Mavs sign and trade DA for Anthony Johnson

by jthig32 on Jul 23, 2006 8:29 AM CDT

Deal near on third point guard

By Art Garcia
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The Mavericks are on the verge of filling their third point guard slot by trading for Indiana veteran Anthony Johnson, league sources confirmed Saturday night.

The Mavs are sending free-agent guard Darrell Armstrong and forwards Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall to the Pacers in a deal that has been agreed upon but can't be completed until NBA offices open Monday.

Johnson (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), a 10-year veteran, averaged a career-high 9.2 points and 4.3 assists last season, starting 53 games with the Pacers.

He averaged 20 points and 5.2 assists in six playoff games last season. Johnson, 31, has two years left on his contract for $2.64 million and $2.86 million.

Armstrong joined the Mavs during the 2004-05 season. As a free agent, he's agreed to a new contract to facilitate the sign-and-trade arrangement.

With a third point guard behind Jason Terry and Devin Harris settled, the next priority for the Mavs is adding another swingman or reserve power forward.

The Mavs have approximately $2 million remaining from the mid-level exception, a $1.75 million biennial exception and the ability to use Keith Van Horn in another sign-and-trade.

Among available swingmen, Devean George and Fred Jones could be in the team's price range. Power forward Reggie Evans is another option.

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That's a huge talent upgrade, from DA to AJ. The problem would seem to be that there's no way AJ will be happy with DA's role. Perhaps this means we will see Devin and JET starting together after all.

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BTW

BTW, this has luxury taxs implications for both teams.

For the Pacers, this is a pure salary dump, aimed to keep them under the luxury tax after they signed Harrington.

For the Mavs, I believe this means we will be over the Luxury Tax next year, just with AJ's contract, and it also opens up two roster spots, one of which we may spend what's left of our MLE to fill.

It's nice having an owner that, while trying to be a bit more frugal, is still wiliing to pay a little luxury tax when it comes down to it.

by jthig32 on Jul 23, 2006 8:33 AM CDT reply actions

Salary dump

I wouldn't say it is a pure salary dump for the Pacers.

They are picking up a young power forward who has shown a little bit of ability.

I'm disappointed that Powell is being included in this deal.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 23, 2006 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Powell

Really? He looked nothing but average bench fodder to me. Marshall is the guy I actually had hope for. He showed flashes of maybe being a worthwhile project during that stretch in the middle of the season where he was getting PT (and even a couple of starts, I believe).

And as for Johnson... well, you know my take on this deal. Unless Anthony Johnson is a close relative of Dick Bavetta, or has incriminating pictures of David Stern, this deal means nothing to the Mavs chances at a title.

"If you are going to type stupid shit, you should at least spell it right." -trza

by thedirkatron on Jul 23, 2006 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm with Adam

on Powell. He looked really nice at times. Hate to lose his atheticism at the four, and I hope this doesn't bite us.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 23, 2006 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Well..

I guess. Although Powell has been absolutely dreadful this SummerLeague. I would say if anything, Marshall is the bigger loss.

It's not out of the question that neither Powell nor Marshall even make the Pacer team. They're both on non-guaranteed contracts.

by jthig32 on Jul 23, 2006 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I like

this move...got job mavs!

by Agreen07 on Jul 23, 2006 12:32 PM CDT reply actions

This was

also another under the table deal from the Quis deal, keep that in mind...

"Carl Everett's world-view will be shattered when a brontosaurus wanders onto the field at Safeco. "

by miles on Jul 23, 2006 1:59 PM CDT reply actions

Um, okay

And why didn't they make this part of that same deal, then?

"If you are going to type stupid shit, you should at least spell it right." -trza

by thedirkatron on Jul 23, 2006 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

It would make the

deal lopsided and the salarys would not match up. Its a under the counter thing to make it fair...

"Carl Everett's world-view will be shattered when a brontosaurus wanders onto the field at Safeco. "

by miles on Jul 23, 2006 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I still don't see how

it's "under the counter" or what it makes "fair".

If it's true that the salaries wouldn't have been within the allowable range of difference had the two deals been consumated as one, they still could've done them both seperately at the same time if they'd wanted to.

But then again, I don't understand what you're getting at.

"If you are going to type stupid shit, you should at least spell it right." -trza

by thedirkatron on Jul 23, 2006 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Im saying

that this might have had something to do with the trade, another part of it so to say...

"Carl Everett's world-view will be shattered when a brontosaurus wanders onto the field at Safeco. "

by miles on Jul 23, 2006 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Why would teh numbers not have worked

If you put DA and AJ into the trade, are you sure they would not have worked?

by jthig32 on Jul 23, 2006 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions

x

Anthony Johnson

$2,640,000

Austin Croshere

$7,300,000

Marquis Daniels

$5,880,000

Armstrong gets about 1.5 I think...

Thats around 10 to 7

"Carl Everett's world-view will be shattered when a brontosaurus wanders onto the field at Safeco. "

by miles on Jul 23, 2006 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions

BTW

I have a strong feeling DA isn't playing next season. No way he wants to play his last year for a bad team. He said earlier in the offseason that he was going to give it one last year so he could try to win a ring.

Also, he is not a $1.5 mill player. He's a vet minimum player. I think he signed for that so they could complete the deal and Indy could dump the contract. I expect DA to be a coac somewhere this year.

by altercall on Jul 23, 2006 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions