Mavs To Start Caron Over Jet. But What About The 'Other' To-Be-Supplanted Starter?

   The media and the Mavs are so caught up in Jason Terry’s team-first generosity – he graciously volunteered to sacrifice his starting 2-guard spot for newcomer Caron Butler before he could be asked to do so – that ignored in the excitement of the three-player package coming to Dallas from Washington is the likely replacement of another fixture in the Mavs’ starting lineup.

  Or have you forgotten about Erick Dampier?

   “You mean have I spoken to Damp about this?’’ Carlisle said to me when I posed the question of the “other’’ starter whp might be benched. …

    I think, though, that Rick just answered the question.

    Shifting Terry back to the bench in favor of Butler is an easy call, really; Jet volunteered for it publically this weekend in a conversation with Tim MacMahon in which the veteran leader said it is in the Mavs' best interests for him to come off the bench again. By the time the coach called Jet on Sunday morning to discuss the idea with him, the idea’d already been accepted by Terry.

    “Hey, he is the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year,’’ Carlisle said. “Listen, the guy is a dream. He’s one of those special people. He’s proven it over and over again. This is just another example of his commitment to winning.’’

    Jet as the backup 2-guard is a natural (as long as Jason doesn’t superstitiously tie his recent surge to being a starter). Butler as the starting 2-guard makes sense on an athletic level.

    “I played some 2-guard for a while earlier this year in Washington,’’ said Butler, who might end up as a small forward on the defensive end, with Shawn Marion serving as the do-it-all perimeter defensive ace. “I'm looking forward to that challenge, and I'm looking forward to this new system and this situation to do some good things.’’
    But it also makes sense on a camaraderie level.
     “(Jet) has always been like a big brother to me ever since … I came into the NBA," Butler said. "That (volunteer benching) meant a lot. He told me that if I need anything, he’s got me. He’s just making the transition real smooth for me to come in here and try to be as effective as I can immediately."

   OK, so that’s settled.

    Now, what about the other probably-supplanted starter?

    “It’s a great compliment, ‘’ Haywood said as he joined Butler and fellow ex-Wiz DeShawn Stevenson at the newcomers’ introductory presser at the AAC. “But at the end of the day, I’ve got to go out and compete and prove it.’’

   That “end of the day’’ starts right now.

   Damp’s otherwise-effective season is being marred by a left-knee injury that caused him to miss three of the four games before the All-Star Break and in many ways helped pushed the Haywood acquisition. The presence of Haywood can, oddly, have two impacts on Damp: It can push him. … but it can also allow him some rest.

    I mentioned to Carlisle that in my early-season conversations with Damp, he was truly inspired by the challenge presented by Drew Gooden, who the organization announced was brought here to beat out Dampier.

    And by “inspired,’’ I mean “kind of pissed.’’

    But that worked. Damp played well. Gooden, part of the Josh Howard package that goes to D.C. in exchange for the newcomers, played well. Both played important roles.

     “(Haywood) will be playing immediately, no matter what,’’ said Carlisle, who is talking about Tuesday night in Oklahoma City – at which point, with about 15 minutes to go before tipoff, he will as usual release his starting-lineup plans. “What’s significant is we have another big body who is a proven player.’’