2010 CelticsBlog Draft: Southwest Division Press Conferences

[Roy H.]

Here, each of the GMs representing a team in the Southwest Division will provide an introduction / summary of their team, draft strategy, etc.  Other members should ask questions (directed to one or more GMs), and those GMs should attempt to answer the questions as well as they can.

For those participating, the opening blurbs can include some or all of the following:

1. Roster / depth chart
2. Statistics
3. Pictures
4. Statement regarding drafting philosophy (building for the future, contending now, etc.)
5. Toughest decision
6. Best move (trade, pick, etc.) / worst move
7. Your outlook for this coming season

It can be as substantial or as abbreviated as you want it to be.  These threads are open to all members, not just those posters who participated in the draft.  The more participation we get, the better.

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Dallas Mavericks press conference: Pending

Houston Rockets conference: Pending

Memphis Grizzlies press conference: Pending

New Orleans Bucs press conference:  Pending

San Antonio Spurs: Angry

[Roy H.]

DALLAS MAVERICKS

M. Camby / E. Curry / D. Pittman
P. Millsap / D. West / (Villanueva)
L. Deng / C. Villanueva / R. Carney
G. Arenas / A. Iverson / B. Walker
A. Miller / S. Telfair

Coach:  Rick Pitino

Biggest moves:

MIA trades: David West, Bill Walker, 12th round pick (17th selection)

DAL trades: Stephen Jackson, Shannon Brown, 10th round pick (6th selection)

DEN trades Gilbert Arenas, Luol Deng, Paul Millsap, Marcus Camby, 11.21

DAL trades Tim Duncan, Taj Gibson, Trevor Ariza, Rasual Butler

Can you explain the Tim Duncan trade?

Well I feel Tim Duncan doesn't have much left, and Camby is basically the same defensively. I really like Millsap as a young building block and I think Deng/Ariza is a tossup. I mainly did this because of the Arenas aspect. I feel like he's going to have a bounce back year and be a star and if i make a few more trades my roster will balance out nicely.

Your bench is thin; what happened?

Dallas ownership seemed to resign from the draft after criticism surrounding the Duncan and Jackson deals.  The Commissioner's Office filled in the roster at the end of the draft as best it could, gambling on Eddy Curry and Dexter Pittman, and selecting Carney and Telfair.

What will it take for this roster to be successful?

A return to form by Arenas, health by Camby, a surprise from the bench, and a big leap from Bill Walker.

Seriously, Rick Pitino?

I've got nothing.

Team strengths:

Defense at center and SF; depth at PF.

Team weaknesses:

Depth, character, defense

Projected finish:

If everything goes right, this team could battle for a playoff spot.

[StartOrien]

I wish Dallas would've stuck around, I think I was a logical trade partner for them.

The Duncan trade wasn't all that bad though I don't like them giving up Ariza as apart of the trade. IMO, they'd be better off with Ariza than Deng.

[Fafnir]

I wish Dallas would've stuck around, I think I was a logical trade partner for them.

The Duncan trade wasn't all that bad though I don't like them giving up Ariza as apart of the trade. IMO, they'd be better off with Ariza than Deng.

How so?

[WeMadeIt17]

I didn't see SAS as pending?

[indeedproceed]

I said Booooooo, Dallas! Boooooooooooo!

[WeMadeIt17]

Well I am Co-Gm here in San Antonio. Don't know how to do the pictures and all that fun stuff. But looking at our team now, We are a team that can make a run in the playoffs as for building for the future. Our team consist of

PG - Devin Harris/Jose Barea
SG - James Harden/Dahntay Jones/Daequan Cook
SF - Ron Artest/Chris Douglas-Roberts
PF - Chris Bosh/Chuck Hayes/Shelden Williams
 C - Serge Ibaka/Fabricio Oberto/Joe Smith

I think you look at the roster that is ready for the playoffs.


PG-Devin Harris is a proven PG who will strive with a good big man with him in Bosh. Jose Barea Is a solid backup and has shown that in dallas.

SG-James Harden. An up and coming SG who can score and shoot as well and is a underrated defender. Dahntay Jones is a proven as a great defender, and can add in points here and there. As well we have Daequan Cook is a guy who will be our 9 or 10th man who can purely shoot.

SF-Ron Artest-Great Defender can shoot and play Defense on anyone who is the other teams great scorer. Chris Douglas-Roberts another good wing defender who can also slash and create problems for other teams.

PF-Our key piece Chris Bosh- Does everything can be stopped on offense and can be a decent defender. Good thing is here he would be relied upon to be the best big man defender on the team. His backup Chuck Hayes. A reliable little big man  gets the job done in a very consistent way will box out and do all of the small things as well as score and play D. Williams is here to be an emergency backup who will fill the bench.

C- Serge Ibaka-Got a lot of flack on this but in the playoffs last season was a very good defender. Can defend all the bigs because of his ridiculous Athletic ability. Great shot blocker and can add in points when needed.  Fabricio Oberto another reliable big man who can come in and block shots and knock down open shots. Joe Smith another emergency big man, Can do what is asked block a few shots, Knock down some shots, and grab some rebounds.

With all that said I will open the floor to some questions.

[KCattheStripe]

I wish Dallas would've stuck around, I think I was a logical trade partner for them.

The Duncan trade wasn't all that bad though I don't like them giving up Ariza as apart of the trade. IMO, they'd be better off with Ariza than Deng.

Deng is way better than Ariza.

[StartOrien]

Question for San Antonio

How many minutes per game do you expect Ron Artest to play? Both in the regular season and in the playoffs.

[StartOrien]

I wish Dallas would've stuck around, I think I was a logical trade partner for them.

The Duncan trade wasn't all that bad though I don't like them giving up Ariza as apart of the trade. IMO, they'd be better off with Ariza than Deng.

Deng is way better than Ariza.

IMO Ariza is the much better fit for this team.

[Donoghus]

Question for SA:

Do you think you'll get a well behaved Ron Artest for the entire season?  Do you forsee any problems with him if your team struggles?

[Fafnir]

San Antonio:

How will you defend tough post threats? Your two top big men are Bosh and Ibaka, neither excels in post defense.

Who is going to be your playmaker on offense? Devin Harris is below average at running an offense for others, won't Bosh have too large a burden in that area?

How do you feel about only having two SFs on your roster? Does it worry you with Artest's age, CDR isn't all that an exciting of a backup if he gets hurt.

How will your bench unit defend? They're undersized at the PG and PF/C spots and overall severely lack rebounding. That spells a bad combination.

Second question about your bench, how will they score? Will you be relying on Barea in that area?

[Fafnir]

I wish Dallas would've stuck around, I think I was a logical trade partner for them.

The Duncan trade wasn't all that bad though I don't like them giving up Ariza as apart of the trade. IMO, they'd be better off with Ariza than Deng.

Deng is way better than Ariza.

IMO Ariza is the much better fit for this team.

Why?

Deng is a better defender, a more consistent offensive option, and isn't a high usage guy by any means. Plus Ariza is inconsistent at the 3 point line and that limits him to cutting to the basket and fast break points. Deng can get all of that and is also an excellent 18-12 foot jump shooter.

[WeMadeIt17]

I know that will get a well behaved Ron. He knows what it takes to win and he has matured in that sense. We know Ron Ron will make a terrific impact on this team. As for minutes I think he will get around 34-37 minutes a game. For Bosh I think he can go around the same amount but a little more I fully expect Bosh to go around 35-39 minutes a game.

[Fafnir]

I know that will get a well behaved Ron. He knows what it takes to win and he has matured in that sense. We know Ron Ron will make a terrific impact on this team. As for minutes I think he will get around 34-37 minutes a game. For Bosh I think he can go around the same amount but a little more I fully expect Bosh to go around 35-39 minutes a game.

If the team is struggling do you think he'll be well behaved?

His usage with the Kings and Rockets was 23-25. Without Kobe, Gasol, Bynum all ahead of him how many shots do you think he'll take? Will that hurt your team?