달라스 도니넬슨의 인터뷰

[BGRANT44]

Q: What is the #1 need this team has?
A: To fortify the center position. We have had to be creative there, playing Dirk at center and even Walker at the end of the year, but that’s not going to get it done against the big boys.

Q: Is that guy available?
A: The good ones you can’t get. You hope to get something either in the draft or at the end of someone’s roster, a guy like Dalembert who is just coming into his own and maybe you can sneak him onto your roster.

Q: Mark Blount also fits that description. How do you get a guy like that?
A: You have to get lucky. There has to be a situation like with Kwame Brown, where a guy has struggled early on in the league and his team is getting down on him. The timing has to be right. And you have to be good enough at identifying young talent.

Q: Eddie Curry is another guy who fits that description, isn’t he? The Bulls seem frustrated with him.
A: Most young developing centers have issues, with youth and with getting acclimated to the NBA. But the big names are not attainable, so you have to try to get lucky. The other route we could take would be to look at established older guys to do patchwork. But clearly, the way this team is set up, we have a glaring need at the center position. There are different ways to attack that. This year we tried to do it with versatility and talent. But that fails against the Timmy Duncans and other top centers in the league.

Q: Do you think that Dampier will be in the marketplace?
A: That’s in the grapevine, yes. He’s certainly someone who is a shotblocker and rebounder, which is what the Mavs need.

Q: Is it fair to say that this year’s team had more talent, but was less a “team” than last year’s group?
A: The year before things just fell right. We were like an NCAA team, getting hot at the right time. After that season, the feeling was that we had a nice run, but we needed to upgrade the center position to take it further. We went hard after Zo, and fortunately that didn’t work out. We pulled out at the stops for Brad Miller, and that didn’t work. We were ready to go into this season with the same lineup, and then two intriguing offers came our way. We decided to attack the problem with versatility.

Q: [Something about how he thought the roster versatility worked out.]
A: There is always a risk factor when you try something new. There is the “gel” factor, especially on defense. We had the highest scoring offense in the league, but it just didn’t work on defense. The year before we were one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, and this year we improved greatly. But on defense, the “3-4” lineup was outmatched far too often, trying to keep up with quicker players. We feel that the team we have right now is somewhere in between the teams of the last two years.

Q: Do you have better chips to deal with this offseason? [cites Raef’s awful contract]
A: That’s fair to say. Last summer’s deals made us younger, more athletic, and bigger. They gave us the potential to do the next big deal. If big names available, there is probably no other team that can put together the kind of talent that we can.

Q [from caller]: Can you keep Daniels?
A: He and Nash are our priorities. We can offer him up to the full MLE. If someone wants to pay him 6 or 7 million, then we may lose him. But I feel we are in a good position to re-sign him.

Q: What are the chances that someone will make him a big offer?
A: It’s hard to say. There are some guys who have hit the jackpot, and there are guys who couldn’t get a good offer. But today most people seem to be looking at budget lines. But then again, it only takes one team, as they say.

Q: Will you try to trade into the first round of the draft?
A: It’s a possibility. We won’t be just jumping in unless the right player is available in that position. After the top four or five picks, this draft is a crapshoot. So we will have some contingent draft day stuff, if the right player is there. To fortify our front line we probably need a veteran and not a rookie, but we will have things in place to move in if the right guy is there.

Q: Were you shocked to hear that Shaq may be on the trading block?
A: That is an odd situation taking place there. I’ve heard everything. I’ve heard that everyone may be going their separate ways, and I’ve heard that at least a couple guys will stay. I’ve never seen a year like this, when three of the top five players in the league may be on the market.

Q [from caller]: Are the personnel decisions made collectively? I’m trying to determine who is accountable for the personnel moves that have made us weak defensively.
A: Obviously the head coach is involved in every decision. He has to say that the player will fit. Obviously Mark is involved. He cuts the checks. But as a triad, we do everything together.

Q: What will be the effect of the style Detroit played?
A: I think it was refreshing. So much management around the league believes you need superstars to win. Detroit won with a deep bench, with versatility, with tough-nosed and tenacious defense. It’s good for basketball.

Q [from caller]: What about the rumors that have Jamison going to Charlotte and the Mavs drafting Pavel?
A: We’re not looking to move ‘Twan. He was the 6th Man last year, he took on the bench role without a problem, we like him. Charlotte isn’t looking to take on any long-term, big-money contracts. Charlotte is in a position where they can play on the floor next year for close to free, with many teams offering $3million dollars for them to take certain players. They can take $3million dollars to draft a player who makes about that, and basically rent the talent for a year, for free. And get draft picks at the same time.

Q: You would get a nice trade exception if Charlotte took Walker. If they don’t, do you expect significant interest in Walker this offseason?
A: You factor all that in when you decide who to leave unprotected. But we’re not down on Antoine. He did everything he was asked to do this year. He went from point-forward all the way to center. But…a $13.5million trade exception would be extremely valuable. We would basically become the “new Charlotte,” with the ability to take contracts off another team’s hands. It would give us lots of flexibility, let us get involved in three- and four-way deals. If were to just trade Walker himself, we would have to come within 15%, and it would be more difficult.

Q: Is it “much the best” for you if Charlotte drafted Walker, then? Are you allowed to do things to encourage them? Are there other deals you can enter into?
A: Yes, there are all kinds of things we can do. But the problem is you are losing an asset. So we aren’t interested in offering draft picks or money. That deal is as it stands.

[Note: it was odd that he sold the trade exception rather strongly in the previous answer, as if it would be a very good deal for the Mavs. With no mention of losing an “asset.” This answer felt like posturing.]

Q: You can’t possibly come back next year with this same roster, can you? They just don’t seem to fit.
A: Sure we can. The reality is that, even though we had difficulty gelling with the new guys, the Big Three were not stellar. We were forced to be creative. There was constant pushing of buttons, people playing out of position. We were excited about the flexibility we had, but it was tough to make it all come together. But we still need to address the center situation, no matter what.

Q [from caller]: You need a center. Is there anyone who is untouchable, as you look to deal for one?
A: It depends on the player. It would be very tough to move one of the Big Three. Those guys give us the leadership and the chemistry in the locker room. We want to maintain that triad. But if it’s a huge name, you have to weigh everything. But other than that, we want to keep the Big Three.

Q: So if it’s a huge name, no one is untouchable?
A: If we are dedicated to winning a championship, then we must be willing to do whatever it takes. This is an upgrade business, Norm, which includes yours truly.

dallas-mavs.com에서 퍼왔습니다. 번역해보다가...어설픈 의역의 한계를 느끼고
그냥 올립니다. 도니넬슨의 인터뷰인데요. 도니는 돈넬슨의 아들이고 스카웃담당
이죠. 선수보는 눈이 꽤 있어 올해도 마퀴스와 죠쉬를 발굴해냈죠. 챔피언전이
끝나고 한 내용입니다.

주된 내용은 올해 센터를 집중보강하겠다는 것(뎀피어를 거론했군요.) 센터포지션
이 없는 것은 걱정되지만 액셀과 라프렌츠를 팔아 재미슨과 워커라는 올스타를
얻은것이 작년의 수확이라는 것, 센터를 얻으려면 역시 운이 좋아야 한다는 것,
다니엘스와 내쉬재계약이 1순위고 다니엘스에게 5Mil을 제시한다는 것,
5순위 이후 올해 드래프트는 별 의미 없다는 얘기,10번픽정도로 재미슨을 팔지는
않겠다는 얘기, 워커는 트레이드가 힘들고 14.6이나 되는 익셉션를 얻을 수 있어
보호안했다는 이야기, 워커가 뽑히게 하기 위해 픽이나 돈같은 자산을 투입하지는
않았다는 것, 샤크, 티맥같은 슈퍼스타를 얻기 위해선 빅3도 팔 수 있다고 하네요. 노비를 못 판다는 얘기는 없군요..

어설픈 고액계약자 재미슨, 워커로 트레이드 입질도 없고 빼도박도 못하던 달라스..
이런 것이 운이 좋다는 건가요? 샤크와 티맥을 잡으려면 연봉과 실력이 그 정도
되는 선수가 있어야죠. 도니 넬슨..한참 바쁘겠네요. 샤크-노비-티맥이면 남은
올스타들 다 줘도 환상의 라인업. 욕심부리지 말고 샤크라도 꼭 잡았음합니다.
이번에 못 잡으면 기회없을 듯.

[얄라얄라]

티맥이 댈러스로 가는 건 좀.. -_-;;; 만일 저 트레이드가 다 성사될 경우 샤크+노비츠키+티맥이 될테지만.. 사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 -_-;;;

[얄라얄라]

밑에꺼 트레이드 이야기는 원츄..

[얄라얄라]

흠.. 근데 샤크+노비츠키+티맥... 에다가 복귀예정인 힐.... 이거 장난 아닌데요;;

[장희재]

레이커스...처럼되면..;;

[THE YES]

내쉬가 탐이 나지만 제이미슨도 비싸고 일단 샤크가 빠지면 센터 보강이 절실할듯... 그런데 내쉬와 괜찮은 센터 얻었으면 합니다.. 매버릭스는 우승을 위해서는 뎀피어나 샤크를 꼭 잡아야 할듯 싶네여.. 그리고 힐과 하워드를 누가 데려갑니다.. 단장이 정신 나가지만 않으면.. 힐은 복귀가 불가능하고 하워드는쩝..~

[♡앤서사랑해♥]

그런데 뎀피어도 이제 만만히 잡을수 있는 선수가 아니니..그냥 티맥이면 티맥,샼이면 샼 하나만 잡고 뎀피어를 잡는 식으로 하는게..(티맥을 잡는다면..)..그리고 내쉬는 꼭 필요하다고 보는데..뭐 마퀴스가 신데렐라긴 해도 아직 그 거대한 댈러스를 이끌어가는 포가를 보기엔 경험이..