Free agency wasn’t going initially well for Dallas. Deron Williams didn’t work out, nor did Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash, or any other Point Guard they tried to acquire. They didn’t appear to have enough ammo for a real shot at Dwight Howard, and then Jason Kidd left along with Jason Terry.
But I do have to say the Mavs recovered nicely yesterday. Vey nicely I think.
First Dallas agreed to terms with Chris Kaman. One year-deal for $8 million, not putting yourself at risk for the summer of 2013 while adding value alongside Dirk for next season. That’s not too bad for the Mavericks, or Kaman either. He was an All Star center once, before the injuries, and in today’s world where Omer Asik, Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert get paid like they’re Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson, $8 million here is a steal.
It’s great that Dallas didn’t have to invest multiple years, and it’s great that Kaman landed in a good situation after the last few seasons of injury he’s had. Match-made in gun-law heaven for Kaman and the rest of the Dallas community.
The Darren Collision move that followed was under the radar but even more impressive to me. Here’s a young Point Guard who can still take that step forward, that you can now plug into your starting line-up and go from there. Nothing more than a one-year deal invested in Collision either, so if it doesn’t work than it doesn’t work.
But I still think it might. There was a reason he was the guy at one point for the Pacers. I think George Hill was more of a preference, than it was Indiana thinking he was that much better than Darren. We’ll find out in Dallas.
The details of each deal, which also sent Dahntay Jones to Dallas in the sign and trade for Collison, are below. Indiana received back-up center Ian Mahami in return for Collision and Jones, and he’s slated to back-up Roy Hibbert in Indy.
Those details according to ESPN.com:
Sources told ESPN.com the Mavericks have agreed to acquire Collison and swingman Dahntay Jones in a sign-and-trade deal that will send free-agent center Ian Mahinmi to the Pacers to serve as a backup for Roy Hibbert.
Collison is the second significant addition made Wednesday by the Mavericks, who also signed center Chris Kaman. Both Collison and Kaman will be playing on expiring contracts next season.
Collison has one year left on his contract at $2.3 million. ESPN.com reported earlier Wednesday the Mavs and Kaman agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $8 million.
Jones, a defensive specialist who’s been involved in feisty scraps with the Mavericks while playing with Denver and Indiana in recent seasons, also is entering the final year of his contract at $2.9 million.
Jones is going to play for the Mavericks. That’s all for the short-term. Long-term plans for Dwight or whoever else are still in play too. Assuming he’s not traded in the meantime.
