Dallas Mavericks want DeShawn Stevenson to stay for the 2011-2012 NBA season
Dallas Mavericks’ president of basketball operations, Donnie Nelson, had repeatedly expressed his desire to have all the players back on the roster and claim another National Basketball Association title ever since the Mavs made the breakthrough in this year’s NBA Finals. The NBA Lockout prevents the players and the team officials for interacting with each other, but there have been reports that the Mavericks management has been sending feelers to the agents of many players that were tied with their Championship winning side last season and are now free agents.
Among those players, DeShawn Stevenson has been on top of the list.
In this year’s finals, it was the zone defence of the Mavericks that kept the Miami Heat’s trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh from penetrating into their D at will and taking them apart. Stevenson was one of the players who got under the skin of LeBron James in the finals and made sure that Miami’s best player does not get an open look at the rim.
In game 6, Stevenson scored three of five three point shots, marking 9 crucial points when Nowitzki was struggling to shoot.
When the Mavs brought in Rudy Fernandez earlier this year, it was clear signal that the Mavs wanted to bid adieu to Stevenson, but Mark Bartelstein who is Stevenson’s agent spoke to Nelson after the move was made and said otherwise
. “I spoke to Donnie after the trade and he said that's not the case at all,” Bartelstein said. “He made it very clear that he (Stevenson) is somebody they want back.”
Stevenson’s defensive ability and his competency form the long range makes him favourite for many teams. This tenacity will help the 30-year-old to be one of the most sought out players once the free agency takes place. However, Bartelstein said that his client would love to stay and win another championship with the Mavericks.
“No question,” Bartelstein said. “He would love to be back in Dallas and defend the title.”
It is nearly impossible to fulfil the wish of Nelson as the salary cap parameters will definitely be revised in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The Mavericks will have to pay a lot of money to re-sign the veteran, who earned $4.15 million in the last season. With strong performances in the postseasons, J.J Barea and Stevenson have significantly increased their worth.
Approximately $62 million has already been invested in the players by the Mavericks who are under contract for the next season. The team will prefer to re-sign Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler who are also expensive free agents.
At present, there are six players on the roster who are free agents. To acquire any one of the desired players, someone has to leave the overcrowded shooting guard’s position.
Tags: