What Mavericks need is a Stackhouse clone

What Mavericks need is a Stackhouse clone | Mavericks/NBA | Star-Telegram.com

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks know more about themselves than the rest of us do.
If you think the team needs another scorer, they already know it.
If your instincts say they need a better post presence, they’ve already reached that conclusion.
And what you might not realize, but they already have dissected and come to grips with, is the player they need to replace most this summer.
Jerry Stackhouse.
Yes, the man who played a grand total of 10 games this season proved to the Mavericks that they need what he used to offer on a nightly basis. It’s seeking that kind of player — not necessarily that position, but that sort of production and attitude — that the Mavericks view as a key quest for the off-season.
Coach Rick Carlisle, asked if the Mavericks need another scorer from either the perimeter or the post, said it best.
"The guy you’re talking about is someone to replace what Stack gave us for four or five years — a guy who came off the bench and was going to guarantee double-figure scoring," Carlisle said. "He was going to draw double teams and help create shots and he brought a tough-minded physical presence to both the floor and the locker room. So, yeah, there is a void to fill. And the void is Stack."
The Mavericks owe Stackhouse plenty. But he’s likely to be playing elsewhere next season.
In his place, they need a playmaker. The Mavericks don’t necessarily need another star. Think single or double, not home run. If they get another scorer, it makes sense to keep Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Josh Howard.
And it doesn’t have to be any particular position that the Mavericks upgrade. They feel they just need one more key player.
"A shooter, a scorer," said Terry. "A tough, hard-nosed defender and a ... big man that’s going to foul somebody and be an enforcer. We got to get an enforcer."
Here are the avenues the Mavericks have to chase such a player and some possible candidates to fill that role.


Free agency: Can you see Birdman as a Maverick?
The top names are going to be Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Ben Gordon, Shawn Marion, Allen Iverson, Andre Miller and Rasheed Wallace.
Of those, the Mavericks can neither afford any of them nor do they really need any of them, for various reasons, with the possible exception of Wallace.
The better values will come from the second tier: Trevor Ariza, Grant Hill, Eddie House, Anderson Varejao and, yes, Chris "Birdman" Andersen.
The Mavericks have their mid-level exception to use on free agents. That will top out at $5 million or so.
Other names of interest include Hedo Turkoglu, Rodney Carney and Anthony Carter.
As for restricted free agents, the big fish are New York’s David Lee, Utah’s Paul Millsap and Charlotte’s Raymond Felton. But prying them away would likely require a ...


Sign and trade: These are tough to pull off. But teams worried about losing players for nothing often will try to deal them for pennies on the dollar if they feel they could lose them for nothing.
This also is an option for the Mavericks on the outgoing end, as well. If Jason Kidd wants to go somewhere else other than Dallas, the only way he can get anything close to fair value is for the Mavericks to sign him, then trade him.


The draft: The Mavericks have the 22nd overall pick. That’s not generally considered a huge asset. But remember, Josh Howard came to them with the 29th pick.


Trades: The Mavericks are never opposed to a trade. They still have their eye on the fertile 2010 free-agent class. But if something that knocks their socks off comes up this summer, rest assured they will jump.


"With our history, anything is possible," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said.

[grizzly_bexar]

Since he has fewer chromosomes than a person, cloning him should not be hard.

[Uwe Blab]

So would Spurs fans welcome Stackhouse? I don't know if it's even possible, just a question for everyone. Personally, I wouldn't only because he seemed to have a lost a step. If it were 2-3 years ago, then yes, I would sell my soul and welcome him. If it meant winning.

[james_austintx]

Originally Posted by grizzly_bexar

Since he has fewer chromosomes than a person, cloning him should not be hard.

HAHA, nice one.

[JTD]

Shouldn't be too hard to find, there are a ton of guys who can't hit a big shot when it counts!