Player Watch: Stackhouse looking for better situation

Player Watch is NBA.com's weekly look at issues surrounding certain players, both on and off the court.

Jerry Stackhouse knows the score as well as anyone. He's 34, with 13 NBA years of NBA miles on his knees. He's a role player now.

The question is: What role?

The Mavericks have told Stackhouse he's not in the day-to-day plans, at least not on the court. His value on Rick Carlisle's team is one of veteran leadership. Young swingmen Gerald Green and Antoine Wright can learn from Stack's example.

Stackhouse doesn't mind. He's done the same with Josh Howard and others in the past.

"I do value talking with guys like Gerald," Stackhouse said, "but I can still contribute."

Stackhouse knows his NBA career is on the back end. He's not a 20-point scorer or All-Star anymore, but that doesn't mean he can't produce. He has come off the bench the last four years in Dallas and averaged 12.6 points over that span.

Though they're past their prime, players like Stackhouse can find jobs and remain valuable members of a rotation. Steve Smith did it in San Antonio late in his career. So did Dan Majerle in Miami.

Toronto, Atlanta and Philadelphia appear to be possible and logical fits for Stackhouse. Each is a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference with a need for a battle-tested backup shooting guard/small forward who can hit a 3.

"It's not like I'm asking to play 30 minutes a night," Stackhouse said. "Just 20 minutes a night, every night."

Stackhouse's agent, Jeff Schwartz, is overseas but has been in contact with Dallas general manager Donnie Nelson. Talks to put Stackhouse in another situation have progressed amicably so far, even if Mavs owner Mark Cuban has no intention of buying out his contract. Don't forget that teams can begin trading players signed this summer on Dec. 15.

Until something is worked out, Stackhouse will wait patiently. He's got at least $9 million coming from Dallas (this season and a partial guarantee next) and, overall, has enjoyed his four-plus seasons with the Mavs.

Stackhouse hasn't played in the last four games, which has been a blessing for his heel. He's dealt with plantar fasciitis since May, so the time off should help going forward.

The question is: With what team?

Maybe Spurs star guard Manu Ginobili wasn't quite ready to return. Playing a Monday morning game of H-O-R-S-E against Blake Ahearn, Ginobili lost to the just-signed NBA D-League point guard.

No offense, Blake.

Actually, those were about the only shots the Argentine missed on the first day of his NBA season. After missing the preseason and the first 12 games recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Ginobili returned to the hardwood in Memphis looking as spry as ever.

El Contusion sliced through the Grizzlies for 12 points in just 11 minutes. He missed just one of four field-goal attempts and one of six free throws. Ginobili hauled in four boards for good measure.

"I felt pretty good about it," Ginobili said. "I didn't rush it a lot. I took my time, found the open seam, made a couple of shots. I wasn't thinking about a great game on my first one, so I'm happy with what I did."

So is San Antonio. Oh yeah, the Spurs won 94-81 and own a winning record (7-6) for the first time this season.

Ginobili's return, about three weeks before initial projections, is a big step toward the Spurs being whole. Tony Parker (sprained left ankle) is ahead of schedule, but likely won't return until sometime next month.

Earlier this month, the agent for Portland's Sergio Rodriguez spoke up in the Spanish press. It seems Joe Ortiz (the agent) wasn't happy with the playing time being doled for the backup point guard by coach Nate McMillan.

Such outbursts rarely do much good and, in this case, Rodriguez wasn't all too happy with his agent speaking up. However, after Ortiz cleared the air with McMillan, and Rodriguez did the same, extra minutes have arrived.

"Things happen," Rodriguez told the Oregonian. "I am not happy at all, or sad at all, about it. That happened and I think it was a hard day for me, too. I want to say that. But after that, I am feeling better and I am playing more and the team is winning, and that's the most important thing."

Rodriguez is averaging twice as many minutes (almost 18) than before the hullabaloo. Though he's backing up Steve Blake, Rodriguez has also picked up some quality fourth-quarter minutes.

To be fair, McMillan pointed out that playing time for Rodriguez isn't a result of a talk with him or his agent. Simply, Rodriguez has earned the extra burn by playing better.