Visions of Jason Kidd are nice and all. It would surely make for a terrific story if he ended up back where it all began, wearing a Mavericks jersey.
Back in reality, however, things won't be that easy when the Mavericks roll up their sleeves Tuesday and get to work on the business of recruiting one or two good men in the NBA's free-agent derby.
It sounds glitzy to bring up Kidd, New Jersey's point guard who is the No. 1 free agent on the market. The same goes for Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal.
But for the Mavericks, the bottom line is that their free-agent focus is going to be directed at Alonzo Mourning and Karl Malone.
While neither is Kidd nor O'Neal, make no mistake that Mourning and Malone are two big-time free agents – the sort of players the Mavericks would have had no chance of getting a few years back.
"It's a lot different than it was here five years ago," says Donnie Nelson, their president of basketball operations. "Free agents avoided us like the plague.
Via Dallas Morning News
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The Mavericks have no interest in signing former Mavericks forward Roy Tarpley, said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations.
Tarpley, 38, who was banned from the NBA in 1995 for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, has applied for reinstatement.
"I think where our team is right now, we're at such a different stage that we're really not looking to get older," Nelson said. "If anything, we'd like to have a little bit more youth and athleticism.
"We don't want Dirk [Nowitzki] to turn around in a couple of years and be surrounded with guys that are 35 and 40."
Via Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
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Claims that Jason Kidd will visit San Antonio July 6-7 as part of his free agency experience yesterday triggered a chain of questions and denials regarding potential illegal contact before the July 1 negotiating period.
Privately, the Nets must wonder how the fixed dates were determined without contact between the Spurs and Kidd. Teams may negotiate starting Tuesday and then sign free agents July 16. Prior contact is forbidden.
"We have spoken to the Spurs and they have assured us that they have not and will not have any contact with free agents until July 1," a league spokesman said yesterday.
And Kidd's agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, reiterated what he said Thursday night when the report aired on ESPN that Kidd intended to visit on those days, eventually sign on July 16 and also had interest in Dallas, Denver plus the Nets. Schwartz indicated that no dates have been set and there has been no illegal contact.
But you can't blame the Nets for being a little touchy. The Spurs were less than tickled in 2000 when there were reports, prior to the negotiating date, that both Tim Duncan and Grant Hill would visit Orlando on the same weekend.
Via New York Post
New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks
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Mavericks Jun 2003 Archive
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 28, 2003
Empty their checkbooks and strip away their holdings, and Dallas' two most visible sports owners wouldn't share much in common.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 28, 2003
Josh Howard was asked about Tim Duncan, the last Wake Forest player taken in the first round of the NBA draft until Howard on Thursday night.
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Star-Ledger | Jun 27, 2003
Jason Kidd will visit San Antonio, probably on July 6 and 7, and he hopes to make his decision on where he'll sign by July 16, the earliest a free agent can sign a contract.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 27, 2003
Teenagers and unpronounceable foreign projects were in vogue Thursday night during the NBA draft.
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Rocky Mountain News | Jun 27, 2003
said the Nuggets have given qualifying offers to restricted free agents Andersen and guard Jeff Trepaganier.
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New York Post | Jun 27, 2003
Free agent negotiating can get under way on July 1.
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Star-Ledger | Jun 27, 2003
Jason Kidd will visit San Antonio, probably on July 6 and 7, and he hopes to make his decision on where he'll sign by July 16, the earliest a free agent can sign a contract.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 26, 2003
Owner Mark Cuban denied published reports out of Chicago that the Mavericks have discussed a trade that would send guard Michael Finley to the Bulls for forwards Marcus Fizer and Donyell Marshall, another player and the No.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 26, 2003
With rumors from the mildly believable to the incredibly silly swirling about the NBA on the eve of the annual draft, the Mavericks soaked it all in Wednesday, ending the day the same way they started it – owning the 29th overall pick.
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New York Times | Jun 26, 2003
Donn Nelson, an assistant coach and the president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, has been a major figure in the booming development of international basketball players.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 25, 2003
With many teams trying to digest a huge platter of uncertainty about Thursday's NBA draft, the Mavericks have a better-than-usual chance of trading their first-round pick, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said Tuesday.
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Daily Herald | Jun 25, 2003
Why draft the Euro Finley if you can trade for the real thing?
The Bulls are negotiating with Dallas to acquire Chicago-area native Michael Finley, according to a league source.
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Dallas Morning News Writer Eddie Sefko | Jun 24, 2003
No matter where Jason Kidd shows up these days, he becomes instant news – even if there is little or no tangible evidence that the news possesses any foundation.
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New York Times | Jun 24, 2003
Jason Kidd cannot begin contract talks with the Nets or other suitors until July 1, but he indicated yesterday that the Nets' plans for the rest of the team would be a factor in his choice of an employer for next season.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 23, 2003
Somewhere in Bora Bora sits the Mavericks' No.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 23, 2003
With negotiations in the final stages, Don Nelson said he will probably sign his new contract to coach the Mavericks for the next three years prior to Thursday's NBA Draft.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 22, 2003
Now that those awkward high school years are done, LeBron James can work on making a name for himself.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 22, 2003
It's been a foregone conclusion for two weeks, but Don Nelson's three-year extension as Mavericks coach should become reality this week, probably before Thursday's NBA draft.
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Honolulu Advertiser | Jun 18, 2003
Carl English doesn't mind people spreading rumors about him.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 18, 2003
The Mavericks will get an early look at teen-age sensation LeBron James during a summer league in Boston.
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Star-Telegram | Jun 16, 2003
Could Kevin Willis be wearing a Mavericks uniform next season?
A free agent July 1, Willis believes he might not return to San Antonio.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 15, 2003
Don Nelson is back in Dallas, but there continues to be no rush to the negotiating table for him or Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 14, 2003
In San Antonio, where the Spurs are playing the New Jersey Nets for the championship this weekend, owner Peter Holt figures his team will make about $10 million this season.
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Deseret Morning News | Jun 12, 2003
A game in Mexico City highlights the Utah Jazz's 2003 preseason schedule, as released by the team Wednesday.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 12, 2003
The Mavericks exercised their option to keep their second-round selection (No.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 12, 2003
Once thought to be the missing piece, Antoine Rigaudeau might end his career with the Mavericks after just 11 games.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 9, 2003
Ladies and gentlemen, the starting lineup for your 2003-04 Dallas Mavericks!
At point guard, Steve Nash! At shooting guard, Michael Finley! At small forward, Dirk Nowitzki! At power forward, Jermaine O'Neal! And at center, Alonzo Mourning!
Before you go Humble Billy Hayes on me, first things first.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 8, 2003
After a week of first-hand research, the Mavericks' philosophy for the NBA draft June 26 remains unchanged.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 7, 2003
Mavericks guard Michael Finley will be on the short list of candidates to replace Kobe Bryant on the U.
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Miami Herald | Jun 5, 2003
A Dallas team executive said the team has not decided whether to use its second-round pick, No.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 5, 2003
The Mavericks probably will have a new coach soon – but he'll be joining Don Nelson, not replacing him.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 4, 2003
Sidney Moncrief will not return as an assistant coach with the Mavericks next season, the Star-Telegram has learned.
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Ft. Worth Star-Telegram | Jun 4, 2003
The NBA Draft isn't until June 26, but the Mavericks already have their sights set on possibly selecting a high school player to help beef up their inside game.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 4, 2003
It's being called a formality that Don Nelson will return as Mavericks coach.
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Star-Telegram | Jun 3, 2003
Although he hasn't started negotiations, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Monday that he plans to give Don Nelson what he wants: a contract to coach for the next three seasons.
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MSNBC | Jun 2, 2003
The Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz will square off in Mexico City, Mexico on October 5.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 1, 2003
Karl Malone told The Dallas Morning News the Mavericks are one of the leading contenders for his services next season.
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Dallas Morning News | Jun 1, 2003
Karl Malone told The Dallas Morning News the Mavericks are one of the leading contenders for his services next season.
