Getting his wish

Van Exel goes to Dallas in multi-player deal

Planning ahead: The Mavs acquired noted Lakers killer Nick Van Exel. AP

DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a major deal with Denver just before the NBA trading deadline Thursday, getting Nick Van Exel and Raef LaFrentz from the Nuggets.

Dallas sent Juwan Howard, Tim Hardaway, Donnell Harvey, cash and a first-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Nuggets for Van Exel, LaFrentz, Avery Johnson and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

"We feel by making this trade, we will be better down the stretch and in the playoffs," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "We believe by the end of the season, we will be a better team."

Van Exel, the Nuggets' leading scorer with a 21.4 average, went public with a trade demand Dec. 8.

Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe had been trying all month to find a team willing to take Van Exel without having to include LaFrentz in the deal, but in the end the trade with the Mavericks -- a team for which he was an assistant coach last season -- was his best remaining option.

Video Select a link to launch a video clip Don Nelson discusses how the deal impacts the Mavs. CNNSI.com's Kevin Loughery breaks down the deadline-day deals. Visit Video Plus CNNSI.com's Marty Burns With Nick Van Exel and Raef LaFrentz, the Mavs add two key pieces to help them attack the Lakers. Van Exel, a noted Lakers killer, will get a shot at shooting guard alongside Steve Nash. LaFrentz, meanwhile, gives Dallas a legit shot-blocker in the middle and another big man who can shoot the three. However, in Howard, the Mavs gave up their only real low-post scoring threat to draw double teams. Also, by taking on the huge contracts of Van Exel, Tariq Abdul-Wahad and eventually LaFrentz (who's going to ask for max money next year), owner Mark Cuban is going to have to sell a lot of DQ Blizzards in his spare time. Finally, we wonder how Mavs assistant Del Harris feels about being reunited with old nemesis Van Exel. Somehow we don't think he's cueing up the Peaches and Herb. The Nuggets, meanwhile, can begin rebuilding. Howard's $20.0 salary will come off the books in '03, meaning Denver will now be in position to make a run at a big-time free agent to pair with Antonio McDyess.

Van Exel and LaFrentz were Denver's two leading scorers, and Johnson had been starting at point guard for the Nuggets while Van Exel sat out the past five games with an inflamed elbow.

"He's ecstatic," said Van Exel's agent, Tony Dutt. "I think it couldn't have worked out any better."

Dutt said Van Exel agreed to some deferrals in his current contract. He declined to provide details. Van Exel had said he was willing to forego some of the guaranteed $26.5 million in the final two years of his contract.

Howard was attractive to the Nuggets because his $20.5 million salary comes off their salary cap after next season. Howard was averaging 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Mavericks, who began the night atop the Midwest Division with a record of 37-17.

Hardaway had been coming off the bench for Dallas as the backup point guard, while Harvey had played in only 18 games.

The trade left the Mavericks with just eight players in uniform for their game against the Boston Celtics.

Van Exel, a point guard, joins a team that already has one of the league's best playmakers -- All-Star Steve Nash. He also will be playing for an assistant coach, Del Harris, with whom he clashed while the two were together several years ago with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"They have had some problems, but the respect Del has for his ability is second to nobody," Nelson said. "Del was the biggest fan for us to do this deal."

Nelson expects Van Exel to assume Hardaway's role, but play more than the 24 minutes per game Hardaway was playing. Van Exel, who at 30 is five years younger than his predecessor, will play alongside Nash at times.

The addition of Johnson gives Nelson the unexpected luxury of having a third option at the point.

Who's Going Where Team  Acquired    G Tariq Abdul-Wahad G Avery Johnson C Raef LaFrentz G Nick Van Exel    G Tim Hardaway F Donnell Harvey F/C Juwan Howard

LaFrentz will provide an upgrade at center, a position that the Mavericks have manned this season with Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Bradley, Wang Zhi-Zhi, Danny Manning and Evan Eschmeyer. Nowitzki, an All-Star this season, will now be able to play exclusively at power forward.

"That will make the team more consistent," Nelson said.

Abdul-Wahad, a shooting guard who has a $43 million contract through 2007, missed 31 games after undergoing knee surgery earlier this season. He averaged 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds. Johnson was averaging 9.4 points and 5.1 assists for Denver.

Howard came to the Mavericks in an eight-player trade with the Washington Wizards just before the February trading deadline last season. Dallas also got Calvin Booth and Obinna Ekezie, who also are no longer with the team, in that deal for Christian Laettner, Courtney Alexander, Loy Vaught, Hubert Davis and Etan Thomas.

"I felt good about that one too, but I feel real good about this one," Nelson said. "It's not that I disliked the team, because we have played at a higher level. I just felt we needed to get a little deeper. And we did that."

The Mavericks are already on a better pace than last season when they won 53 games and went to the playoffs for the first time since 1990. They beat Utah in the opening round before being eliminated by San Antonio.

 

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