The Mavericks, sources said, parted with Dampier's $13 million non-guaranteed contract -- which Dallas has considered one of its most valuable trade chips -- because Charlotte was willing to re-acquire Carroll, who is due to earn $11.7 million over the next three seasons.
Dallas will now try to complete the signing of free-agent forward Al Harrington. The Mavericks, sources said, have extended an offer to Harrington starting at the full $5.8 million mid-level exception.
One source close to the situation said that the Bobcats will consider keeping Dampier for the short term, instead of waiving him immediately, in case another trade opportunity presents itself. Any team that has Dampier on its books can release him and instantly wipe $13 million off next season's payroll.
Sources said that Dallas, having determined that it would not be able to acquire any of its ambitious targets with the Dampier chip this summer, decided to make this trade to create as much financial flexibility as possible to keep pursuing a major trade score such as New Orleans' Chris Paul, whom the Mavericks have unsuccessfully chased for months.
Chandler actually fills two needs for Dallas, since he'll join Brendan Haywood in the Mavericks' center rotation and given that he will be playing on an expiring contract next season.
The Bobcats had agreed Monday to trade Chandler and Boris Diaw to Toronto for Jose Calderon and Reggie Evans as part of the Raptors' deal with Phoenix that will send Hedo Turkoglu to the Suns. But Charlotte, sources said, withdrew from the deal Monday night, partly because of a 10-percent trade bonus in Calderon's contract (which has nearly $30 million remaining over the next three seasons) and because coach Larry Brown was not in favor of the deal.
After losing out to Utah in the trade chase for Al Jefferson, Dallas immediately began pursuing Chandler. Marc Stein covers the NBA for ESPN.com.
We give up:
Alexis Ajinca (GREAT)
Tyson Chandler (GREAT)
We get in return:
Eric Dampier (GREAT if we don't waive him like some rumors have suggested)
Eduardo Najera (Doesn't make much sense since we have Tyrus Thomas, but I guess he'd be a solid backup)
Matt Carroll (STUPID because he's owed too much money and I'd rather have had Larry Hughes to be our backup SG than Carroll).
Completely forgot about Diaw. If we don't trade him for a PG then we're screwed.
I'm getting more pissed off about this deal by the second. Our centers are now Nazr and Diop if we waive Dampier (because his contract is not guaranteed). On top of that, we just added Najera and Dominic McGuire along with Diaw and Thomas and Derrick Brown which means we have 5 power forwards. At least 2 of those guys better be gone so we can get a PG. Unbe-freakin-lievable.
What the hell is going on? Looking at the stats for Dampier, Najera and Carroll, anyone with a brain would ask why we're taking these guys. Well, maybe there's a plan afloat....................
How about we bring back Kevin Burleson and Derek Anderson while we're at it.
The latest from Bonnell:
Quote:
If this is happening, it hasn't reached the point where all the players have been informed. Just got off the phone with Matt Carroll, who said the Mavericks haven't called him or his agent yet.
By the way, Matt said he'd be thrilled to come back to the Bobcats. The Carrolls still own a home here from his first stay as a Bobcat, though the house is rented right now.
"If it's true, I'm excited,'' said Carroll, who hasn't played much in Dallas.
Wait, wut is going on? Why are the Cats giving up the better player in return for longer contracts? As much as I love to see MC Hammer returning.......
$13 million instant savings if Dampier is released, why not?
Because if we do that, then our frontline is dangerously thin, and we have to pay matt carroll 11 mil over the next 3 seasons, and we have no use for najera at all. I don't get it, unless we are clearing space to go after someone...
Because if we do that, then our frontline is dangerously thin, and we have to pay matt carroll 11 mil over the next 3 seasons, and we have no use for najera at all. I don't get it, unless we are clearing space to go after someone...
One of the comments from the Observer story:
Quote:
I am convinced that Chris Paul will be a Bobcat in the next week or two. He will instantly make the 'Cats a contender. Larry Brown will turn him into a perennial MVP and the 'Cats will finally compete with Orlando and now Miami. BUT...what to do with Oak's contract who will be attached to any Paul deal. I say take Oak's contract and Diop's and ship it Washington for Arenas and McGee. Washington wants to start the "John Wall years" and needs frontcourt help. They also are willing to take on Diop's contract to get rid of Arenas. Then, Arenas will be the sixth man of the year. I know its crazy to pay a bench player $20mil a year but if it yields us Paul and rids us of Diop, I'd do it!
Tyson Chandler traded to the Mavs
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