If I'm Donnie Nelson...

[Terd Ferguson]

I'm calling Dwane Casey in Toronto and offering Brendan Haywood for Barbosa, straight up (their salaries are exactly the same).

Casey built the Dallas D last year and Haywood would speed his progress by adding a defensive anchor that knows the system as well as moving Bargniani back to PF where he belongs.

Barbosa would give the Mavs an option if JJB leaves, plus his deal has only one year left.

With the reduction of salary at the C position, you re-sign Chandler.

Let Caron leave. Instead, sign Grant Hill for 2 years and about $6M.
Terry and Kidd are both in their last year of their contracts (and Fernandez has an out).


Next year, the Mavs would have around $48M in salaries (figuring Chandler at around $12M).

The Mavs could even cut another $9M by using the Amnesty clause on Marion, especially if Brewer develops into that role.
If RoddyB or DoJo develop, the team could continue to contend while adding quite a bit of youth.

[Terd Ferguson]

By the way, just read this...

Analysis: Sources with knowledge of Toronto's thinking say that the Raptors' latest plans call for hanging on to their amnesty clause for down-the-road usage. Calderon might have more than $20 million left on his deal through 2012-13, but he'd most likely be the Raptors' starting point guard if the season started tomorrow. So Toronto's not just cutting him loose.

As for Kleiza and his three remaining seasons with the Raps at $4.6 million annually, Toronto will undoubtedly wait to see what sort of cap breaks teams get with injured players in the new labor deal before eating that contract. The Raps could well save a similar amount of money on Kleiza, who had knee surgery in February, through insurance mechanisms compared to the amnesty provision. Which means there's no obvious Raptor to be asked to head for the border.

One disclaimer: Sources say Toronto is trying to be as aggressive as it can be in the big-man market in free agency and has informed the players involved that it intends to lodge serious bids for Nene, Chandler and restricted free agent Marc Gasol. In the unlikely event that releasing a player through amnesty could clinch the signing of one of those players, rest assured that the Raptors will go for it.

[Terd Ferguson]

If they are REALLY looking for a big man we might be wise to look into this. Moving Haywood might make it a little easier to sign Chandler to a bigger money deal.