Cuban: No Dirk for Kobe Trade

Over the last two seasons, the Dallas Mavericks and their fans have experienced two heart-wrenching Playoff flameouts: In the 2006 NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade(and the refs) were the executioners, and last season, the eight-seeded Warriors took down first place Dallas in a memorable first round matchup.

Both times, it was evident that the Mavs did not have that one grab-the-bulls-by-the-horn player, the kind of fearless leader who can win you a crucial Playoff game practically by his lonesome.

As it happens, such a player is available, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban isn't willing to part ways with his MVP-winning power foward, Dirk Nowitzki, in order to get him. From the Dallas Morning News:

"I still haven't talked to [Lakers owner] Jerry Buss," Cuban said. "So until that happens, nothing can happen.

"If and when I talk to Jerry, I'll make it clear that we're not going to trade Dirk. And we're not going to dismantle our team."

I understand the argument against dismantling the team; if the Mavs gut their squad just to obtain the Kobe, they automatically transform into today's Lakers and Bryant will be back in the exact same situation: A superstar talent without the help necessary to challenge for a championship.

Outright refusing to trade Dirk (and his spotty Playoff reputation) for Kobe (who lives for the postseason), however, makes little to no sense.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-20-2007 @ 5:49PM

Aleks said...

"it was evident that the Mavs did not have that one grab-the-bulls-by-the-horn player, the kind of fearless leader who can win you a crucial Playoff game practically by his lonesome."

Interesting. Forgotten about game 5 and game 6 in the Phoenix-Dallas conference finals 2006? Game 7 in the semifinals 2006 against the Spurs? Or, if you want, game 7 in the first round 2003 against the Kings (30pts, 19reb)? Nowitzki's career stats are actually BETTER in the playoffs than in the regular season in every single category. Short memory here, obviously.

10-20-2007 @ 6:20PM

Bruce Broer said...

In addition Kobe is terribly overrated as a "clutch" player. For one thing he takes a ton of those shots,law of averages says you make some. For actual statistical analysis of "clutch" shooting and play though 82games.com website has some very interesting studies based on performance in the clutch. Both are a bit old,but very revealing of the actual success rate of players in clutch situations. People forget the misses,turnovers and lazy defense down the stretch and concentrate only on the big shots they remember.
One student of the game actually tracked game deciding(last shot for win or tie)shots over a three year period from 2003 to spring of 2006. Guess what,in those situations Kobe was 7 for 32(21.9%) on those shots. He did not have even one assist in those situations so everyone knows what he will do which makes him(and especially the team) easier to defend. Keep in mind that for one of those years he had Shaquille on his team which made things much easier(or should have if he utilized Shaq).
For comparison purposes over that same time frame Carmelo Anthony was 11 for 17(65%). The media loves Kobe,but separate fact from legend,he's not that reliable. Another study that you can reach from a link to the first showed him as 35th in clutch performance in the league(last two minutes of close games) on a wider variety of clutch criteria. Granted he has more room to make errors because he has the ball so much in those situations,but keep in mind also that a failure is a lost opportunity and inability to trust teammates is a failure.

10-20-2007 @ 7:18PM

ron said...

Come on Aleks and Bruce, You guys obviously never watch the playoffs!!!!! Dirk sucks!!!!

10-20-2007 @ 8:07PM

I actually made no mention of Dirk,but fact remains Kobe is terribly overrated as a clutch performer. It was easy when Shaq was there,but Kobe has never been out of round 1 without Shaquille. So what is clutch about that? What could he possibly add to the Mavs that Dirk can't? More points on a lower shooting percentage? Less rebounds? Freezing out teammates? Bad chemistry?

10-20-2007 @ 8:36PM

jitesh patel said...

if dirk goes kobe would reject the trade kobe is mature to the point to know that with they have a great chance to win a title without him they would be average at best with kobe, howard, harris stackhouse diop etc.... its kobes call in any trade scenerio so if the mavs want to deal howard and terry or howard and harris and draft picks and some other scrubs from dallas then the lakers would have to listen just cause of kobes no trade clause kobes the boss in any trade and jerry buss would have to listen even if LA doesnt find the trade equal in talent value for kobe cause they cant let kobe walk away for free after next season just stay tuned things will definately get interesting in a week or two

10-20-2007 @ 8:35PM

aleksthethird said...

"Come on, Dirk sucks." - This is exactly the elaborated counterargument I was afraid of. Another sidenote: Trading Nowitzki for Kobe straight-up leaves Dallas awfully thin in the frontcourt. You think a starting five Harris, Kobe, Howard, Bass, Diop wins something? Keep on dreaming.

10-21-2007 @ 8:19AM

DM said...

Mark Cuban knows that Kobe would kill the Mavericks team chemistry. This NBA fanhouse bloggers love for Kobe is getting really really retarded, this has to stop. Mark Cuban's statement regarding Kobe is evident that no team wants Kobe.