<><b>Eddie Sefko on the Mavericks (6/2)</b></P><>12:56 PM CDT on Thursday, June 2, 2005</P><><EM>Eddie Sefko participated in a chat with readers on Thursday, June 2, 2005. The transcript is below. </EM></P><><b>bigblue:</b> Do you see any scenario in which the Mavericks trade Dampier?
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> <U>It\'s a little-known fact that the Mavericks quietly shopped Dampier before the trade deadline. Thought they had a deal, too. Now, his value is even lower. But we\'ve learned in the past that this team can trade anybody. Nothing is out of the ordinary. But it will take swallowing their egos and admitting Dampier was a huge, $70-mil mistake. Bottom line, I think he\'ll be here next October. </U></P><><b>Jason Lustig:</b> What do you think is the overall opinion of Devin Harris within the Mavs organization? I heard Avery on some local talk shows after the season and he said Devin needed to develop into a capable backup first and then 2 or 3 years down the road they would look at him as a starter. That didn\'t sound too promising and Avery also gushed about Jason Terry and stated unequivocally that he was his guy at PG. What are your thoughts on the PG situation for next year and beyond?
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> They are either taking the pressure off Harris or unsure that his upside is as high as some people think it is, myself included. If Harris works hard in the off-season, there\'s no reason why he can\'t take a step forward. He made a lot of mistakes last season, but rookies are supposed to do that. If this guy doesn\'t become a starter within the next couple years, then the No. 5 pick was wasted, particularly when you see players like Josh Smith and J.R. Smith who were taken lower doing some nice things. </P><><b>Nick Rowder:</b> What are the moves the Mavericks need to make in the offseason? I for one am pretty happy with the make up of this team, and would like to see things stay the same as much as possible. I would even be in favor of signing Alan Henderson and Darrell Armstrong again because they offer good veteren quality off the bench.
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> The only flaw with keeping everything intact is that you can bank on San Antonio and Phoenix working to get better in the off-season. If the Mavericks stand completely still, they will fall behind further. <U>If I were GM, I\'d certainly see if Dampier has any value on the trade front and find a way to free up the logjam at the 2-3 positions. This year, the Mavs needed those guys because of injuries. But if they are healthy next season, it could get dicey regarding playing time. I\'d also look for a Samuel Dalembert or Steven Hunter or Tyson Chandler to give them some athleticism at center. But those guys will not come cheap. Not even Hunter, who was a bit player much of the year for Phoenix. </U></P><><b>Ted Cajacob:</b> Just wondered about your feelings about Finley. He just does not appear to be the All-Star player during playoffs as he is during the season.
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> This is the key question of the off-season. Finley doesn\'t want to be a sixth man. He still sees himself as a starter. But there is a pile of evidence working against him. Personally, he should be shoved into a backup role and left there. Yes, it will bruise his ego at first, but the long-term benefit for the team would be worth it. Plus, Finley would adapt and might figure out that he could be every bit the sixth man that Vinnie Johnson was for Detroit in their earlier glory years. </P><><b>Michael Bond:</b> What, if anything, should Avery Johnson learn from watching tapes of the Spurs - Suns series?
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> He should learn to be thankful the Mavericks didn\'t beat the Suns. It would have been even uglier for them against the Spurs. </P><><b>Bob Parker:</b> DJ seems to have great athletic ability. Is his development up to him mostly, or do the Mavs use some kind of intensive program? His potential is better than Pod\'s. He could be a great PF.
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> <U>Actually, the club believes Pavel Podkolzin is the one with the big future. He\'s bigger and has the softest touch you can imagine on 15-foot jumpers.</U> Mbenga is a world-class athlete but he has not spent enough time playing yet to grasp the NBA game. He will be a victim if the NBA imposes a lockout. He needs a full summer of working hard in Avery\'s system. But I think Podkolzin has a chance to be a backup player in the coming season, again, if he gets the chance to work this summer. </P><><b>Michael Burton:</b> Should the Mavs continue to look for a big man, and do you think they should some ow package off Michael Finley , Bradley/Damp?
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> <U>If they send Finley or Dampier on their way, you can be sure that they will have to take back some riff-raff off another team\'s roster. There\'s just too much money invested in Finley, even though it\'s only three more years no (at $51 mil). I do think they will need another big man, but the one they could have used, Nazr Mohammed, was shipped to San Antonio and seems to have found a home there. Again, Steven Hunter would be a possibility, but he\'s going to command plenty of dough, too. </U></P><P><b>Glen from Canada:</b> Can they move Bradley? Can Mbenga be any good? Will Daniels get his chance to shine like JHo?
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> <U>Well, as stated earlier, anybody can be traded. But the odds of sending Bradley are small, at best. He\'s not going to give you much consistency on the court, but the Mavericks hope they can get an occasional burst out of him that might help them win a few games. As for Mbenga, he hypnotizes with his athleticism, but he simply hasn\'t learned how to play yet. The clock is ticking on him. In Daniels\' case, if he\'s healthy, I think next season will be a breakout for him. He should be starting alongside Howard and, eventually, Devin Harris...in my book, anyway. </U></P><P><b>EG:</b> You talk to Nellie since the playoffs ended? I\'d love to know what he thought of the Mavs\' playoff effort.
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> Had lunch with the Godfather just the other day. He thought the Mavericks did about what they should have done in the playoffs, although he did make a suggestion to the Mavericks on how to play Steve Nash, a tactic that the Spurs used considerably in the conference finals. Nelson\'s involvement in the team is going to be lessened as time goes on. He is not involved in major decision making anymore. </P><P><b>dahveed:</b> if they tried to get rid of damp, that means they have other guys in mind. who do you think can fill the 5 spot?
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> Well, one of the guys they would have traded for is a smaller, but more athletic center. Still, the trend around the league is to get smaller and quicker at center, since there\'s only one Shaq and one Yao Ming. The Mavericks don\'t necessarily need a heavy lifter at center. They simply need somebody who can get a tough rebound and not gripe when he doesn\'t get plays called for him. </P><P><b>EG:</b> I\'m not saying the Mavs are better than PHX, but I think they matched up with SA way better than the Suns. What say you?
<b>Eddie Sefk</b> I say that if Joe Johnson had been healthy the whole series, the Suns and Spurs might still be playing. Still think the Spurs would win. But Phoenix didn\'t win 62 games by accident. The Mavericks would not have given the Spurs a serious series. They might have won a game, but no more. Remember, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili annihilated Steve Nash and Co. They would have done the same, if not worse, to the Mavericks\' backcourt. </P> |