Kings-Mavs Talks Are 'Smart' Plan C's

   Kings players John Salmons and Brad Miller might not top the Mavs’ deadline wish list. But they both represent rotation upgrades, they both possibly can be had in exchange without forfeiting major roster commodities and they are both chips on the negotiating table as Sacramento and Dallas are involved in a variety of conversations.

    For Sacramento, these talks are very much about “Show Me The Money.’’ The Kings – reportedly braced to lose $30 mil this year – are seeking financial relief and future cap space.

   For Dallas, these talks are very much Plan C. They are steps below a “Plan A’’ (such as taking advantage of the possibility of a financially-driven roster implosion in Phoenix with Shaq and Amare) and a “Plan B’’ (a hard look at “seller’’ teams like Detroit, Washington, New Orleans and Milwaukee). Plans A and B are expensive and complex and worthy of great in-house debate for any team. (We’re told one Eastern team front office is completely split and in deep debate over the idea of acquiring Amare Stoudemire. We’ll have more on this later in the day.)

   But Plan C? That would feature as its centerpiece Jerry Stackhouse’s expiring and change and would bring in return a rotation-caliber player. Plan C also applies to talks with Oklahoma City and others

  DEALING FOR THE KINGS’ JOHN SALMONS

  HOW CAN IT BE DONE? Our understanding is that there is already an assortment of deals on the table for Sacto to choose from, all of them designed to appeal to the Maloof family’s wallet. Salmons’ contract goes something like this: $5.1 million this season, $5.4 million next season, and a player option of $5.8 million for 2010-11. The Mavs’ hope is that an expiring contract is about all Sacto needs to make this happen; something slightly greater than an expiring contract could push the swingman to Dallas.

   WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO THE ROSTER? Our David Lord compares Salmons to ex-Mav Marquis Daniels. … in some ways that are positive and in some ways that are not. He’s got an easy-flow style and long arms and a nice mid-range game, and he can certainly find scoring opportunities – at least on a bad team, where he’s an 18-ppg guy. Salmons is not a good defender, does not seem to have quick feet and while the 6-6 Salmons has blossomed this season, he does not have a great pedigree.

    Having said all that: He represents a potential upgrade over Antoine Wright at the 2, and would certainly get enough minutes to expand Dallas’ rotation to nine men.

   DEALING FOR THE KINGS’ BRAD MILLER

   HOW CAN IT BE DONE? This is the least complicated of all possible Mavs acquisitions. We think it’s the fall-back position for Dallas, something less than a primo target but a one-in-the-hand sort of possibility. Miller’s deal pays him $11.3 mil and comes off the books for 2010. The second part of that equation is attractive, of course. And the first part is easily solved with a Stack-plus-change offer. It’s a matter of coming up with $9.02 mil in matching salaries. Simple.

   WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO THE ROSTER? The soft-handed veteran center who can shoot and pass has to be on just the right team to be successful. From D-Lord, the negative: “On offense, Miller takes up the same space on the floor that Dirk does. And on defense? Well, he takes up no space at all.’’

  He’s no Shaq and and he’s no Tyson Chandler he’s no Camby.

  But there are positives. A big-man rotation of Damp/Dirk/Miller is attractive if you think of Miller as the backup at the 4 and the 5. Dallas’ inside-out game would improve because of Miller’s passing skills. He’s tough and he’s a pro and as a 12/8 guy, he’s statistically superior to anybody who has played center in Dallas in a decade-and-a-half. And did we mention he expires in 2010?

    There is a caveat to dealing with the Kings, all agree: They desperately want to dump their $20-million Beno Udrih error on any Salmons/Miller taker. In our view – and this isn’t coming from the Mavs – the insistence on Udrih’s inclusion should be a deal-killer for either player unless Sacto is willing to take back a similarly overpaid player such as Matt Carroll.

    And if there is no agreement there? The Mavs – wanting to make that “smart’’ move and not that “panic’’ move -- should move on to Plan D.

1001am feb 17 2009