Reports: Mavs nab Kaman, Collison, Jones in Wednesday's wheelings and dealings
Earl K. Sneed breaks down the reports that the Dallas Mavericks have added a trio of veterans in Wednesday's moves.
Reports: Mavs nab Kaman, Collison, Jones in Wednesday's wheelings and dealings
DALLAS -- If reports are true, then Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and the front office have shown yet again that they have a few tricks up there sleeves.
After missing out in their free-agency pursuit of a second superstar to pair with 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs spent Wednesday wheeling and dealing to add talent to a roster that seemed depleted after the departures of point guard Jason Kidd and sixth man Jason Terry.
Not so fast, my friend.
With a simple tweet -- or two or three -- free-agent center Chris Kaman confirmed reports that he would be joining forces with his German National Team compatriot, Nowitzki, to bolster the Dallas frontline.
After spending his first eight seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and making his lone All-Star appearance in 2010, Kaman averaged 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 47 appearances with the New Orleans Hornets last season. For his career, Kaman has averaged 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds.
But the Mavs weren’t done making headlines, reportedly working a sign-and-trade deal with Indiana and sending free-agent big man Ian Mahinmi to the Pacers in exchange for point guard Darren Collison and shooting guard Dahntay Jones, a nine-year veteran defensive specialist and 6-foot-6 swingman.
The Mavericks were familiar with Collison from his days in New Orleans during the ‘09-10 campaign, when he stepped in for an injured Chris Paul and averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists while starting 37 of his 76 games.
He was then dealt to the Pacers, averaging 10.4 points and 4.8 assists last season before losing the starting lead guard job to George Hill after suffering a late-season groin injury.
With Kidd gone and All-Star point guard Deron Williams shunning the Mavs to stay with the Brooklyn Nets during free agency, Collison is expected to assume the starting point guard duties for the former champs.
Neither transaction has been announced as official by the team and the terms of the deals will not be disclosed. And with plenty of financial flexibility still left for Cuban to toy with, either now or next summer in free agency, you can bet that the Mavericks aren’t done making moves just yet.
