Training Camp Practice Report: Day 6

Earl K. Sneed reports from Day 6 of the Mavericks' training camp on Wednesday, where the team reconvened after Media Day and practiced with newcomers Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West for the first time.

DALLAS -- And then there were 14.

Just hours after introducing themselves to reporters on Media Day, the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks received yet another facelift through the form of a trade on Tuesday. Leaving the defending champs and headed to the Denver Nuggets were swingmen Corey Brewer and Rudy Fernandez in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick that originally belonged to Memphis, trimming the roster from 15 faces to 13.

That number would later jump to 14 on Wednesday with the signing of camp invitee Jerome Randle, a 5-foot-10 former standout at California that went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft before competing with the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards in NBA Summer League play. The Mavs now once again sit with one roster spot left to fill.

The 6-foot-6 Fernandez never saw action for the defending champs and hadn't arrived in Dallas after he was acquired from Portland in a three-way trade this past June on Draft Night, slowed in his efforts to return stateside from his native Spain by visa issues. But the Mavericks will have to make up for the loss of Brewer, who at 6-9, 188 pounds was believed to have been a young piece to build around after signing mid-season as a free agent following a trade to New York from Minnesota and subsequent buyout.

Brewer averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 rebounds for the eventual champs in 13 regular-season games, making two starts in the process before providing a spark in the Mavs' second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in limited minutes.

"Man, the NBA is a business," Brewer posted on his Twitter page Tuesday night. "I'll miss you Dallas, but can't wait to get to Denver! Thanks, Mavs fans. Y'all are great."

Meanwhile, seemingly simultaneously, the Mavs announced the free-agent signing of guard Delonte West, who is expected to assume the backup point guard responsibilities vacant by the departure of J.J. Barea to Minnesota. At 6-3, 180 pounds, the seven-year veteran has fit in on multiple championship contending teams, averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 388 career games (225 starts) while suiting up in Boston, Seattle and Cleveland.

"Just sitting back and watching the playoffs last year and watching what [Barea] brought to this team, it was so unexpected for him to do that that late in a playoff series," West explained. "For a little guy, those are some big shoes to fill. But [Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle's] style of play, with the ball handlers that we have and my ability to play off the ball also, you just go out there and be a basketball player, and that's actually what I am. I'm not a point or a two. I can do either one fairly decent, but at the end of the day I'm a better basketball player and I think I'll thrive in Coach Carlisle's system."

Unlike West, fellow newcomers Lamar Odom and Vince Carter dawned the Mavericks' navy and royal blues for the first time for a photo-op on Tuesday. After advancing to the NBA Finals three consecutive years and coming away with back-to-back titles, Odom appeared to be the odd man out following the Lakers' second-round series sweep at the hands of the Mavericks in last season's playoff run. That seemed to suit Odom just fine, however, by Tuesday after receiving word that his name was no longer in trade talks with New Orleans before also receiving notice he was on his way to Big D.

"This is the place that I wanted to be after I realized that I wasn't gonna be a Laker anymore," Odom admitted.

He added: "Obviously, this is a great place to play. And it seems like the guys have a lot of pride playing for [Mavericks owner Mark Cuban]."

Meanwhile, Carter began to make himself at home as well, reuniting with college teammate Brendan Haywood in addition to point guard Jason Kidd and assistant coach Darrell Armstrong from their days in New Jersey together. Carter, who split time with Orlando and Phoenix last season, averaging 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his 73 total appearances, is expected to contend for the starting shooting guard spot after signing as a free agent following a buyout from the Suns.

"It's gonna be a learning experience for me. ... These guys have actually accomplished the goal that I want to accomplish," explained the career 22-point scorer.

"I feel confident in who we are and who we have here," he added. "I think we all respect each others’ game. And when it's time to go to work it's time to go to work."

West joined Odom and Carter, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year and an eight-time All-Star, on Wednesday in Dallas for their first practice with their new squad, which was minus Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki after he left early due to an illness. The trio of new faces will have to learn on the fly with a condensed two-game preseason series against the Oklahoma City Thunder serving as the only precursor for the upcoming 66-game season. And with little time to waste, Carlisle says each practice -- including the team's nightly scrimmages in a two-a-day format that will continue Wednesday night -- will serve as a crash course for Odom, Carter and West to learn their new offensive and defensive systems.

"Delonte, Vince and Lamar, they've got some things to catch up on, but they'll get there," Carlisle said. "We've got practices set up so that the next day and half they should be caught up on everything that we're doing. ... We should be OK. We're keeping things pretty simple at this point and we're keying in on the fundamentals and getting in shape. From there, I think by the time that tomorrow night rolls around, we'll be where we need to be and then we've got basically another eight or nine days until the first game, so we'll be OK. It's a bit of a scramble, but we'll be OK."

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Rivalry Pack: Aside from being a season ticket holder, the only way for Mavs fans to attend the home opener against the Miami Heat or either of the two Los Angeles Lakers games is through the Rivalry Pack. Tickets to the Dec. 25 game vs. the Miami Heat and the Feb.22 and March 21 games vs. the Los Angeles Lakers can be purchased as part of a three-game package that includes one (1) of the three premium games and two (2) additional regular season games.

RPL Nights: RPL Nights return for the sixth season and will feature special discounted tickets for 10 pre-selected games. Tickets normally priced $9 will be $2, $15 will be $10, $31 will be $20 and $42 will be $32.

Tickets to the Mavs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder preseason game will also be available for purchase Saturday.

The Mavericks open up regular season play Dec. 25 vs. the Miami Heat (1:30 p.m.), with the regular season finale is set for April 20 vs. the Golden State (7:30 p.m.).