Dallas Dreams 2.0: A DDPB Dynasty

[Cap Ologist]

The Mavericks had always been an afterthought in the competitive Western conference. They could put together a winning season or two, but then something would always happen to break up the momentum, whether it was injury, coaching change or ownership change.

Their prospects looked promising for the 1995-1996 season until their owner sold the franchise to billionaire Mike English. He was by all accounts a breath of fresh air to the city of Dallas, and his first move he made was to hire his old college roommate, me, to be the general manager. I'd had several successful coaching stops in the college ranks and had been an assistant on several championship teams in the NBA as well. Mike gave me total control over the coaching staff and roster.

The roster had several promising young players in Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jim Jackson. There was no questioning of their talent as individual players, but they didn't exactly fit with what I had in mind. I knew that I could get pretty good value for them, and although Mike had given me total control, I still felt compelled to give him a call and explain what I was thinking.

I told him that I was pretty confident I could move those three guys and get comparable talent in return as well as more depth on our bench. His only comment was, "If this doesn't work, these fans might go Oswald on you." I nodded. I knew that the safe move was to keep our big three intact and hope to add pieces through the draft and free agency to go with them. But we were perilously thin across the board, and one major injury to any of the 3 J's would end our season.

And so, the day after the press conference announcing my hiring, we held another one to announce the moves we had made. Our first trade involved us sending SG Jim Jackson and C Lorenzo Williams to Utah for their backup PG Howard Eisley, PF Antoine Carr and their 1996 2nd round pick. The press were stunned momentarily, although if they had known what else was coming, this would have seemed like a mosquito bite to them. Jackson still had 3 years and 11.7 million due him, and that was more than I really thought he was worth. Eisley had shown flashes of brilliance in limited duty behind Stockton and was the tough, gritty player that I wanted.

Local beat writer Randy Callobay asked, "Why did you trade a starter for a backup to Kidd?" The shock the press felt just a few minutes ago was about to be trumped.

"Well, that's a good question," I replied. "We've also reached a deal with the Denver Nuggets to trade Jason Kidd for SG Jalen Rose, PF Don Maclean, SF LaPhonso Ellis and their 1996 first round draft picks."

Their was silence in the room. So I continued quickly, "We've also made a four team trade with Washington, Miami and Orlando:

Washington receives:
SF Jamal Mashburn (DAL)
PF Popeye Jones (DAL)
PF Cherokee Parks (DAL)

Miami receives:
PF Juwan Howard (WAS)
SG Tony Dumas (DAL)

Orlando receives:
SG Sasha Danilovic

Dallas receives:
C Alonzo Mourning (MIA)
PG/SG/SF Brian Shaw (ORL)
1996, 1997, 1998 2nd round picks from MIA

Then, we packaged SG Lucious Harris, C Donald Hodge, PF Antoine Carr, PG Scott Brooks and Utah's 2nd round pick for Elden Campbell

"Any questions?" I asked.

"So, do you need a prescription for whatever you're on?" Randy asked.

I chuckled. "Nope."

"Haven't you pretty much cut Dick Motta's legs out beneath him with these moves. Hell, he's been planning on having these guys and now here it is barely a month before the season starts and before you even get your nameplate on your office, you've wrecked the team?" Randy countered.

"If you talk to Coach Motta, I think he'll understand the reasoning of each move we've made and how we think it's going to make us better going forward. I'm sure he's confident in his ability to coach this team."

The press conference broke up after a few followup questions concerning the details of the trades. I left the room, knowing this day's work would either make me or break me.

We need two players to fill out our 12 man roster, so we sign C Tristan Karsh and SG Derek Runyan, neither of who will be back with us next year.

[Cap Ologist]

Lineup:
PG Jalen Rose
SG George McCloud
SF LaPhonso Ellis
PF Rasheed Wallace
C Alonzo Mourning
6th PF/C Elden Campbell
7th PF/C Don MacLean
8th PG Howard Eisley
9th PG/SG/SF Brian Shaw
10th C Loren Meyer
11th C Tristan Karsh
12th SG/SF Derek Runyan


Game 1: @ Spurs L 82-115
Game 2: Warriors L 82-112
Game 3: Grizzlies W 111-86
Game 4: Bucks W 102-81
Game 5: Hawks W 108-94
Game 6: @ Grizzlies L 91-96
Game 7: @ Lakers W 115-92
Game 8: @ Clippers W 95-90
Game 9: @ Warriors L 109-112 (OT)
Game 10: Bulls W 102-97
Game 11: Nuggets W 87-79
Game 12: @ Heat L 82-107
Game 13: @ Magic L 87-117
Game 14: @ Hawks L 94-78
Game 15: @ Cavaliers L 94-109

We end the first month a respectable 8-7, with 5 of our losses coming on the road. We rank 12th in the league in scoring offense at 96.1 ppg and 22nd in the league in scoring defense at 97.1 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Alonzo Mourning 20.9
George McCloud 16.7
Rasheed Wallace 14.7
LaPhonso Ellis 12.0

Rebounding:
Alonzo Mourning 13.1
Rasheed Wallace 7.1
Elden Campbell 6.3
George McCloud 5.5

Assists:
Jalen Rose 7.3
Brian Shaw 3.9
Howard Eisley 3.7

[Cap Ologist]

Game 16: @ Knicks L 99-110
Game 17: @ 76ers L 89-98
Game 18: Bullets W 98-94
Game 19: Sonics L 63-94
Game 20: Spurs L 82-106
Game 21: Suns L 78-100
Game 22: @ Bulls L 102-112
Game 23: @ Pacers W 98-89
Game 24: @ Timberwolves L 79-106
Game 25: @ Nuggets W 117-69
Game 26: Grizzlies W 100-71
Game 27: Rockets W 106-91
Game 28: Jazz L 82-93

We finish the second month of the season at 13-15. George McCloud broke his arm in Game 21 and will be out for another 45 days, then Alonzo Mourning tore his ACL in Game 27 and will be out for 319 days. I wish now that I hadn't promised to make the playoffs this season. We fell to 12th offensively, averaging 94.1 ppg and rose to 19th defensively with 96.4 ppg allowed. Both rankings will probably plummet in the coming months.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Alonzo Mourning 18.9
Rasheed Wallace 14.0
LaPhonso Ellis 12.1
George McCloud 12.0
Jalen Rose 11.8

Rebounding:
Alonzo Mourning 11.7
Rasheed Wallace 6.7
Elden Campbell 6.6

Assists:
Howard Eisley 6.3
Jalen Rose 5.5
Brian Shaw 3.9

[Cap Ologist]

Game 29: @ Bullets L 92-104
Game 30: @ Nets L 80-103
Game 31: @ Celtics W 96-79
Game 32: Pacers L 79-102
Game 33: @ Suns L 99-112
Game 34: Hornets W 101-76
Game 35: Magic W 108-86
Game 36: Celtics W 104-95
Game 37: @ Sonics L 92-106
Game 38: @ Kings L 80-100
Game 39: Pistons L 87-98
Game 40: Trailblazers L 75-95
Game 41: Clippers W 116-113
Game 42: Sonics L 85-110
Game 43: Timberwolves W 99-95

We finish the third month of the season 19-24. We are now the 13th ranked offense at 93.7 ppg and the 22nd ranked defense at 97.0 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Alonzo Mourning 18.9
Rasheed Wallace 14.2
Jalen Rose 13.7
LaPhonso Ellis 12.3

Rebounding:
Alonzo Mourning 11.7
Elden Campbell 8.4
Rasheed Wallace 7.0

Assists:
Howard Eisley 7.2
Jalen Rose 4.7
Brian Shaw 4.2

[Cap Ologist]

Game 44: @ Timberwolves L 89-111
Game 45: @ Bucks W 107-93
Game 46: Jazz L 98-104
Game 47: @ Rockets W 96-92 (OT)
Game 48: @ Jazz L 80-103
Game 49: @ Lakers L 83-100
Game 50: Warriors L 92-110
Game 51: Kings L 87-103
Game 52: Lakers W 117-111
Game 53: Raptors W 96-75
Game 54: 76ers L 107-110 (OT)
Game 55: @ Nuggets L 104-113
Game 56: @ Grizzlies W 99-92

We finish the next month 24-32. We're 12th in the league offensively with 94.3 ppg and 24th defensively at 98.0 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Alonzo Mourning 18.9
Rasheed Wallace 14.4
Jalen Rose 13.4
LaPhonso Ellis 12.6
Elden Campbell 11.7
Howard Eisley 9.3

Rebounding:
Alonzo Mourning 11.7
Elden Campbell 9.6
Rasheed Wallace 6.8

Assists:
Howard Eisley 7.5
Jalen Rose 4.8
Brian Shaw 4.3

[Cap Ologist]

Game 57: Suns W 120-98
Game 58: Nets L 99-109
Game 59: @ Hornets L 96-102
Game 60: @ Pistons L 113-119 (OT)
Game 61: @ Raptors W 113-105
Game 62: Heat W 110-96
Game 63: @ Clippers L 100-109
Game 64: @ Sonics L 69-86
Game 65: @ Trailblazers W 100-73
Game 66: Cavaliers L 87-114
Game 67: Timberwolves W 123-95
Game 68: Knicks L 92-118
Game 69: @ Jazz L 64-102
Game 70: Rockets L 87-105
Game 71: Spurs L 94-104
Game 72: Trailblazers W 108-96
Game 73: Kings L 104-106
Game 74: Clippers W 107-90
Game 75: @ Warriors L 71-114
Game 76: @ Kings W 81-70
Game 77: @ Trailblazers L 75-91
Game 78: @ Rockets L 84-100
Game 79: Lakers W 95-86
Game 80: Nuggets W 116-86
Game 81: @ Suns L 88-96
Game 82: @ Spurs L 99-101

We finish the season 34-48, full of questions of what might have been if Alonzo hadn't been lost for the season. We finish ranked 12th in offense at 94.8 ppg and 26th in defense at 98.3 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Alonzo Mourning 18.9
Jalen Rose 14.6
Rasheed Wallace 14.5
LaPhonso Ellis 13.2
Elden Campbell 12.3
Howard Eisley 9.7

Rebounding:
Alonzo Mourning 11.7
Elden Campbell 10.3
Rasheed Wallace 6.7
LaPhonso Ellis 5.4

Assists:
Howard Eisley 7.8
Jalen Rose 4.5
Brian Shaw 4.5

We'll have the 6th and 12th picks in next years draft. Rasheed Wallace is our only award winner as he makes All Rookie 1st Team. And I fire Dick Motta and take over as coach/gm.

[Cap Ologist]

Rookie Workouts:
C Marcus Camby
SG Kobe Bryant
C Jermaine O'Neal
C Lorenzen Wright
SG Ray Allen
SF Darvin Ham
PF Antoine Walker
PG Steve Nash
C Erick Dampier
PG Allen Iverson
C Vitaly Potapenko
C Todd Fuller
C Pries Lauderdale
SG Shandon Anderson
PF Roy Rogers

1 - Boston - C Pries Lauderdale
2 - Toronto - PF Antoine Walker
3 - Milwaukee - SG Kobe Bryant
4 - Miami - PG Allen Iverson
5 - Vancouver - PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim
6 - Dallas - SF Darvin Ham
7 - Philadelphia - C Marcus Camby
8 - New Jersey - PF Ben Wallace
9 - Atlanta - C Jermaine O'Neal
10 - Clippers - PG Stephon Marbury
11 - Minnesota - PG Aaron Walker
12 - Dallas - SG Ray Allen
13 - Sacramento - SG Kerry Kittles
14 - Charlotte - C Erick Dampier
15 - Portland - PG Steve Nash
16 - Detroit - SF Malik Rose
17 - Washington - PF Jerome Williams
18 - Lakers - PF John Wallace
19 - Orlando - SF Bruce Bowen
20 - New Jersey - C Shawnelle Scott
21 - Houston - C Lorenzen Wright
22 - Phoenix - PF Martin Muursepp
23 - Utah - PG Michael Hawkins
24 - Boston - PF Samaki Walker
25 - Indiana - PF Jamie Feick
26 - Golden State - C Todd Fuller
27 - Seattle - C Travis Knight
28 - New York - PG Tony Delk
29 - Chicago - PF Ben Davis

30 - Dallas - C Vitaly Potapenko
31 - Dallas - PG Derek Fisher
35 - Dallas - PF Roy Rogers

We resign Alonzo Mourning, and then trade him and LaPhonso Ellis to Indiana for C Rik Smits, PF Dale Davis and their 1997 and 1998 1st round draft picks. We then resign Elden Campbell, Don MacLean and Brian Shaw to 2 year minimum salary deals, and then we add SG Sasha Danilovic to round out our roster. We'll start out with Potapenko and Rogers in the D-League.

[Cap Ologist]

Our Lineup:
PG Derek Fisher
SG Ray Allen
SF Darvin Ham
PF Rasheed Wallace
C Rik Smits
6th SG/SF Jalen Rose
7th PG/SG Howard Eisley
8th PF/C Dale Davis
9th PF/C Elden Campbell
10th SG/SF George McCloud
11th PG/SG/SF Brian Shaw
12th PG/SG/SF Sasha Danilovic

Inactive:
PF/C Don MacLean
C Vitaly Potapenko (D-League)
PF Roy Rogers (D-League)

Game 1: @ Spurs W 103-100
Game 2: Warriors W 101-99
Game 3: Grizzlies W 121-90
Game 4: Bucks W 117-89
Game 5: Hawks L 76-94
Game 6: @ Grizzlies W 117-97
Game 7: @ Lakers W 125-103
Game 8: @ Clippers L 108-116
Game 9: @ Warriors L 84-96
Game 10: Bulls L 86-107
Game 11: Nuggets W 109-90
Game 12: @ Heat L 114-115
Game 13: @ Magic L 85-98
Game 14: @ Hawks L 79-97
Game 15: @ Cavaliers W 100-80

We finish the first month with an 8-7 record. We rank 3rd in offense with 101.7 ppg and are 20th in defense with 98.1 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Darvin Ham 16.3
Ray Allen 14.5
Rik Smits 13.6
Rasheed Wallace 13.2
Jalen Rose 11.5

Rebounding:
Rik Smits 7.5
Elden Campbell 6.6
Dale Davis 5.6
Darvin Ham 4.9
Rasheed Wallace 4.5

Assists:
Derek Fisher 6.4
Howard Eisley 5.1
Rik Smits 3.7
Jalen Rose 3.5

[Cap Ologist]

Game 16: @ Knicks W 106-88
Game 17: @ 76ers L 78-81
Game 18: Bullets W 114-101
Game 19: Sonics L 105-109
Game 20: Spurs L 95-105
Game 21: Suns L 97-113
Game 22: @ Bulls W 96-87
Game 23: @ Pacers W 109-94
Game 24: @ Timberwolves L 102-123
Game 25: @ Nuggets L 96-108
Game 26: Grizzlies W 106-70
Game 27: Rockets W 101-92
Game 28: Jazz 2 95-91

We finish the second month of the season 15-13 despite having a rash of 10+ day injuries. Our offense has dropped to 4th with 100.7 ppg and defensively we're now 19th at 97.6 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Darvin Ham 16.3 ppg (missed 6 games)
Rik Smits 14.0
Ray Allen 14.0 (missed 4 games)
Rasheed Wallace 12.3
Jalen Rose 12.1

Rebounding:
Rik Smits 8.0
Dale Davis 6.3
Elden Campbell 6.2
Rasheed Wallace 5.1
Darvin Ham 4.9

Assists:
Derek Fisher 6.0
Howard Eisley 5.2
Rik Smits 3.8

D-League:
Vitaly Potapenko: 13.7 ppg, 12.1 rpg 38.5% fg
Roy Rogers 14.8 ppg, 11.8 ppg, 53.4% fg

[Cap Ologist]

Game 29: @ Bullets W 116-91
Game 30: @ Nets L 95-110
Game 31: @ Celtics W 115-109
Game 32: Pacers L 93-114
Game 33: @ Suns L 100-113
Game 34: Hornets L 93-98
Game 35: Magic W 108-89
Game 36: Celtics W 111-93
Game 37: @ Sonics L 94-113
Game 38: @ Kings L 98-104
Game 39: Pistons W 115-93
Game 40: Trailblazers W 108-95
Game 41: Clippers W 106-99
Game 42: Sonics W 118-108
Game 43: Timberwolves W 114-103

We continue to grind it out away from .500 and are now 24-19 on the season. We are now the #2 ranked offense at 102.1 ppg and rank 21st defensively at 99.2 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Darvin Ham 17.9
Ray Allen 14.5
Rik Smits 13.8
Rasheed Wallace 12.5
Jalen Rose 11.8

Rebounding:
Rik Smits 7.3
Dale Davis 6.6
Rasheed Wallace 5.5
Elden Campbell 5.3
Darvin Ham 4.9

Assists:
Derek Fisher 6.5
Howard Eisley 5.4
Rik Smits 3.6

D-League
Roy Rogers 15.8 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 53.7% fg
Vitaly Potapenko 13.4 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 39.6% fg

[Cap Ologist]

Game 44: @ Timberwolves L 89-107
Game 45: @ Bucks W 110-93
Game 46: Jazz L 86-93
Game 47: @ Rockets W 109-100
Game 48: @ Jazz L 85-107
Game 49: @ Lakers W 99-85
Game 50: Warriors L 101-112
Game 51: Kings W 113-93
Game 52: Lakers W 116-83
Game 53: Raptors W 112-94
Game 54: 76ers W 103-78
Game 55: @ Nuggets L 106-109
Game 56: @ Grizzlies W 115-93

We finish February 32-24, an eight game improvement from this time last season. We are still the 2nd ranked offense at 102.0 ppg, but are still disappointing on defense at #20 with 98.4 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Darvin Ham 17.9
Ray Allen 15.3
Rik Smits 14.1
Rasheed Wallace 12.1
Jalen Rose 11.7

Rebounding:
Rik Smits 7.3
Dale Davis 6.8
Rasheed Wallace 5.5
Elden Campbell 5.0
Darvin Ham 5.0

Assists:
Derek Fisher 6.6
Howard Eisley 5.5
Rik Smits 3.4
Jalen Rose 3.4

D-League
Roy Rogers 16.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 52.5% fg
Vitaly Potapenko 14.5 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 40.4% fg

[Cap Ologist]

Game 57: Suns L 90-106
Game 58: Nets W 98-86
Game 59: @ Hornets W 120-108
Game 60: @ Pistons W 112-109
Game 61: @ Raptors W 113-99
Game 62: Heat W 141-109
Game 63: @ Clippers L 101-121
Game 64: @ Sonics L 112-117
Game 65: @ Trailblazers W 98-81
Game 66: Cavaliers W 83-72
Game 67: Timberwolves W 98-79
Game 68: Knicks W 115-100
Game 69: @ Jazz W 90-80
Game 70: Rockets W 99-91
Game 71: Spurs L 97-112
Game 72: Trailblazers W 97-85
Game 73: Kings W 112-87

We're 45-28 at the end of March with 9 games to go. We've now moved into a tie for 1st in offense with 102.3 ppg and are 18th in defense with 98.0 ppg.

Team Leaders:
Scoring:
Darvin Ham 17.5
Ray Allen 15.6
Rik Smits 14.2
Rasheed Wallace 12.6
Jalen Rose 11.8

Rebounding:
Rik Smits 7.1
Dale Davis 6.7
Rasheed Wallace 5.5
Darvin Ham 5.0
Elden Campbell 4.6

Our rebounding continues to be a disappointment to me. I'm really hoping that Rasheed will continue to develop in that area. Davis is outrebounding him despite playing 10 minutes less than he does.

D-League
Roy Rogers 16.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 51.9% fg
Vitaly Potapenko 14.4 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 41.6 % fg

At least our two developmental big men seem to be developing into decent rebounders. They'll stay in the D-Leagues one more week, then we'll recall them so they'll be eligible to play in the postseason if needed.

[Cap Ologist]

Game 74: Clippers W 98-79 (costly win as Darvin Ham breaks his arm and is out for the rest of the season and playoffs.)
Game 75: @ Warriors L 91-106
Game 76: @ Kings W 113-102
Game 77: @ Trailblazers W 110-98
Game 78: @ Rockets W119-94
Game 79: Lakers W 116-95
Game 80: Nuggets W 93-79
Game 81: @ Suns L 93-98
Game 82: @ Spurs L 99-107

We finish the season 51-31 and make the playoffs as the 5th seed. We finish the season as the top ranked offense at 102.6 ppg, and 21st defensively with 98.0 ppg. We draw Phoenix in the first round who finished 2nd offensively with 101.5 ppg and 13th defensively with 95.4 ppg. We'd have a chance with Darvin Ham, without him I'm not too confident.

Scoring:
Darvin Ham 17.3
Ray Allen 15.9
Rik Smits 14.6
Rasheed Wallace 12.8
Jalen Rose 12.4
Derek Fisher 8.1

Rebounds:
Rik Smits 7.2
Dale Davis 6.5
Rasheed Wallace 5.6
Darvin Ham 5.0
Elden Campbell 4.7

Assists:
Derek Fisher 6.4
Howard Eisley 4.8
Rik Smits 3.6
Jalen Rose 3.2

D-League
Roy Rogers 16.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 52.7% fg
Vitaly Potapenko 14.4 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 42.2 % fg

Game 1 @ Phoenix

Rik Smits scores 16 points and we get 13 points apiece from Jalen Rose and Elden Campbell off the bench. Phoenix has 6 players score at least 14 points, and they roll to an easy win, 136-82.

Game 2: @ Phoenix

We play much better as a team after that embarassing loss. Howard Eisley scores 17 off the bench to go with 3 other bench players hitting double digits. Phoenix gets 32 from Kevin Johnson and 23 from Michael Finley and they hold on to home court advantage with a 120-113 win.

Game 3: Phoenix

Jalen Rose scores 28 off the bench and Rik Smits scores 22. Rasheed Wallace adds 17 points and 10 rebounds. Wayman Tisdale scores 22 off the bench to lead the Suns, Dennis Scott adds 20 and Kevin Johnson gets loose for 19 and they grab a 105-102 victory to put us on the brink of elimination.

Game 4: Phoenix

Ray Allen scores 23, Rasheed Wallace gets 21, Jalen Rose scores 20 and Derek Fisher gets 18. The Suns match us with 24 from Kevin Johnson, 19 from Dennis Scott and 16 each from Wayman Tisdale and Danny Manning. We avoid the sweep and grab a 116-110 win to head back to the desert for game 5.

Game 5: @ Phoenix

Jalen Rose and Rasheed Wallace each score 21 and Ray Allen contributes 17, but Phoenix is just better than us without our leading scorer. Dennis Scott leads them with 22 and they have 4 players who each add 15 points and they send us fishing, 102-89.

[Izulde]

Ham's beasting it on offense is crazy.

[Cap Ologist]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Ham's beasting it on offense is crazy.

He's gotta be the most overrated draft prospect based on how his real pro career panned out.