Dallas Mavericks updates

[SVite]

Josh Howard's contract situation is not expected to be dealt with before the October 31 deadline.

He will play this season and then is expected to become a restricted free agent in the summer, but Dallas will probably lock him up long-term at that time.

[SVite]

Dallas has exercised its team option for the fourth year on Devin Harris' contract.

Smart move as it looks like Harris will take the Mavs' SG position and run with it, assuming he can beef up his outside presence.

[lonny23]

Josh Howard's contract situation is not expected to be dealt with before the October 31 deadline.

He will play this season and then is expected to become a restricted free agent in the summer, but Dallas will probably lock him up long-term at that time.
Josh thinks it's the Mavs fault. I don't know how much he wants or what they're offering.

[lonny23]

Dallas has exercised its team option for the fourth year on Devin Harris' contract.

Smart move as it looks like Harris will take the Mavs' SG position and run with it, assuming he can beef up his outside presence.Good move since they'll have to start paying him better in year 5.

[SVite]

Jerry Stackhouse sat out of Sunday's scrimmage to rest his sore knee.

His knees look to be an issue all year long.

[farmerfan]

here's an update. the mavs finally left my rec center at UNT and i can go work out in peace again. they used the basketball courts up here all last week and everyone and their damn dog decided to venture up to the rec center for social hour. dumb dumbs actually thought they were going to get autographs.
I am glad they finally left.

[svhorns]

I like how the Mavs are leaning more towards a team concept now... not as many superstars... more team players...

[gtown04]

here's an update. the mavs finally left my rec center at UNT and i can go work out in peace again. they used the basketball courts up here all last week and everyone and their damn dog decided to venture up to the rec center for social hour. dumb dumbs actually thought they were going to get autographs.
I am glad they finally left.

No kidding Farmer, that was getting a little annoying lol.

[lonny23]

I like how the Mavs are leaning more towards a team concept now... not as many superstars... more team players...
Getting the team together was part of the reason they held camp in Denton.

[lonny23]

here's an update. the mavs finally left my rec center at UNT and i can go work out in peace again. they used the basketball courts up here all last week and everyone and their damn dog decided to venture up to the rec center for social hour. dumb dumbs actually thought they were going to get autographs.
I am glad they finally left.
I wish I could've come up there to watch training camp last week.

[farmerfan]

I wish I could've come up there to watch training camp last week.

The funny thing is practices were closed to the public. But the dumbasses up here at UNT thought they could sneak a peak. They had all the courts curtained off and you couldnt see a thing. It was stupid. I know UNT wants the publicity but it does us no good. I pay to use that rec center every semester in my tuition and I expect to get my value out of it and last week I felt slighted.

[GTown02]

The funny thing is practices were closed to the public. But the dumbasses up here at UNT thought they could sneak a peak. They had all the courts curtained off and you couldnt see a thing. It was stupid. I know UNT wants the publicity but it does us no good. I pay to use that rec center every semester in my tuition and I expect to get my value out of it and last week I felt slighted.
Just use it twice as much this week to make up the difference! :p

[farmerfan]

Just use it twice as much this week to make up the difference! :p

good point. if I wasnt leaving for Georgia wed then I would. Maybe next week

[lonny23]

The funny thing is practices were closed to the public. But the dumbasses up here at UNT thought they could sneak a peak. They had all the courts curtained off and you couldnt see a thing. It was stupid. I know UNT wants the publicity but it does us no good. I pay to use that rec center every semester in my tuition and I expect to get my value out of it and last week I felt slighted.
The public could see the first day from what I read. They had a scrimmage on Friday.

[SVite]

Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse will all sit out tonight's preseason opener against the Hornets.

Dirk is being handled with kid gloves after playing in the world championships, Terry is nursing sore knees and ankles, and Stackhouse is going light on his knee in an effort to miss less time than he did last season. None of their injuries are considered serious.

[SVite]

Devin Harris didn't make the trip for Tuesday's preseason game due to an undisclosed injury.

He's expected to battle with Anthony Johnson for the starting PG job, but couldn't go tonight. Dirk Nowitzki, Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Terry also didn't make the trip with various injuries.

[SVite]

Point Guard Devin Harris will be sidelined 7-10 days with a hamstring injury.

He's hoping to return for the last preseason game or two, but the missed time and the fact that these injuries can linger could allow Anthony Johnson to swoop in and steal the starting point guard job. Johnson played fantastic defense against Chris Paul on Tuesday night

[SVite]

Erick Dampier started for the Mavericks on Tuesday and played well, posting five points and 11 rebounds.

He's outplayed DeSagana Diop in training camp and may be the starting center this season. "Damp has been a monster in camp," Johnson said. "It's just one of those things where I had to start him."

[SVite]

The Mavericks and coach Avery Johnson agreed to a reported five-year, $20 million contract extension on Thursday.

"I'm thrilled that Avery will be coaching the Mavs for years to come," Mavericks billionaire owner Mark Cuban said in a statement. "He is a great partner and person that makes us a better organization. Plus he is a great coach, too."

[SVite]

Dallas guard Greg Buckner left Thursday's game in the first quarter with a sprained left knee.

He's listed as day-to-day as the injury situation in Dallas gets worse by the day.

[lonny23]

Dallas guard Greg Buckner left Thursday's game in the first quarter with a sprained left knee.

He's listed as day-to-day as the injury situation in Dallas gets worse by the day.
Buckner's not supposed to miss a game. Stack is sitting out to be at full strength for the regular season. The other guys can play, but aren't.

[SVite]

Josh Howard is not very happy with his contract situation, and if it's not resolved by Oct. 31, he'll become a restricted free agent next season.

He was hoping for "Tayshaun Prince money" but the Mavs' initial offer to Howard was worth about $20 million less than what Prince got from the Pistons. "I'm not even trying to break the bank," Howard said. "I understand I'm a restricted free agent and they can wait until next year to sign me. But I was the other guy in that '03 class who made it to the Finals [joining Miami's Dwyane Wade]."

[SVite]

DeSagana Diop pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds in Saturday's preseason game agains the Bucks.

Diop got the start in the middle for Dallas, while Erick Dampier got the night off. Coach Avery Johnson will likely use a similar rotation at center after the Mavs made it all the way to the finals.

[SVite]

Avery Johnson wants Josh Howard to post better numbers in the assists and steals categories.
"I got ways of watching film to see if you're trying to make your teammates better," Johnson said. "We like the points. And we like the rebounds. We want assists. We want steals, and we want the Mavericks to win. He's accepted the challenge."

Dirk Nowitzki went through a full practice on Wednesday and might play Thursday against the Bucks.

He's simply been resting after playing in the world championships this summer.

[SVite]

Jason Terry has begun shooting now that his sore right foot has begun to heal.

"It happened in training camp," he said of the injury. "They said it was lingering. I guess I trained on it too hard in the off-season. It's just tender, on top of the foot." Terry added he could play by Saturday. "After I shot, it wasn't sore, so it's getting better," he said.

Devin Harris returned to practice on Wednesday despite a hamstring injury.

He's hoping to be ready to play on opening night, but right now it's 50-50.

[gtown04]

Mavs ink Josh Howard to a 4-year 40 Million dollar extension through the 2010-2011 season.

Glad thats finally over, now its time to get back to the games.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhJK8E53sDI_TlJL3w84uhq8vLYF?slug=ap-mavericks-howard&prov=ap&type=lgns

[lonny23]

Mavs ink Josh Howard to a 4-year 40 Million dollar extension through the 2010-2011 season.

Glad thats finally over, now its time to get back to the games.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhJK8E53sDI_TlJL3w84uhq8vLYF?slug=ap-mavericks-howard&prov=ap&type=lgns
Dirk, Devin, and Devean came back tonight and they finally won. JT, Damp, and Stack will be back soon.

[SVite]

Josh Howard, fresh off signing a new four-year extension, had 15 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two 3-pointers in a win over the Bucks.

He hit 6-of-8 shots on the night.

Dirk Nowitzki played for the first time this preseason and had eight points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and two blocks in a win over the Bucks on Thursday.

He'd been resting up until now and hit 3-of-7 shots in limited action.

Greg Buckner had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists in a win on Thursday.

He hit 6-of-9 shots and also had two steals and two 3-pointers on the night. Once Jason Terry returns from his foot injury, Buckner will have trouble finding enough minutes to put up these kind of numbers consistently. He'd been out with a sprained knee.

Devin Harris returned from a hamstring injury and had 12 points.

He managed just one assist on the night.

[SVite]

Jerry Stackhouse made his preseason debut on Wednesday and had 12 points, three boards and two assists.

He hit 5-of-13 shots on the night,

[SVite]

Jason Terry, out the entire preseason with a foot injury, had two points on Wednesday.

He hit just 1-of-6 shots and it may take him some time to shake the rust off.

[SVite]

Josh Howard sat out Wednesday's game with a thigh contusion.

Last we'd heard he had a knee problem. Howard seems to deal with nagging injuries quite a bit, so expect the occasional missed game.

[SVite]

The Mavericks waived forward Ndudi Ebi on Thursday.

Avery Johnson delivered the news personally. "If you want to be a first-class organization, it's not just with winning games. You have to do it all the way 'round," he said. "I've had coaches that didn't cut me, that sent other people. So I wanted to tell him myself." The move means rookie point guard Jose Barea has a spot on the roster.

[lonny23]

The Mavericks waived forward Ndudi Ebi on Thursday.

Avery Johnson delivered the news personally. "If you want to be a first-class organization, it's not just with winning games. You have to do it all the way 'round," he said. "I've had coaches that didn't cut me, that sent other people. So I wanted to tell him myself." The move means rookie point guard Jose Barea has a spot on the roster.
I've been wondering who they were going to keep. My normal website has been down and I didn't know which guys were getting cut. Ebi made some strides this year. Barea has been good about setting up the offense, but we must remember he made the team as the 15th man.

I like Avery being a stand-up guy and telling Ebi himself.

[lonny23]

These are your 2006-2007 Dallas Mavericks:

Center

7 DeSagana Diop FC 7-0 280 Jan. 30, 1982 (Worked on shooting in Summer.)
25 Erick Dampier C 6-11 265 Jul. 14, 1975 Mississippi State (Worked out religiously all Summer.)
28 DJ Mbenga C 7-0 220 Dec. 30, 1980 (Developed shooting some and might play some PF.)

Power Forward

41 Dirk Nowitzki PF 7-0 245 Jun. 19, 1978 (Didn't work on anything special since he was playing in World Championships.)
44 Austin Croshere PF 6-10 235 May 1, 1975 Providence (Don't know what he did. Should be upgrade over Van Horn.)
21 Pops Mensah-Bonsu F 6-9 240 Sep. 7, 1983 George Washington (This guy has athleticism. I like Pops.)

Small Forward

5 Josh Howard GF 6-7 210 Apr. 28, 1980 Wake Forest (He keeps gettig better.)
42 Jerry Stackhouse GF 6-6 218 Nov. 5, 1974 North Carolina (I hope hope he doesn't play worse and worse.)
40 Devean George SF 6-8 235 Aug. 29, 1977 Augsburg (Nice signing for the Mavs in Summer and it lets them match up against big and little 2's and 3's.)

Shooting Guard

31 Jason Terry PG 6-2 180 Sep. 15, 1977 Arizona (He's going to be hot and cold, but probably hotter than colder.)
1 Greg Buckner SG 6-4 205 Sep. 16, 1976 Clemson (Dallas needs this guy to score 3's and play Kobe and D-Wade.)
13 Maurice Ager G 6-5 202 Feb. 9, 1984 Michigan State (He's low on the totem pole, but I bet he turn out pretty good.

Point Guard

34 Devin Harris PG 6-3 185 Feb. 27, 1983 Wisconsin (I hope he steps his game up again. He's been working on strangth.)
8 Anthony Johnson PG 6-3 200 Oct. 2, 1974 (Nice PG pickup. He'll help.)
98 Jose Juan Barea G 6-0 170 Jun. 26, 1984 Northeastern (The 15th man. He'll sit and learn this year.)

[svhorns]

These are your 2006-2007 Dallas Mavericks:

Center

7 DeSagana Diop FC 7-0 280 Jan. 30, 1982 (Worked on shooting in Summer.)
25 Erick Dampier C 6-11 265 Jul. 14, 1975 Mississippi State (Worked out religiously all Summer.)
28 DJ Mbenga C 7-0 220 Dec. 30, 1980 (Developed shooting some and might play some PF.)

Power Forward

41 Dirk Nowitzki PF 7-0 245 Jun. 19, 1978 (Didn't work on anything special since he was playing in World Championships.)
44 Austin Croshere PF 6-10 235 May 1, 1975 Providence (Don't know what he did. Should be upgrade over Van Horn.)
21 Pops Mensah-Bonsu F 6-9 240 Sep. 7, 1983 George Washington (This guy has athleticism. I like Pops.)

Small Forward

5 Josh Howard GF 6-7 210 Apr. 28, 1980 Wake Forest (He keeps gettig better.)
42 Jerry Stackhouse GF 6-6 218 Nov. 5, 1974 North Carolina (I hope hope he doesn't play worse and worse.)
40 Devean George SF 6-8 235 Aug. 29, 1977 Augsburg (Nice signing for the Mavs in Summer and it lets them match up against big and little 2's and 3's.)

Shooting Guard

31 Jason Terry PG 6-2 180 Sep. 15, 1977 Arizona (He's going to be hot and cold, but probably hotter than colder.)
1 Greg Buckner SG 6-4 205 Sep. 16, 1976 Clemson (Dallas needs this guy to score 3's and play Kobe and D-Wade.)
13 Maurice Ager G 6-5 202 Feb. 9, 1984 Michigan State (He's low on the totem pole, but I bet he turn out pretty good.

Point Guard

34 Devin Harris PG 6-3 185 Feb. 27, 1983 Wisconsin (I hope he steps his game up again. He's been working on strangth.)
8 Anthony Johnson PG 6-3 200 Oct. 2, 1974 (Nice PG pickup. He'll help.)
98 Jose Juan Barea G 6-0 170 Jun. 26, 1984 Northeastern (The 15th man. He'll sit and learn this year.)
I like having Croshere behind Nowitzki good depth... Pops is a damn good player watched him in the NCAA tournament... Overall I like our team this year and we have a chance to win it and thats all that matters...

[lonny23]

I like having Croshere behind Nowitzki good depth... Pops is a damn good player watched him in the NCAA tournament... Overall I like our team this year and we have a chance to win it and thats all that matters...
I just wish Croshere would get his shooting touch back. At least he's not soft like Van Horn was.

Dallas is one of a handful of teams that has a shot to win the title and less than that have a shot to beat Dallas if they're healthy.

[SVite]

The Mavericks went with a starting backcourt of Jason Terry (foot) and Anthony Johnson in Friday's preseason finale.

Johnson will start at the point, but coach Avery Johnson hasn't decided on his starting shooting guard yet - Devin Harris is also an option. Although none of the starting units have meshed that well early on, expect better consistency when the regular season starts.

[SVite]

Erick Dampier (hip, hamstring) sat out his fifth game in a row Friday night.

"I'm moving a little on it, and I guess we'll get on the floor when we get back and see how it goes," Dampier said. "You don't want to take a chance of reinjuring it. We have a couple days to let it heal." DeSagana Diop could get increased minutes at center in his stead.

[SVite]

Rookie free agent Jose Barea locked down the 15th and final roster spot on the Mavericks.

"I was asking him what he's going to do with his check on Nov. 15, if he's going to buy me some dinner or something," Johnson joked. "He said he has to buy a bed first." He'll be behind Jason Terry, Anthony Johnson and Devin Harris at point guard.

[SVite]

Lindsey Hunter, who will start the season as Chauncey Billups immediate backup, is looking great at age 36.

Coach Flip Saunders will be cautious with minutes so he's fresh when it counts the most. "A guy like Lindsey, it's not about how fresh he is now," Saunders said. "It's about being fresh later."

[SVite]

Dale Davis (left hamstring) isn't likely to be cleared to practice full out before the season opener Wednesday against Milwaukee.

He'll likely start the season on the inactive list. Amir Johnson could take his spot on the active roster.

[SVite]

The Mavericks on Saturday signed swingman Josh Howard to a contract extension.

Terms of the deal were not announced, but ESPN.com reported last week that Howard agreed to a four-year deal worth more than $40 million. He should be healthy going into opening night, but has been bothered recently by a thigh contusion that cause him to miss some preseason games.

[SVite]

Don Nelson is considering suing Mark Cuban and the Mavericks as he tries to recoup $6 million in deferred payments earned before Ross Perot Jr. sold the franchise to Cuban in 2000.

"Mark Cuban has been very good to me and my family, but he doesn't like me very much," Nelson said. "I've asked nicely for [the payment]. We'll see what happens from here." The root of the problem apparently stems from wording in Nelson's original coaching contract with the team. Nelson wanted some of that contract deferred for his retirement and he reportedly asked for that money before he got back into coaching with the Warriors.

[SVite]

Greg Buckner started at shooting guard for the Mavs on Thursday, but didn't make a shot.

He was 0-of-5 for the night and didn't score.

Devin Harris hit just 1-of-6 shots for two points in Thursday's loss to the Spurs.

He had three assists.

you know this wont last long with Avery around.

[SVite]

Josh Howard had 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, a steal, two blocks and a 3-pointer in Thursday's loss.
He hit 7-of-16 shots and is primed for a big year if he can stay healthy. He was a little iffy coming in with a thigh contusion, but there was really never a doubt that he would play. He threw a forearm at the face of Bruce Bowen in frustration tonight, but managed to avoid getting ejected. However, the league will probably at least fine him for the move.

Erick Dampier played through a hip injury off the bench for the Mavericks in Thursday's loss to the Spurs.

Devean George was home recovering from a stomach ailment that hospitalized him Tuesday.

"He's still woozy but at least he's keeping some food down," Avery Johnson said.