Matrix A Mav: 17 Scoops, Angles And Guesses About The Stack/Marion Trade That Are Coming True

    “It’s been a long day,’’ Mark Cuban said on Wednesday evening, “of looking at spreadsheets, reading NBA cap rules and rubbing my eyes.’’

    Join the club, Mark.

    The skillful use of what DallasBasketball.com long ago termed “The Stack Chip’’ has come to fruition with multiple outlets confirming that four-time All-Star Shawn Marion has been acquired from Toronto in what DB.com is told might be a very complicated four-way deal.

    It was back on Monday when we first predicted these talks would occur. Along the way, we’ve gathered other assorted insights that help us predict what we think comes next.

     Go ahead and score these at home. … 17 Scoops, Angles And Educated Guesses About The “Stack Chip’’/“Matrix’’ Trade … That Seem To Be Coming True:

    Done. With a month to spare. The heat was on everybody else.

    2 We said Dallas was in the driver’s seat because Toronto had no other options.

   The Raptors were either going to let Marion walk (because their Hedo signing ate up their cap space) or they could be given a token.

    Dallas gave them a token, and a hearty handshake.

    3 We said Marion would be enthusiastic about it because Marion had no other options.

    Other clubs might’ve given Marion their full-MLE. Not bad. Dallas was able to crush that possibility with the trickery of “The Stack Chip.’’ Marion feels wanted, he get paid in a market that wasn’t going to otherwise pay him, he escapes an also-ran and goes to a contender. All of that might just make him less of a temperamental teammate.

    (Sidebar: Chris Bosh just Tweeted a “welcome to Toronto’’ note to Antoine Wright and Devean George, and a “goodbye’’ note to Kris Humphries. But he didn’t say anything about Marion. Hmmm.)

    4 We said Marion would get at least four years and $7-to-$8 million a year, but with the first year down at $6.25 mil. … but might be handed a fifth year that inflates the look of the deal but could be cleverly structured ala “The Stack Chip’’ and the coming “DUST Chip.’’

    Along comes TNT’s David Aldridge reporting that Marion will get a five-year, $40-million contract. (We bet it’s a notch below that, but whatever.) That’s $8 million a year. … and given Dallas’ crafty track record, just how guaranteed do you think that last year is?

   5 We said Dallas wasn’t getting Marion with the intent of re-trading him.

   Find them an iso-stud swingman who can create his own shot, slash and hit 3’s and on the other end guard Kobe. Until you find him, they’re keeping Marion.

   6 We said Dallas wasn’t looking to turn around and flip Josh Howard.

   I’m prepared to eat crow on this. Wanna bet? Let me know when that rumored Howard-for-Richardson swap occurs. You can find me at the betting window. Give me your money.

   7 We said the machinations here might require a third team’s involvement. 

   Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley says Memphis will end up with Stackhouse. … But now Yahoo is saying that Orlando is working as part of the multi-team deal. ... and we are confirming that.

    More teams want a piece of this? Dallas’ position in the driver’s seat gets even more comfy.

   8 We said Cuban needed to drive a hard bargain here and not take on additional crap.

   We’re not certain of the details yet. We were turned onto this entire concept and broke the notion of the trade because of the announced availability of Kris Humphries. Taking on Humphries wouldn’t represent too much crap. (Ric Bucher says Greg Buckner is coming to Dallas, too. Cool.)

   9 We said repeatedly that Cuban wanted to use “The Stack Chip’’ in a way that was “All-Star-or-bust.’’

   Shawn Marion is a four-time All-Star. And this isn’t some Doug Christie/Eddie Jones deal. He was an All-Star last in 2007. On a good team – especially with an up-tempo approach – he can do it again.

   10 We said the Mavs would need to make a deal at least as good as the ones available involving Shaq, Jefferson and Carter.

    This is subject to debate – we’ll go in-depth on it in the coming days – but let’s start here: Compare the salaries of the four players. Marion is going to make about half what they make. … I like Jefferson, and that comparison is close. But is Jefferson twice the player Marion is?

    11 We said the Mavs cannot be overly concerned with age.

    Well, Marion, Dirk and Terry are all 31. Josh is 29. Kidd is 36. Too old?

    Look at the Spurs. If the Spurs’ age doesn’t preclude them from being contenders, Dallas’ age shouldn’t, either.

    12 We said the Mavs’ plan is to get much better this summer …

    The Mavs’ starting lineup: Marcin Gortat, Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard and Jason Kidd, with Jason Terry, Erick Dampier, JJ Barea and ________ (Brandon Bass? A BAE pickup) off the bench. (That guy apparently won’t be Anthony Parker, by the way. He was on Dallas’ BAE wish list but seems headed for Cleveland.)

     Dallas is two starters better than it was a week ago. Give them credit for Kidd and Dallas is a +3 this week.

    12 … While retaining flexibility for next summer. In other words, a “go-for-it’’ mode now. … and another “go-for-it’’ mode next year, too. And never in The Dirk Era should you “blow it up.’’

    It’s “The Dirk Era’’ and the “Yen For ’10,’’ holding hands and skipping down a rosy path!

    13 We said the 2 and the 3 are interchangeable.

    Of course, we had a Mavs staffer tell us, “It’s not that simple.’’

    So we are not yet right or wrong. Fitting Marion in, or pushing Josh to the 2, or rotating guys around so The Matrix plays some 4. … hey, Marion is going to be a double-double threat, is capable of scoring 20 a night, will contend to be the club’s leading rebounder, and is the closest thing to a two-way stopper Dallas has had since … nobody.

     Carlisle’s job will be to make it simple. SmallBall? Dirk, Kidd, Jet, Matrix, J-Ho? Wicked. Rebounding? Gortat, Dirk, Matrix, Kidd. Four of the best at their spots. Defense? I saw where some “expert’’ said Dallas will move down a notch this year thanks to these moves.

    The Mavs are adding Shawn Marion and Marcin Gortat and are getting worse on defense?

    Somebody please revoke that man’s press pass.

    Anyway, Marion/Josh give Dallas options.

    Coach ‘em up, Coach.

    14 We said other minor moves – some difficult to comprehend as the roster was becoming bloated -- were being made in anticipation of a blockbuster.

     By the time the dust settles on this thing, maybe Antoine Wright is shipped out. Maybe Devean George is shipped out. And you have more room for Singleton for sure. You maybe have more burn for Bass, if he stays. And you can finally explain to your fan base what the point of Quentin Ross is.

   See, if Antoine Wright leaves and if Devean George leaves, Q-Ross has a role. Get it?

      15 We said Kidd’s presence would make Dallas more attractive … and that a Kidd-Marion re-teaming would be tantalizing.

      A decade ago, Kidd was Marion’s PG in Phoenix. That’s when “The Matrix’’ was born. What can Marion do now with a distributing PG? Well, check him out the last time he had one:

      During the 2006–07 season, Marion was one of two players (the other was Kevin Garnett) to rank in the top 40 in points per game, rebounds per game, field goal percentage, blocks per game, steals per game, and minutes per game.

       The year before that he recorded almost 22 points and almost 12 rebounds a game and was his team’s defensive ace.

      Yes, Kidd and Marion will be fun.

      16 We said Cuban and Donnie actually have a clue, and a plan, and between them, two big brains.

      Now, don’t get me wrong. … they’re not as sharp as you, sitting there in Row LL. … and they’re not as smart as you spending all your day crafting Amateur GM notions up on DB.com Boards  ... But they got a lil’ something upstairs.

       17 We said there is at least one more big deal coming after Marion, Kidd and Gortat.

    At this point, are you really going to question us? ;)