not really, it's not as if they've ever been constrained by the luxury tax =P

they paid $23 million in luxury taxes this year for a bunch of mid-level players

bdams19

United States1316 Posts

July 09 2009 02:40 GMT

#651

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4314637

hmmmm mavs a contender?

whats the starting line up now? JKidd, ___, Marion, Jho, Dampier/Gortat, and J Terry at the 6

Pacifist

Israel1683 Posts

July 09 2009 02:50 GMT

#652

you forgot about dirk

unknown.sam

Philippines2701 Posts

July 09 2009 03:32 GMT

#653

On July 09 2009 11:40 bdams19 wrote:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4314637

hmmmm mavs a contender?

whats the starting line up now? JKidd, ___, Marion, Jho, Dampier/Gortat, and J Terry at the 6

at least put in their best player lol

citi.zen

2509 Posts

July 09 2009 04:01 GMT

#654

I don't see it. Kidd is defensive liability vs. too many guards now. His shooting seemed better, but that was by design - teams left him open a lot to focus on other players. Hard to think of another PG who got as many open shots. Nowitzki is not exactly a good defender either. Perhaps if they somehow leverage Damp's expiring contract to get a nice SG... and they stay healthy. Even then its tough vs. SA, DEN and LAL. Portland will be tough to beat in the west as well I think, and Utah is solid. Seems tough to see DAL get past 2nd round, at best.

unknown.sam

Philippines2701 Posts

July 09 2009 04:04 GMT

#655

spurs looking real solid now
if they can just stay healthy

igotmyown

United States4291 Posts

July 09 2009 06:54 GMT

#656

Kidd matches up with shooting guards. His defensive stats seem fine. 2007-2008 he was about as good as Chris Paul defensively. You wouldn't trade him for the average point guard.

foodontable

China341 Posts

July 09 2009 08:11 GMT

#657

On July 09 2009 15:54 igotmyown wrote:
Kidd matches up with shooting guards. His defensive stats seem fine. 2007-2008 he was about as good as Chris Paul defensively. You wouldn't trade him for the average point guard.

Stats tell many lies. Anybody who has watched any of Kidd's games recently show him getting worked by almost every guard he goes against.

Judicator

United States7270 Posts

July 09 2009 12:21 GMT

#658

He's a weaker Derek Fisher, lacks the speed to guard some of the guards in the West but also lacks Fisher's strength, he's a major liability on the Mavs.

citi.zen

2509 Posts

July 09 2009 14:32 GMT

#659

Come on now... no way you can seriously compare those two. As for Kidd guarding SGs... I stand by my comment: he gets torched by many these days. Kobe, Ginobili, JR Smith, Brandon Roy, Wade, Ben Gordon, J Johnson... the list could go on and on with SGs he cannot defend effectively anymore.

I think I would have let him walk & tried to get someone for the mid-level exception. Andre Miller is still on the market if you want an experienced PG. Raymond Felton could also be had if you want someone younger. They already have Terry on the team, who is well capable of starting. Nothing against Kidd, but at over $8m/year he seems too expensive. Then again, maybe he brings great locker room chemistry and leadership. Dirk may need a veteran who can keep players in line... who knows.

bdams19

United States1316 Posts

July 09 2009 16:52 GMT

#660

no, it is true. Kidd is one of the worst defenders in the league; in fact, any good fantasy player knows that he provides the best matchup in the league for opposing pgs (allows the most triple doubles in the league for a few years now). He has great court vision and passing ability but he simply has lost a step on defense. Just because he is great for fantasy with 2 steals a game doesn't mean he plays REAL shut down defense. Anyone can sit in the middle and read the passing lanes and nab a few steals (chris paul does this a lot), but that is because the rest of the team has to make up for his slow feet.

However, Mavs get Marion AND just signed Gortat to MLE. This could be a solid team.