince Carter.

Those figuring to have less defined backup roles include: Dahntay Jones, Rodrigue Beaubois and Brandan Wright.

— Reported by Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas

Mavs say Dirk Nowitzki is not married yet

If you’ve poked around on the internet, you’ve probably seen the pictures of Dirk Nowitzki in traditional Kenyan clothing and partying at some sort of ceremony in Africa with his fiance, Jessica Olsson.

His lady’s mother is from Kenya and her father from Sweden. The pictures that made it to cyberspace were accompanied with various stories and quotes attributed to Nowitzki. The stories suggested that it was a marriage ceremony. Nowitzki didn’t specify that, however.

So we went to the Mavericks to figure out what’s what. And spokesfolks from the team are adamant that Nowitzki remains single, for the moment. There are wedding plans, but they haven’t taken place yet.

— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News (Blog)

Dallas Mavericks re-sign Delonte West

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have re-signed free agent guard Delonte West.

West (6-3, 180) was originally signed by the Mavericks as a free agent on Dec. 13, 2011. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 24.1 minutes in 44 games (33 starts) last season despite suffering a fractured and dislocated right ring finger on Feb. 15 against the Denver Nuggets. The injury forced West out of 21 games, but he returned to start the final 13 games of the regular season.

“We are thrilled that Delonte is returning to the Mavericks,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “Delonte is a great fit on our roster. We are excited that he will bring the same toughness and versatility on both ends of the court as he did last year.”

Originally the first round draft pick (24th overall) of the Boston Celtics in the 2004 NBA Draft, West is an eight-year veteran who owns career averages of 9.7 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 432 games (258 starts) for Boston, Seattle, Cleveland and Dallas.

The Washington D.C., native attended St. Joseph’s University where, as a junior, he teamed with Jameer Nelson to lead his school to an undefeated 27-0 regular season and an Elite Eight appearance. He was named Honorable Mention All-America by Associated Press and All-Atlantic 10 First Team.

Mavs sign second round pick Bernard James

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed second round draft choice Bernard James.

James (6-10, 240) was the 33rd overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was acquired by the Mavericks on June 28, 2012, along with the draft rights to 24th overall pick Jared Cunningham and 34th overall pick Jae Crowder, in exchange for guard Kelenna Azubuike and the draft rights to the 17th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Tyler Zeller.

The Savannah, Ga., native started all five games for Dallas at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He averaged 10.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.4 steals and 26.1 minutes while shooting .605 from the field and helped the team to a 4-1 record.

James is a former Staff Sergeant who served six years in the Air Force including three tours to Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar. In his senior season at Florida State, James averaged 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while being named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Defensive team. James also won the Most Courageous Award by the United States Basketball Writers of America.

Lakers interested in Delonte West

The Los Angeles Lakers have expressed interest in free-agent guard Delonte West, according to a league source.

West, who turns 29 this week, averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks last season. He appeared in just 44 games because of a fractured right ring finger and picked up one of the more bizarre fines in league history when he was docked $25,000 for giving Utah’s Gordon Hayward a “wet willy.”

West shot 46.1 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent on 3-pointers, and the Lakers view him as a versatile player who could back up both Kobe Bryant at shooting guard and Steve Nash at point guard while bringing his outside touch to a team that ranked 25th in the NBA in 3-point accuracy last year (32.6 percent).

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles

Mavs sign first round pick Jared Cunningham

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed first round draft pick Jared Cunningham.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract. So, this signing is standard and was expected.

Cunningham (6-4, 194) was the 24th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was acquired by the Mavericks on June 28, 2012, along with the draft rights to the 33rd overall pick Bernard James and 34th overall pick Jae Crowder, in exchange for guard Kelenna Azubuike and the draft rights to the 17th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Tyler Zeller.

The San Leandro, Calif. native is a member of the Mavericks Summer League Team in Las Vegas, but due to a strained hamstring he has not been able to play.

Cunningham (6-4, 194) finished his three-year career at Oregon State ranked 13th in career scoring (1,271 points), second in steals (219) and third in free throws made (427). He was named First Team All-Pac 12 as a junior when he averaged 17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Mavericks sign second round pick Jae Crowder

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed second round draft choice Jae Crowder.

Crowder (6-6, 235) was the 34th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was acquired by the Mavericks on June 28, 2012, along with the draft rights to 24th overall pick Jared Cunningham and 33rd overall pick Bernard James, in exchange for guard Kelenna Azubuike and the draft rights to the 17th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Tyler Zeller.

The Villa Rica, Ga., native is currently playing for Dallas at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He is averaging 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 32.3 minutes while starting his first three games.

Crowder is a four-year player who finished his career at Marquette after transferring from Howard College where he was NJCAA Player of the Year. In his senior year at Marquette, he was named Big East Player of the Year when he averaged 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Dallas Mavericks sign O.J. Mayo

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent guard O.J. Mayo.

Mayo (6-4, 210) was the first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mayo’s draft rights were later involved in a draft day trade that sent him, along with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Brian Cardinal, Mike Miller, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love.

The Huntington, W.Va., native has played in 301 career games (181 starts) with Memphis. He holds career averages of 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.8 minutes per game. Mayo has also proven to be durable playing in 301 of a possible 312 games throughout his four-year career.

Mayo was named NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009 and runner-up to Derrick Rose for the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 18.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 38.0 minutes in 82 games (82 starts).

“We are thrilled to make O.J. Mayo a part of the Mavericks family,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “O.J. is a young, dynamic player with tremendous upside. His ability to play both backcourt positions will give us depth and versatility. We are excited and welcome him to Dallas.”

Boston Celtics sign Jason Terry

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guard Jason Terry. According to multiple reports, the deal is for three years, $15 million.

“Jason is one of the best sixth men in the NBA and his versatility in the backcourt is a great addition to our roster,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Terry, a 6’2” guard, was the NBA’s 2009 Sixth Man of the Year and also was a member of the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks. Last season in Dallas, he averaged 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 37.8% from three-point territory. Terry has made the fourth most three-point shots in NBA history with 1,788 trailing only Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Jason Kidd.

“The Celtics have such a great tradition of winning and it was something that drew me to the team right away,” said Terry. “I look forward to getting out onto the court and helping this team in its pursuit of another banner.”

The former Arizona Wildcat finished second in the NBA last season with 138 made three-pointers and was third in the NBA in three-point field goal attempts (365). Terry has also been one of the most durable players in the NBA in recent memory playing in 1,022 of a possible 1,050 regular season games during his 13 year career. Terry has averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 38.0% from three in his career.