You do not have the correct version of the Flash Player Plugin. Click here to get it.
The Southwest Division team site writers are sharing their thoughts about their respective team’s offseason activities. This three-part series begins with the Major Moves made by the Mavericks, Grizzlies, Rockets, Hornets and Spurs. The next two pieces will focus on Summer League performances and outlooks for the upcoming season.
The
biggest change happened at the top, with Avery Johnson let go
less than two years removed from the NBA Finals and replaced by
Rick Carlisle. The former Detroit and Indiana coach returns to
the sidelines after a year away determined to restore the
Mavericks to relevancy in the rugged Western Conference.
Carlisle said this team will be built around Dirk Nowitzki and
Jason Kidd, becoming an up-tempo squad that remains stout
defensively.
The signing of athletic swingman Gerald Green and return of center Gana Diop headlined a relatively quiet run through free agency. Green, a high-flyer with long-distance range, is on his fourth team in a year. The 22-year-old was out of the league after being released by Houston despite averaging more than 10 points in 2006-07 with Boston. The thought of Green soaring to the rim on the break to take a Kidd lob is one that has Mavs fans salivating, but the former first-round pick needs to prove he’s more steak than sizzle.
Diop, part of the blockbuster Kidd trade to New Jersey, was the Mavs’ top target in free agency. During his first stint in Dallas, he split time with Erick Dampier. He’s carved out a niche defensively as a good shot-blocker and solid defender, but he’s struggled to develop a scoring touch in the paint. Pairing him with Dampier once again should be a competent center rotation.
The Mavs drafted Vanderbilt sharpshooter Shan Foster in the second round, but the SEC Player of the Year is headed to Europe next season. Dallas also signed former Clippers forward James Singleton, and resigned popular point guard backup J.J. Barea and swingman Antoine Wright.
The
2008 NBA Draft was a very eventful night for the Memphis
Grizzlies. With two selections in the draft, the Grizzlies chose
former UCLA center Kevin Love with the fifth overall pick and
Syracuse product Donté Greene with the 28th selection.
The Grizzlies then made the biggest trade of the night by sending new acquisition Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the third overall pick, University of Southern California standout O.J. Mayo, along with veterans Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner.
To complement that trade, Memphis also sent their other draft selection Donté Greene and a 2009 second round pick to the Houston Rockets for former Kansas Jayhawks star Darrell Arthur.
While the Grizzlies made a big splash in draft night trades, they have been a little quieter in the free agent market. They did sign Pau Gasol’s little brother Marc, an MVP from the Spanish ACB league, to add size down low. With Memphis currently under the 13-man roster minimum, the Grizzlies will add at least one more player before the season starts.
Also, to help the coaching staff, the Grizzlies hired Assistant Coach Kevin O’Neill to help strengthen the defense.
Obviously,
this category can best be summed up with one name: Ron Artest.
His addition to the team addresses nearly every need the Rockets
had entering this offseason. First and foremost, he instantly
becomes the third scorer Houston fans have been craving for the
better part of a decade; thereby relieving Rafer Alston (and his
.394 shooting percentage) of that responsibility. Factor in his
toughness, versatility and defensive prowess, and it’s easy to
see why giddy Rockets fans are going to sleep these days with
visions of banners and parades dancing around their heads.
Of course, one can’t discuss Artest anymore without uttering the word “caveat.” It might as well be his middle name at this point. His well-publicized bouts of boorish behavior and questionable decision-making have burned many a bridge throughout the course of his tempestuous career, and no doubt plenty of people expect Houston to be added to that list by the time all is said and done. But here’s the thing: The Rockets gave up very little to acquire Artest and, if he does go off the deep end again, they’re only on the hook for this season. Throw in the fact that Houston’s window to win with Yao and McGrady is right now and it’s clear that this was a gamble the Rockets absolutely had to make.
Artest aside, it’s important not to overlook the addition of free agent Brent Barry. Sure, the 36 year old guard is a bit long in the tooth, but his outside shooting stroke and championship experience should prove invaluable to a team with a desperate need for both.
The
headline-grabbing acquisition of the summer was the July 23
free-agent signing of two-time NBA champion James Posey, an
ideal addition to a team that has lacked consistency from its
bench. Posey’s versatility improves the Hornets’ depth and gives
New Orleans another reliable perimeter shooter, along with an
excellent defender. The nine-year veteran helped slow the likes
of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant during the 2008 playoffs. “If
you talked to people in Boston, they would tell you that it
should have been called the Big Four (instead of the Big
Three),” says Yahoo! Sports NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski,
referring to Posey’s underrated importance to the Celtics’
championship run.
On the first day moves could be made official, All-Star point guard and MVP runner-up Chris Paul signed a long-term contract extension. The agreement means that the Hornets’ entire starting lineup of Paul, Morris Peterson, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic and David West is now under contract through at least 2010-11.
In other free-agent news, key reserve guard Jannero Pargo signed in Russia. He has signed with New Orleans late in the summer each of the past two years. Ryan Bowen, an energizer off the bench, was re-signed Aug. 11. Meanwhile, Chris Andersen, who appeared in six games in 2007-08, left New Orleans as a free agent to return to Denver, where he began his NBA career. Draft night was uneventful for New Orleans, after GM Jeff Bower opted to trade the No. 27 overall pick to Portland. However, that move helped free up the cash and cap room to sign Posey.
The
Spurs were easily the NBA’s oldest team, and arguably its least
athletic, last season. This summer was supposed to bring some
change. The Spurs managed to add younger players, but Roger
Mason Jr. (29), Ian Mahinmi (21), George Hill (22) and Anthony
Tolliver (23) were not the additions Spurs fans hoped for.
Like usual, the Spurs were somewhat of a mystery headed into the draft. They were heavily rumored to select Nicolas Batum or perhaps trade out of the first round. Instead they selected Hill, an undersized shooting guard from IUPUI, who they plan to use as a point guard.
Then the Spurs teased their fans by nearly signing shooting guard Corey Maggette, who would have provided that infusion of youth and athleticism desired. Maggette decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors for more money. The Spurs settled on Mason, a player they nearly signed last summer. Mason, a career 37.4 percent shooter on threes, is known for his team-first attitude and hard work, suggesting he will fit in nicely as a combo guard off the bench.
San Antonio also signed Tolliver, a 6-8 sharpshooter who fills a similar role to Matt Bonner. Mahinmi, the Spurs’ 2005 first-round pick, will also join the team after spending most of last season in the D-League with the Austin Toros, where he averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds.
The Spurs said goodbye to Robert Horry, who has yet to sign elsewhere, and Brent Barry, who signed with the Houston Rockets. Michael Finley, however, signed a one-year deal to return to San Antonio. Kurt Thomas was also reacquired.