Dallas Mavericks say 'HUMBUG!' to silly ol' NBA Draft

Rudy Fernandez doing his best Jay Gatsby

In perfect form, the Dallas Mavericks snubbed their nose at the annual NBA Draft and just decided to trade away all their picks. Not a bad idea. I don't know if they would've had the brains to pick anyone half decent at No. 26.

However, the Mavericks are far from empty handed.

The Mavericks actually drafted The University of Texas forward Jordan Hamilton. Just before, talks arose that they traded the pick to the Portland Trailblazers for guard/forward Rudy Fernandez. The pick, apparently, was then shipped to Denver in a Ray Felton-Andre Miller deal.

At the moment, all of this is rather officially unofficial.

The Mavs traded their No. 57 pick to Portland for the rights to Finnish point guard Petteri Kopenen, who was drafted in 2007 and has been in Italy ever since. He'll never, ever amount to anything because he's Finnish and should have played hockey.

As for the Fernandez move, I really like it. The Mavericks I think draft poorly because they don't know how to develop players, they've never had a coach that would develop them and with Dirk Nowitzki in place, they had little time for either. This thing, for the last decade, was built for a championship. They will still be in this mode until Nowitzki retires and probably for the decade after, whether they're any good or not.

Why not try to get young (Fernandez is 26 ... Corey Brewer is 25), yet add veteran rotation help along the way. It makes sense.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in love with Fernandez. Far from it. He doesn't play defense and he's a shooting guard that can't shoot. What's to like?

With the move, this probably spells the end to DeShawn Stevenson's time with the Mavericks. He is a free agent making $4.1 million last year. Fernandez is due $2.1 million.

It also probably means good things for Brewer. Stevenson was an erratic shooter. When he was on, he was on. When he wasn't, he wasn't. Still, he was tough, played some defense and was a bit of an enforcer. Fernandez is not this.

Neither he or Brewer will fill the shooting (shooting ... not scoring) void left by Stevenson, but Brewer should be able to pick up the slack defensively and Fernandez can fill it up in any game. He just doesn't.

As we pass judgement on the Mavericks, we are handicapped. For one, we are evaluating a the greatest basketball team in the world. It's a team that would draft Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Tyson Chandler if they could and roll into battle.

Two, we must evaluate based on expectations and history. Is taking Fernandez the most ideal situation? Certainly not. I would love to see what Hamilton, Tyler Honeycutt, Shelvin Mack, Jimmy Butler or Kyle Singler would do as a Dallas Maverick, but that will not happen. The Mavericks roll one way on draft day and that will not change outside of them landing in the lottery. If that should happen, we'd have bigger problems.

The legacy of Jason Kidd

Worth every penny

When the news came down in February of 2008 that the Dallas Mavericks had traded for Jason Kidd, I had already vehemently stated my case that it was a mistake.

It was essentially a swap of Devin Harris for the aging Kidd. I hated such desperate, panic move. I thought it was too steep of a price, although Kidd was rather expensive. The Mavs sent Harris, Trenton Hassell, Mo Ager, DeSagana Diop, Keith Van Horn, cash and first round picks to the Nets for Kidd and Malik Allen.

It doesn't sound like much. In reality, only Harris and Van Horn had any value, and Van Horn had a very sweet expiring deal at the time, not unlike the Erick Dampier trade chip they had last summer. The Van Horn chip was supposed to be a huge player in getting an impact guy. Instead, he was just another name in a trade for a point guard past his prime.

Despite all my bitching, I wrote this on Feb. 20, 2008:

"No more bitching, but also no more excuses about lack of toughness or leadership. This is it. The Mavs have to start winning and they must start winning playoff games by the handfuls. A NBA Championship within the next two years is the only thing that will make this entire rigmarole worth it. The Mavs win and all doubters are silenced."

It took more than three years, but it happened. Jason Kidd was the starting point guard -- an integral ingredient -- on a championship team.

All of the attention goes to Dirk Nowitzki and how this title will boost his image and legacy.

No one really talks about Jason Kidd. He'd been to the Finals twice before against a clearly outmatched, but scrappy, New Jersey Nets team. Kidd was the Nets (finished five times in the top 10 in MVP voting ... in 2001-02 he finished second behind Tim Duncan). He'd never won big before, but now he has.

I don't think it matters that he is clearly past his prime. He says he has years left. His brain is probably making decisions his legs can't handle. Despite what everyone says, he's not near the defender we think he is. Yes, he's highly intelligent on the court and that makes up for a lot of physical deficiencies. Still, he was important more so in working hard, staying the course and never, ever getting frazzled. The latter, I think, was Kidd's most vital contribution to the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks.

My end game with Kidd's arrival was that only a title matters. You never trade a young commodity like Devin Harris for someone like Kidd unless it ended with a title. I stand by that. Now that the Mavericks have won, the trade is validated in my eyes. That was a good trade, zero doubt ... now.

I hate to judge Harris on this point. Yes, the injuries he's had since are scary. Still, we sent him to New Jersey. It's like sending someone to Siberia and not being able to believe that person can't stay warm. Everyone's going to look worse in New Jersey. Playing next to Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion and others is far and away a totally different set of circumstances that make comparisons unfair.

My most frustrating thoughts about Kidd regard how everyone treats him in the media and public. Like most things concerning the Mavericks, we ignore the bad and over-celebrate the good. No one talks about Kidd's 1-6 shooting nights. Everyone talks when he goes 4-6.

The shooting irks me too. Kidd's played in 17 season in the NBA. For 16 of those seasons, including the 14 previous to re-joining the Mavericks, he was an awful shooter. Then, suddenly, in 2009-10, he's shooting and shooting well. With time, his ability to beat defenders off the dribble has disappeared and he never gets to the free-throw line. Apparently, all it took was some tutoring from Nowitzki and he can suddenly shoot.

Kidd was a Hall-of-Fame point guard before he came back to Dallas. But him "learning" how to shoot this far into his career is like learning Shaquille O'Neal could really shooting 90 percent from the free-throw line. If Kidd could always learn to shoot, why didn't he do it earlier? Would it not have helped his team? No one's really explained this.

Note: I always like to bring up in the "Jason Kidd is a good shooter" discussion that he was 36 percent from the field this season and 34 percent from the three-point line. Kidd still can't shoot. But he can hit big shots. There's a marked difference.

Kidd has his limitations. He knows them even if the rest of us would like to think he's a 38-year-old, defying-all-odds superstar that no one really appreciates. I think he could give a shit. That dude, maybe more than anyone, including Nowitzki, wanted a ring. He cared nothing for legacy (or else he would've learned to shoot in 1994) or for how he looked (or else he wouldn't have beat his wife).

He was about the ring. It validates everything. It, in turn, solidifies his legacy.

For whom the Heath Bell tolls

Ring-ding-dong

I'm sure that headline's NEVER been written.

It's late-May and the trade rumors are already out there. Yesterday, the Rangers were one of several teams that it appears have called the San Diego Padres about closer Heath Bell.

It makes so much sense that it makes me throw up in my mouth.

MLB Trade Rumors discussed Bell's trade value.

Bell is a 33-year-old 6-3 righty badass and the only consistently good to great piece of a sad-sack San Diego Padres team.

For the last six years, you'd be hard pressed to find a better bullpen hand. He set up for Trevor Hoffman for two years and has served as closer the last three years.

He's just as good this season with a 2.00 ERA and hitters have a .209 average against him. But his strikeouts are down to 6.4 per nine innings. The difference is that his groundball percentage is up to 54 percent. His fastball is still good at 93 mph, on average.

What drives up his value is his success, demand (at least four times off the top of your head would be interested) and he's arbitration eligible and would get you two draft picks if he walks.

What drives down his value is his relative lack of time he might spend with a club. You might have him for half a season. I would suspect the Rangers would try to keep him if they should trade for him, especially if the goal is to still move Neftali Feliz to the rotation next season.

He's not a spring chicken (although 33 is not old) and he's also not cheap. He's due $7.5 million this season.

Obviously, is the same ol' song and dance here. A team will give up better prospects if the Padres would be willing to pay some of that deal. Or the Padres could just keep him, offer arbitration and let him walk for the draft picks.

I would find it unlikely the Padres would trade him without getting a top 10 organizational prospect, not top five, but top 10.

Regardless, the Rangers have to make this happen. For this season and for the next three or four. He's a guy you can put in the back end of the bullpen and let ride through his mid-30s as this team rides this crest of success and youth.

Minor moves

NeRam

As the Major League season starts, so do the minors.

Already, the Rangers have made a move. They've sent infielder Marcus Lemon -- once probably one of the better, younger infield prospects in the system -- to the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named later.

Lemon is 23. He's moved from shortstop to second base to just about any spot on the field in his career. His once stellar ability to draw walks waned in the past two seasons. His on-base percentage went from .374 to .325 in three seasons. I'm not sure if it was done to make room or maybe they get an arm in return.

The last trade with the Atlanta Braves went beautifully.

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The Rangers announced the rotations for their minor league squads:

Oklahoma City
Michael Kirkman
Eric Hurley
Tanner Scheppers
Zach Jackson
Brett Tomko

Expert Analysis: Mildly surprised that Scheppers is being groomed as a starter. Not disappointed, just shocked. Thought they liked his velocity and potential for injury coming out of the 'pen and it's been suggested more than once that he was the heir apparent to Neftali Feliz. I suspect we'll see him, Tomko and Kirkman in Arlington this season.

Frisco
Martin Perez
Wilfredo Boscan
Jacob Brigham
Carlos Pimental
Miguel De Los Santos

Expert Analysis: All newcomers except for Perez (Pimental pitched one game in Double A last season). It's what happens when you trade all your Double A pitchers for Cliff Lee, Cristian Guzman and Jorge Cantu. It's also a Latin explosion!

Myrtle Beach
Neil Ramirez
Barrett Loux
Robbie Ross
Joe Wieland
Rob Erlin/Kasey Kiker

Expert Analysis: Kiker is simply attempting to rebuild any hope for his future that he can. Here we might find some friction between High A and Double A. Should they perform to standard, Ross, Wieland, Erlin and Ramirez all might be pushing hard for a promotion. I'm sure they'll have opportunity with injury and the distinct possibility of the Double A guys getting their own due bumps. Loux is probably a slight surprise here. He hasn't pitched a professional inning yet. College kids, however, are a bit more seasoned.

Hickory
Matt Thompson
Randol Rojas
Carlos Melo
Roman Mendez
Justin Grimm

Expert Analysis: Aggressive, I like it. Only Thompson has extended experience in Low A-Hickory. The other three are young (20 years old). Hickory, Myrtle Beach and Frisco have sets of exciting young hurlers.

Spring Training 11.0: Everyone, I guess, fucking loves Matt Treanor

He's the back-up

You would have thought that the 1948 St. Louis Cardinals had traded Stan Musial, the 1957 New York Yankees traded Mickey Mantle or the 1966 Baltimore Orioles traded Frank Robinson.

It's Matt fuckin' Treanor.

Let's all take a step back and inhale a deep breath. Let's put this all in perspective.

The Texas Rangers know that a shaky bullpen might spoil the beginning of the season, much like it did a year ago. They want to take an extra guy. They also know the starting rotation is a mess.

Injuries to Tommy Hunter and a setback for Brandon Webb has the starting five in limbo. Alexi Ogando might get a shot at a rotation spot. By the end of April, we might be bemoaning the fact that the Rangers are six games out in the AL West because of the shitty bullpen or the lack of a reliable fifth starter. We will not bemoan the fact we don't have Matt Treanor.

The back-up catcher was shipped to Kansas City for cash in light of Jason Kendall's injury that could keep him out three months. Don't get me wrong: I love Treanor. He's not very good, but he's smart and handles pitchers well. If nothing else, the move means a lot to the bullpen and Ogando. It speaks volumes about Yorvit Torrealba, who is having a stellar spring at the plate.

Most importantly, the pitchers -- especially C.J. Wilson -- must be pretty comfortable with the new backstop. One year ago, most Rangers fans could not believe that Treanor could make the club.

A month in, it was ludicrous to think he was on the 25-man roster. Today, folks are beside themselves that the back-up catcher was traded. As if all those World Series plans in 2011 were thwarted with one move.

Chances are, the Rangers won't win a pennant. It's a hard thing to do anyway. A team with so many holes have a steeper hill to climb.

However, come September, we will not look back at this day, the day the Treanor died, and wonder "what if?" Ridiculous.

Hanging Brad

Still here

One of two things will happen with Brad Richards now that the trade deadline has passed:

1. Some rich guy -- ahem, Mark Cuban -- will buy the Dallas Stars and sign Richards to an extension to play the remainder of his days in North Texas.

2. Or, he'll sign somewhere else.

The deadline passed and the thoughts of Richards being traded passed also. He's still a Dallas Star.

I thought it ridiculous to think the Stars would trade him. For one, how do you go into the room and look Steve Ott and Brendan Morrow in the eye and explain to them how swapping their best player for draft picks and some spare parts is in the best interest of the team.

It's one to let free agency pass only adding Adam Burish. It's another to jettison players because you're broke. If Richards leaves in the off-season, those guys know the score. It's a business. They'll be disappointed, but you can move on.

The Stars are a good team. Adding Alex Goligoski helps. Keeping Richards is huge. I think they have a legit shot at making a splash in the playoffs despite their participation in post-season play is still in doubt.

I applaud the Stars for passing up untold deals and staying the course.

Pistons slap Mavericks' offer for Tayshaun Prince to midcourt

Princely

Allegedly, the Mavericks offered Caron Butler's corpse and expiring contract and the 2011 first-round pick for the Pistons' Tayshaun Prince.

Prince, also, has an expiring deal. The contracts are almost identical. The Pistons would essentially get a bad draft pick (in the 20s, which you could make work, but isn't great).

I don't know why the Pistons wouldn't bite other than not pissing Prince off and possibly re-signing him in the off-season.

The Mavericks also went after the Nuggets' J.R. Smith, but I don't think the Nuggets were into any more moves unless someone knocked their socks off.

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Everyone is seemingly in too far in love with Caron Butler. They typical issuance is that "He's not a superstar, but he's a piece to the puzzle."

The NBA is no longer a league where you have a superstar and pieces. You need two or three superstars and good, respectable role players.

The Mavericks have one superstar. A couple of pieces. And some junk.

Weakening of the West

Deron-ron-ron-ron

Another trade not involving the Dallas Mavericks winds up involving the Dallas Mavericks.

Spurned by Carmelo Anthony, the Atlantic Division got a little bit richer as the New Jersey Nets traded Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two first rounders to Utah for Deron Williams.

Williams is a free agent after next season and I assume the Nets want to (or feel they can) extend him over the summer. I don't see Williams making an immediate impact although it does make the Nets a lot better. Maybe an off-season and a contract-year from Williams puts them in the playoffs. If nothing else, the Russian Mark Cuban just wants to make a splash.

What I don't get about Utah is that they let Jerry Sloan walk for Williams' sake. Then they trade Williams. It's like the Mavericks addressing the Jamal Mashburn-Jason Kidd-Jim Jackson spat by getting rid of all three. Oh. Hold on. They did get rid of all three.

This, however, directly affects the Mavericks. Both Denver and Utah made significant moves and both are Nos. 8 and 7 in the Western Conference and the Mavericks still sit in the No. 2 whole. Chances are, they'll get Denver, Utah, Memphis, New Orleans or Portland in the first round of the playoffs.

Sans Williams and Anthony, this looks like a pretty good deal. Williams was a potential disaster for the Mavericks. Against Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Roddy Beaubois and J.J. Barea, he might get 30 points a game. Instead, he's stuck on a 17-win New Jersey team, biding his time.

The other odd note on the Williams trade is that the Jazz are not a bad team. They've got some good players, although I don't think they are as deep as they have been and they let Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews walk in the off-season. Still, it's a team looking to rebuild a little. Right now, they do not scare me.

Anyway, for the next month, it'll be interesting to see how things shake out with the Nos. 6, 7 and 8 spots in the West and if the Mavericks can maintain the No. 2 seed.

In other news, Mark Cuban needs to start saving his pennies and dimes for 2012 when Williams hits the open market.

Carmelo fallout

Knickerbocker

I typically don't dip outside of the Dallas sports scene, but I find the Carmelo Anthony trade rollercoaster fascinating.

You had a player that desperately wanted to play in New York City. He was not signing with the Denver Nuggets. So they decided to trade him to get something in return.

Of course, no team would give the farm to "rent" Anthony for two months at a title run. At least, not without Anthony agreeing to a contract extension. If nothing else, that's what killed any opportunity for the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets or any other franchise.

And Anthony played everyone like a fiddle. Lebron James has been run through the mud for "The Decision." Well, this was the sequel. I have nothing against Anthony, but let's call a fair game here. Anthony's no different from Lebron or anyone else looking for the best opportunity.

The trade to the New York Knicks directly affects the Dallas Mavericks, however.

The Mavericks are making the playoffs and, should the season end today, their opponent would be the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets scared me because you've got to play in Denver and they're so athletic and mean.

Clearly, sans Anthony, the Nuggets are not nearly as formidible as they otherwise would be. However, I would contend that Aron Affalo, Wilson Chandler, Nene, Chris Andersen, Al Harrington, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith, Danilo Gallinari and Ray Felton is still a collection of very athletic players that can pile up some points on you. Playing three games in Denver in that mile-high atmosphere will not help.

Of course, this all depends on Denver also making the playoffs. They're a seventh seed and just one game out of the ninth seed. Let's say it takes the Nuggets some time to gel and they run through a tough part of the schedule. By the time George Karl has it figured out, the Nuggets might out of time. And, frankly, I feel no better facing a young Memphis team, Chris Paul's Hornets or Deron Williams' Jazz.

As for the Knicks, the trade knocked them out. It's a better NBA world when the Knicks and Celtics are good and this will make the Knicks good. Unfortunately, they have, arguably, six NBA-caliber guys and they might get worn out until they can sign Williams in the off-season.

Also, the Knicks aren't winning a thing with Mike D'Antoni as coach. There's little doubt the guy is an offensive mastermind. However, there hasn't been an NBA champion in the history of the game that wasn't able to stop an opponent. D'Antoni's teams do not do that. That's what will kill the Knicks when all is said and done.

Neal, Niskanen traded

Neal with it

A youth movement is taking place with the Dallas Stars.

Unfortunately, it's leaving, not coming.

The Stars traded forward James Neal and blue-liner Matt Niskanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Alex Goligoski.

Neal, 23, had 21 goals and 18 assists in 2010-11. However, so far his is young career, he ran pretty hot or cold. He had just one goal and one assist in February as the Stars try to right the ship.

Niskanen, 24, was the first-round pick in 2005. He jumped to the NHL in 2007 and posted a +22 in his rookie campaign playing in 78 games. Since, he's had a -27 in three disappointing seasons and has, accordingly, lost the faith of management and what little fandom that can actually discern what defensement do in hockey.

The trade might be a money saver for the penny-pinching Stars. Both Neal and Niskanen signed two-year deals before the season. The total cost was $10.75 million. At least with Neal you got something. Niskanen, however, was a bit of a waste.

Of Goligoski, I know nothing. He's signed through next season for about $4.2 million. He's 25 and, based on all accounts, is like a successful Niskanen.

He's a defenseman with the ability handle the puck. He had 37 assists and a +7 last season. This season, he's upped the ante with a +20, nine goals and 22 assists.

Defensively, it's clear the Stars are better. Putting Goligoski back there with Trevor Daley, Nik Grossman, Stephane Robidas and Karlis Skrastins will make their blue line only better ... and hopefully their offense.

No matter how much I like Goligoski, giving up Neal and Niskanen seems like a lot. But this is a team that scores goals. They just can't prevent them.

Trading Tyson Chandler

Strike while the iron's hot

For the past month, I've sat here and ridiculed the Dallas Mavericks.

Again, they farted around Saturday night and almost blew a win against the Houston Rockets, 106-102, after piling on a double-digit lead.

I truly do not believe this is a team seriously contending for the Western Conference Championship more or less the NBA title. It doesn't just have holes. It has large gaps.

As currently constructed, it'll never get to that point and, frankly, Dirk Nowitzki is no spring chicken and if you want to move forward in getting him a ring, then you need to do something drastic.

I think the Dallas Mavericks should concede 2010-11 for whatever it is (my prediction: A first-round exit) and look to truly go for it in 2011-12 and 2012-13 -- Nowitzki's probable two final peak years.

This means trading Tyson Chandler.


Do not get me wrong, this sounds pretty ridiculous. Well, only if you consider the Mavericks title contenders this season. If you do, then you are watching a completely different team than I or you are blinded by regular season wins against Memphis or Charlotte.

Chandler is playing fantastic. I always thought they ought to somehow get him. When they did, I was excited. He fits well. Plays good defense and is a perfect end piece to Nowitzki. He's athletic, tough and everything I've wanted for this franchise.

He's also putting up career numbers in certain stat categories in a contract year. His $12 million is coming off the books along with Caron Butler's $10 million.

My point is that Chandler is not a sure-fire bet to come back to the Mavericks. He's 28 and there aren't many more opportunities for him to get a big contract. The very fact that he's have such a great year and it being a contract year are not coincidences. I sincerely believe he'll test the market and go to the highest bidder. Who'd blame him? Certainly not me.

So, what if he leaves? You're stuck with last year's big hiccup: Brendan Haywood, who will be making $10 million in 2014-15. It gives you an 800-year-old Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion as a seventh man, Jason Terry's contract as a sixth man, the youngsters Dom Jones and Roddy
Beaubois.

Again, should Chandler and Butler leave or even should they stay, the Mavericks are not built for an NBA title.

I say, trade Chandler. Find a contender in need of size and athleticism and get the youngest, most NBA-ready talent they have on the roster. I'd avoid draft picks. The Mavericks are shitty at drafting players. If anything, use draft picks in another trade for actual talent.

Stock up on young talent. Force a team that think they're a player away to give up the farm to get Chandler. Take that talent and build them around Nowitzki, Kidd, Terry, Marion and Beaubois for the next two seasons.

After Kidd and Terry leave (hopefully ... Donnie Nelson might give them each five-year deals) after next season (both contracts are up), you have a nice foundation for our post-Nowitzki years.

Otherwise, the alternative is terrifying. After Chandler and Butler, the Mavericks have zero trade chips outside of Roddy Beaubois (who, frankly, is as unproven as they come). By next season, Kidd and Terry might be tradeable with their expiring deals.

If Chandler is traded (and possibly Butler's expiring deal) for cheaper, younger talent, it conceivable gives the Mavericks the leeway to have a lot of cash to play with in the off-season.

Now is not the time to be a hero or to be loyal for the sake of loyalty. I love Chandler as much as anyone and I prayed they didn't throw a big, long deal at Haywood last year. That handcuffs them more than anything because they are stuck with that dude holding down the far end of the bench down.

Desperate times cause for desperate measures. Let's wheel and deal here.

Squashing the Steve-Nash-to-Dallas talk

Getting Nash-ty

I think there's a select few Dallas-Fort Worth media members that really know basketball. It's a short list that includes Skin and Junior Miller.

Otherwise, I think the collective basketball IQ is the lowest for any city in the United States.

The Steve-Nash-to-Dallas trade rumors are making me throw up in my mouth. Mostly because it appears the only reason people find this interesting is because it will re-pair Nash with buddy Dirk Nowitzki.

Seriously? Is no one serious about winning an NBA title around here?

Here's a cold-hard fact about Steve Nash and the Mavericks:

THE MAVERICKS DO NOT WIN AN NBA TITLE WITH STEVE NASH!

This doesn't make Steve Nash not great. He is great and he meant everything to the Phoenix Suns. Maybe. Doesn't seem they're doing too hot without Amare Stoudemire. But that's besides the point.

Steve Nash is everything that is wrong with the Dallas Mavericks. They're soft and they don't play defense. That's Steve Nash. Again, it doesn't make him bad or even remotely not good. It's just who he is and, as evidenced by Stoudemire's departure and the Suns' freefall, Nash is no good to a team without some lead dogs.

Do you think Nash is playing stop-down defense in the Finals on Dwayne Wade in the Finals? Hell no.

Also, how many over-the-hill, defensive liabilities at point guard does one team need? Isn't Jason Kidd enough?

This rumor is beyond ridiculous. It's like the Dallas Cowboys trading for Tony Gonzalez or the Rangers going after Hanely Ramirez to play shortstop.

This team needs lean, long, athletic, young black guys on their team. Mean dudes that go to the rim and take shit off no one. They need winners. They need someone that's going to step in front of Tony Parker or Kobe Bryant and make him play his nuts off for 42 minutes for 18 points in a playoff game.

Steve Nash is none of those things.

To put the dumb cherry on the dumbass trade rumor, the very thought of including this team's two best -- AND ONLY -- trade chips (Caron Butler's deal and Roddy Beaubois) in a deal for Grant Hill and Nash certifies that the world is officially topsy-turvy.

Steve Nash means first-round exit. Period.

Thursday morning grab ass bag

Hope this makes it a good day

The Dallas Stars lost, again, 2-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes and are now in a dead heat for the Pacific Division. The surging San Jose Sharks have gone 9-0-1 and are tied atop the division. In fact, the Stars are just six points out of last in the division.

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Wisconsin wanted a rematch of the Rose Bowl with TCU next year. TCU balked at it. TCU has nothing to gain there and leave it to a big school to want a rematch after getting beat.

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The Dallas Mavericks are the worst-best team in the NBA. They win. They win a lot. Ten straight. Beat the Sacramento Kings 102-100. But they can't blow out bad teams. It kills them. They were up on the Kings by 19 in the first half and needed 15 points from J.J. Barea in the fourth to win the damn thing. The Mavericks are posers and nothing short of overhauling the entire line-up will help.

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The Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers chatted about Michael Young. He isn't going anywhere.

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Mike Hindman goes off on Young.

Mike Young's unfortunate tongue

Public relations not in Mike Young's vocabulary

I don't understand why they're so much question surrounding Mike Young's very public request to be traded from the Texas Rangers.

The timeline says it all.

Jan. 27, 2011
Rangers say they are not looking to trade Mike Young.

Feb. 5, 2011
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rangers are, again, looking to trade Mike Young.

Feb. 8, 2011
Mike Young reaches out to the media. Takes jabs at GM Jon Daniels. Admits he's asked the Rangers for a trade. Say he's been "misled" and "manipulated."

It's documented. It's real. It happened. It's not about Mike Napoli or Adrian Beltre. It's not about necessarily being a designated hitter or utility infielder.

In the span of 12 days, it has been made public that Mike Young was not going to be traded and that he was going to be traded.

I don't blame Young one bit. I'd be a bit pissed, too. On the other hand, if I'm the Rangers, I'm pissed that Young took such a adolescent route toward getting his end.

Some facts:

This Isn't The First Time Young's Spouted Off To The Media
Remember all the fussing he did when the Rangers did nothing at all those trade deadlines as Mark Teixeira and others were traded off? Remember ASKING FOR A TRADE when Elvis Andrus was added to the starting-day roster? I do not know who his agent is or who is advising him, but Mike Young has shit for brains concerning how to handle things. It seems he goes to the media at the first sign of agitation and it not only grows old among the fans, but it pisses off your boss(es).

Young's Contract Should Not Be A Thing
No one put a gun to the Rangers' head to give Young a five-year, $80 million deal in 2007. And no one should blame Young for taking it. The idea that he shouldn't bitch because he's "making $16 million a year on a World Series team" is ridiculous. Tony Romo or Dirk Nowitzki would not be treated like this if they complained. Everyone knew that contract would be a lead weight on this organization when it happened.

Young Royally Screwed The Organization
What leverage the Rangers had is gone.

The Misnomer Of 'Face Of The Franchise'
As I recall, Young never adopted or called for the crown of "face of the franchise." He's a guy that brought his bat and ball glove to the park. Got his hits. Spoke to the media. He's the "leader" only because the Rangers gave him a big contract and because he's the elder statesmen. That's it. Young is not unlike any other ball player. He wants on the field. And he's not unlike your or me: He doesn't want to be jerked around by his employer.

Young Is Virtually Untradeable
Consider that he's erased all leverage the Rangers had and he's under contract for three years. The Rangers don't have to trade him. His highest value and highest opportunity is with Texas. He's due $28 million over the next three seasons. The Rangers don't have strong trade partners at the moment. They won't get anyone decent and they'll have to pay at least part of his contract. What's the downside? Him being bitter at Daniels? Boo hoo.

Young Will Be A Texas Ranger At Least Until July
As stated, Young likes to spout off at the mouth. He also gets talked down from many ledges over the years. He has a good contract on a good, young team. He hits well at the Ballpark and more trade partners (hopefully, more desperate trade partners) will be around mid-season.

Michael Young and the Texas Rangers

Behind the scenes

In late January, the Texas Rangers came out publicly to reiterate that they were not trading Michael Young.

A week later, rumors starting flying that the Texas Rangers-Colorado Rockies deal that boiled over during the winter meetings was back in the works.

The question right now isn't who the Rangers get in return or whether or not the trade goes through.

The question: Can the Rangers, at this point, keep Michael Young?

If you want to trade the guy, then don't come out every month and tell us how you're not going to trade him. I think that's unfair to the fans and Michael Young.

It's clear the Rangers are shopping Young. I assume they want to get younger and cheaper for a designated hitter-utility infielder. Why they're still denying it is a mystery.

I think Young wants to be here and I think trying to trade him is a big mistake. You signed him to that contract. Why not play him? You can't have enough reliable bats in the line-up and I think he could have further value mid-season when teams need someone like Mike Young to play any number of positions. Or, the Rangers might actually need him.

At this point, I don't know if the Rangers and Young can really go back. How do you start the season getting constant reassurance, all the while, your employer is trying and trying to get rid of you? Just seems like bad, shady business.

Going for it

Passing the Artest

If the Dallas Mavericks want to make a splash and officially throw their names in the NBA Title hat, there are suddenly two names that can do that.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported that Los Angeles Laker Ron Artest wants to be traded. It's already been refuted. Still, might not matter. Because the other rumor flying around is that the Lakers want to shake things up.

Artest, 31, is a certified nut. Still, he brings an edge that you can't buy or teach. He's a natural small forward that can D up like no one the Mavericks have ever had in the Dirk Nowitzki era.

Offensively, Artest has never been a guy you go to in your last possession needing a basket. His offensive and rebounding numbers are all down this season. He's having an all-around awful season.

Artest is due about $29 million over the next four seasons. He does have a player option in 2012-13. His salary rises to about $7 million in 2013-14 when he'll be about 34 years old.

Considering his age, dwindling performance and contract, I doubt it would take too much to get Artest. Then again, the Lakers turned poop into Pau Gasol.

The hottest rumor is that Mark Cuban has no problem "renting" a player if it means it gives them an awesome chance to win an NBA title.

This obviously means Carmelo Anthony.

The Denver Nuggets' attempts to trade their free-agent-to-be small forward have been well documented. The New Jersey Nets want him only if he'll agree to an extension. He wants to be a New York Knick.

The Mavericks apparently have no problem being the bridge between the two teams over the summer as long as it gives Dirk Nowitzki a shot at a title.

Going to be honest: This would be awesome and it would have to put them on a plane unrealized with a starting line-up of 'Melo, Dirk, Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson. It's old, it's built for 2011 only, but it might work beautifully.

Price? Starts with Roddy Beaubois. Probably. The Nets were apparently ready to ship a handful of first round picks to Nuggets. I'm sure the Mavericks would have to do the same. But a first round pick of the Nets is completely different than a first round pick of the Mavericks.

I hate mortgaging futures. But the Mavericks are screwed. Existing contracts make them good enough to compete, but old enough to be handcuffed. Also, Donnie Nelson couldn't draft jack shit. So what good are first round picks?

Rangers made trade

That's Napoli between the T and the A

Needing depth at first base, catcher and designated hitter, the Texas Rangers addressed all three.

They sent reliever Frank Francisco (who is more than likely going to go to arbitration) and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for Mike Napoli.

Napoli, of course, was only with Toronto for several days. He was part of the booty had from the California Angels for Vernon Wells' bloated contract.

Napoli is just 29 years old, and he won't be 30 until Oct. 31. He, too, is going to arbitration.

He's a mixed bag. He had his worst hitting season last year with a .238 average. Still, he boosted 24 doubles and 26 home runs while striking out 137 times.

Still, in 2008 and 2009, he hit .272 and .273 with decent power numbers from the catching position. He is what he is. At best, he hits .270 hits 25 doubles and 25 home runs and strikes out 120 times.

And he has a creepy beard.

Otherwise, it's a great move. It first tells us that the Rangers are extremely comfortable with Alexii Ogando, Arthur Rhodes, Darren O'Day and Darren Oliver in the late innings.

I think it also means Neftali Feliz is the closer.

Furthermore, with Michael Young as your DH/utility man, Napoli can share time at first base, catcher and DH. Two kind of super-utility men. Tons of flexibility and an added right handed bat that could help maximize his talent considering he's had injury issues previously.

It provides added pop to the line-up without spending a ton of money to some overpaid, wash-up former slugger.

Not an awful move.

The Mavericks do not need to freak out

Pushin' 'n' shovin'

I realize the Dallas Mavericks just got their doors blown off by the San Antonio Spurs 101-89 tonight.

I know the Mavericks are without Dirk Nowitzki. And then Caron Butler for the rest of the season.

It looks bleak. But the Dallas Mavericks can not freak out right now. Now is not the time to do anything drastic that will put this franchise five to 10 years back.

The Mavericks have three trade chips: Dirk Nowitzki, Caron Butler's expiring deal and Roddy Beaubois.

One is UNTOUCHABLE. Another should be untouchable. The other ...

If the Mavericks want to get another big fish at the trading deadline they are going to have to trade Nowitzki and Beaubois. Trading one is unthinkable. Mortaging the future and trading Beaubois could or would be one of the dumbest moves of the franchise.

I don't know if Beaubois is going to be any good. He might flame out or remain perpetually injured for the rest of his career.

But you trade your youngsters if you are one player away from a championship. That's the only reason. The Rangers felt they were one player away. So they traded Justin Smoak and Blake Beavan for Cliff Lee.

Do you think the Mavericks are a player away? Even when they were winning and Nowitzki and Butler were healthy, do you really think they were beating the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in a playoff series?

NO WAY.

How do you suppose Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler have improved? They haven't. Terry's the same player he was a decade ago. Kidd's regressed. Nowitzki's fantastic, but he's not going to become a big defensive presence in his 30s and Caron Butler is who he is.

The Mavericks were depending on Tyson Chandler's impact and Roddy Beaubois returning. Even then, it would be an uphill battle to take down the best of the West.

The Mavericks aren't there. Maybe if they went out and broke the piggy bank and got Carmelo Anthony. Very doubtful if they somehow lassoed Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, Devin Harris or Steve Nash.

Now, Butler's a different story. I don't like Butler much and I think the Mavericks can get better and younger. If they can find a team in need of shedding payroll and can get someone that can play, then so be it. However, you're not getting anything earth-changing for Butler's expiring deal and messed up knee.

"Going for it" is not worth it if it means Beaubois. Stay calm. Stay the course.

A wrong, righted

Welcome back

On March 19, 2002, fans of the Dallas Stars were robbed.

Stalwarts of their Stanley Cup teams Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner were traded to the New Jersey Devils for Jason Arnott and Randy McKay.

In my 25 or so years of liking sports, I don't remember ever being so destraught and sad about a player leaving. And I think I speak for so many other fans that were disappointed to.

Looking back, the move was dumb. I do not begrudge a team that is looking to lose the old guard in order to rebuild or regroup for another run at glory.

However, it took another seven or eight years for the Stars to eventually to dump Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen and Sergei Zubov. And Zubie and Jere are gone due to injuries. Who knows if they'd still be on the team if they were healthy.

Today, our fan favorite returns. Nieuwendyk worked a trade with the Devils to get Langenbrunner for a 2011 draft pick.

For the broke Stars, this is "going for it." Veteran forward help, who will work the boards, make the right pass, set some examples -- basically do everything a solid hockey player does. He's 35 (but still looks 17) so I don't think anyone expects him to be a guy sitting on one of the first two lines.

Still, he's put together three 60-point seasons (career highs) in his last four years in New Jersey. He's languished on a bad Devils team this season with four goals and 10 assists. With a better cadre of offensive weapons, I suspect he'll point total improve.

It's cathartic. It's also savvy. Exactly what the Stars needed to plug into a line and solidify the back end of their roster.

Apocalypse nearing, Rangers and Beltre belting out apparent deal

Beltre: Manning the hot corner

I woke up this morning to a shock: A Dominican news outlet was reporting a contract agreement between the Texas Rangers and third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Considering I'd pay him $85 million to stay away, my heart sunk, but I was relieved to learn that it was an unsubstantiated report.

Still, rumors all day have swirled that a deal is in the works with the California Angels being the only real team in on Beltre.

I've stated my case on the guy. He's a contract-year player, who mails it in once he gets a deal and his cash. It's real and it's happened.

Thoughts were that Scott Boras was pushing for a five-year, $85 million deal.

With Beltre apparently in the works, thoughts then turned to Michael Young's role. Generally it's thought he'll slide into the designated hitter spot with time around the infield, including first base.

There's also thoughts he might be traded, the Colorado Rockies being a potential destination.

It's it odd that the Rangers are possibly on the verge of displacing or trading the face of their franchise and no one seems sad about it, or uncomfortable. It's like Young is Esteban German.