A Speculative Swap: Stackhouse For McDyess

  We here at DB.com are very careful to properly label stories related to trade talk. There is the “news’’ of a trade being discussed, complete with sources. There is trade “gossip,’’ and we call it nothing more than that. There is speculative stuff – Armchair GM’ing, if you will – and largely due to our David Lord and The 75-Member Staff, we’ve historically done some good and important work here.

  Today we offer speculative stuff. But we feel so strongly about it that we’re efforting to contact our Mavs front-office connections in order to run the concept by them.

  The concept? A way to benefit from the Iverson-Billups aftermath, a way to dump Jerry Stackhouse, and a way to get bigger and better upfront.

   There is scuttlebutt that Denver may just buyout McDyess. From what I have read, McDyess is owed 13.5M over 2 years. (or, nominally 7M per --- almost exactly Stack's contract for this year--- Stack is guaranteed 9M tot. over 2 yrs). So, let's just give Denver Stack for McDyess, even up. Denver then cuts Stack and saves 4.5M. We get a decent backup 4 who can play 5 against small teams.

  Trading Jerry Stackhouse for Antonio McDyess?

  This is, in a word, genius.

  Let’s hold each other’s hand and walk through this concept, which solves problems for all involved:

  *Do the Mavs need another big? Damn right. Antonio McDyess remains a very viable big, who at 6-9 can play the 4 or the 5. (How to characterize McDyess for the uninitiated? McDyess started for Detroit in the playoffs last year and was a 8-points/7-rebounds guy in 27 minutes. He is a former 20-ppg guy who’s had the sort of career Brandon Bass dreams of. And he is a few inches taller than The Animal.)

  *Do the Mavs need Stackhouse on the floor? The (theoretical) blossoming of Antoine Wright and Gerald Green suggest that they do not.

  *Do the Mavs need Stackhouse in the room? Despite his decline as a player, Stack remains an important voice in the locker room, no doubt. But that’s a lame reason to skip over a way to get better. … besides, McDyess also has a reputation as a leader and as a high-quality guy.

  *What does Denver want in all this? The Nuggets’ sad, year-long objective has been to save money. If Denver simply wants a player it can cut, let the Nuggets acquire and then cut Stack. That deal saves them a lot of cash.

  *Does Detroit intend to get McDyess back on a round-trip trade-and-waiver? Probably. But so what? Dallas is free to interfere with that.

  *Could McDyess walk away from basketball? It’s a possibility; he reportedly “only’’ wants to play for Detroit. But $13.6 mil over two years hangs in the balance. …

  *Do the Mavs really, really like Stack’s presence on the team? Fine. After Denver buys him out, bring him back.(after the mandatory 30-day waiting period) … if you must. Either way, the Dallas Mavericks will have just acquired Antonio McDyess. … for free.

100pm nov 4 2008