Dallas and Cleve could be tough this year..!

[Meadowlark_Scal]

So Dalls got Butler and Heywood, who is big, and sometimes good. Maybe in a different place he'll put out more..Butler is a hot scorer for sure. Young and talented.....Defense, well if he doesn't yet, he could learn it..! Cleveland with Stoudamire, or murphy, or jamison, looks like they will do anything to make it happen this year....it might work...! Celts better ask them selves how they feel about getting beat by these teams, and ORL, and ATL..especially when they owned them (and LA) most of those games..! Well, not ATL, though I feel they could, if we woke up and wanted it like never before, played like there is no tomorrow..! No "Next time"  !

[PLamb]

I actually don't like the trade for the Mavericks.

I think Butler is not a 2 guard and can't cover 2 guards on defense

Heck he has problems covering SFs

Haywood is definitely a better fit for that team than Gooden but I think the lineup that will be on the court the most to decide games is going to be Dirk, Marion, Butler, Terry and Kidd

And with Dampier already there and giving the Mavs about what Haywood does, I think his assets will be lost in the shuffle of playing Dirk at center to get Butler and Marion on the floor at the same time in more natural fitting positions

As for Cleveland, remember last year when everyone was sure Wally would be traded and then wasn't

I get the feeling that all this posturing with multiple teams and the insistence of getting Ilgauskas back in a buyout is going to leave the Cavs with no trade deadline deal once again

And if that does happen and Cleveland once again gets bounced and LeBron leaves, Ferry will be fired

I don't think this scenario is as far fetched as some may think

As currently constructed Atlanta and Orlando don't worry me

If we trade Ray for an upgrade to the team as a whole, they will worry me less

[sk7326]

Dallas made a lateral-ish move.  Haywood is a good defensive C, but they already have one.  Butler has been awful this year - but he is a SF with potential, just like Josh Howard.  This trade might have improved Dallas a little - but the question is, does this move Dallas up to the LA/Denver level of seriousness.  I don't think so.

Cleveland was the best team in the league already.  They add a F, that will only help.

[Who]

Dallas improved but they're still not on par with the Lakers.

They need to cash Dampier in for another impact + a replacement backup big man.