Did Avery Johnson Push for a Dirk Trade?
And you thought the Jason Kidd-to-Dallas trade was a surprise.
Time to put one more into the ‘Whoa! Didn’t see this one coming’ file: The NY Post’s Peter Vescey insists that Dallas Mavs head coach Avery Johnson tried (and failed) to get rid of his best player, Dirk Nowitzki.
According to an infallible source, the Mavericks’ coach pressed team owner Mark Cuban to deal Dirk after the NBA’s MVP came up shamefully small against the Warriors in last season’s upsetting first-round elimination, but was overruled.
Johnson, you may recall, famously threw Nowitzki under the bus shortly before the start of this season when he publicly questioned the star’s leadership abilities.
By all accounts, Mavs owner Mark Cuban adores the big German, and it’s probably a good bet that the head coach will be gone long before he ever considers trading away his prized power forward.
67 Responses to “Did Avery Johnson Push for a Dirk Trade?”
Feb.19 at 1:01 pm
H to the izzo says:
Boo to speculation.
Feb.19 at 1:03 pm
TADOne says:
This IS Peter Vecsey we are talking about.
Feb.19 at 1:03 pm
riggs says:
whats blonde and tall and pink all over?
Feb.19 at 1:04 pm
Myles Brown says:
What could they have gotten for him at that point anyway?
Feb.19 at 1:07 pm
nick says:
And this is coming out just now…why? It’s possible, but….I just don’t really care.
Feb.19 at 1:18 pm
Dark says:
Replace Dirk with KG and that team becomes better. Avery’s defensive philosophy and no-D irk just doesn’t mesh well; Dirk just can’t set the tone for them on the defensive end.
Feb.19 at 1:21 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Avery wanted Kobe!
Feb.19 at 1:21 pm
Dark says:
Oh, and Vecsey is a complete jacka**. Ship his a** out with Isaiah.
Feb.19 at 1:37 pm
Captain America says:
Avery Johnson is right! Dirk doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude (guts) of a champion. He is a puny little man against the riggers of those more powerful then him.
Feb.19 at 1:37 pm
Captain America says:
than (for you perfectionists)
Feb.19 at 1:40 pm
Myles Brown says:
Rigors too. And for the record, I would’ve gone with testicular fortitude.
Feb.19 at 1:42 pm
Captain Planet says:
Rigors (for Captain America)
Feb.19 at 1:50 pm
H to the izzo says:
Captain America:I swear to God,I thought BET wrote that before I noticed your name on it.
Feb.19 at 1:51 pm
Captain America says:
Myles, must be hooked on phonics today.
Feb.19 at 1:53 pm
Captain America says:
Izzo, I don’t scare easily, but…
Feb.19 at 1:54 pm
JohnnyRebel says:
DIRK THE FURHER OF THE NBA WILL CONTINUE TO REIGN!!!
Feb.19 at 1:56 pm
Kadavour says:
I welcome any opportunity to say: Dirk winning that MVP was an utter travesty and he’s likely the worst MVP selection ever.
Feb.19 at 1:59 pm
Stewie Griffin says:
Who can blame Avery? I still can’t get over the fact Dirk was name MVP of the regular season last year…LeBron, Kobe and Kidd have done so much more with way less talent around them. The Lakers will soon know that europeans PFs are soft when it matters the most
Feb.19 at 2:20 pm
BK says:
Kidd for MVP?
Feb.19 at 2:24 pm
JohnnyRebel says:
DIRK SHOULD OF WON MVP IN 06′ BUT WAS ROBBED. DIRK IS SUPERIORITY PLAIN AND SIMPLE. ALL HAIL THE FURHER OF THE NBA!!!
Feb.19 at 2:27 pm
Cordie Ray says:
AJ is right! Did you see the All-Star game when, in the waning moments, Lebron went strong to the hole and posterized Dirk. It’s not that Lebron can’t do that to anyone, it just looks so easy to do it on Dirk, and it doesn’t seem to be a secret. On the flipside, how often do you see Dirk go strong? And AJ respects reserved play! Remember, this is the guy who got a championship out of David Robinson (BEFORE) Tim Duncan.
Feb.19 at 2:29 pm
polowthaJon says:
I say one more in year in Big D without a championship spells the end of the Dirk era. He should go to phoenix!
Feb.19 at 2:40 pm
Jimmy G says:
Rebel is right I thought Dirk and Lebron were co-MVPs in 06. People forget that season that all of the Mavs big players outside of Dirk and Terry missed 15+ games. As for Lebron, he let a Cavs team with a backcourt of Damon Jones and Eric Snow to the playoffs. Talk about scrubs. I think this is more than speculation. I think Avery wanted KG, bad. Avery knew this team couldn’t stay the same after back to back heartbreaks in the playoffs.
Feb.19 at 3:09 pm
MagicMike2k7 says:
wow.
Feb.19 at 3:10 pm
peteb80 says:
Johnny you are an absolute moron.
Feb.19 at 3:15 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
If Dallas ever really did put Dirk on the table, I wonder what kind of offers they’d get?
Feb.19 at 3:17 pm
Hot Pubes says:
Dirk has nice hair!
Feb.19 at 3:25 pm
Reggie Evans says:
A Bratwurst and some Schnitzel for Dirk, ja?
Feb.19 at 3:28 pm
Allenp says:
Boozer and AK47? Brand and Maggette? Randolph, Outlaw and Webster? Three I came up with off the top of my head. The Clippers one is a little shaky though.
Feb.19 at 3:29 pm
Allenp says:
Gordon, Wallace, Thabo and Thomas
Feb.19 at 3:41 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Boozer AND Kirilenko? I think the Jazz would be nuts to even think about doing that. Doesn’t Memo do the same things Dirk does AND rebound better? I feel like Dirk’s value is dropping by the day–he’s a No. 2 guy (he may have the talent to be a No. 1, but not the fire and leadership ability) getting paid like a No. 1. His ASG lowlight reel doesn’t help.
Feb.19 at 3:43 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
That Bulls deal is nuts, too. I’d GIVE away Gordon and Wallace in a heartbeat, but I think Thabo and Tyrus are going to be big pieces down the line. (And as for the Blazers combo, you remember that Randolph is a Knick, right?)
Feb.19 at 3:55 pm
tealish says:
haha, poor z bo. That shows where his career’s at now.
Feb.19 at 4:12 pm
CoolWhip11 says:
Dirk is Dallas’ best player???
Feb.19 at 4:17 pm
Jukai says:
I gotta agree with Russ, even though I’m a huge Dirk supporter. I think the guy has all the talent in the world; a seven footer who can take it to the rim and shoot the three. He’s an above average rebounder and passes like a pro. But there is no way Dirk can lead his team to victory… not a chance. Any strength in his will was shattered since the Golden State victory and now he’s a super star on the outside with absolutely nothing inside. If you think about it, the Dirk trade might have been for the best for both teams. Put Dirk with Kobe, Lebron, Wade, KG, Duncan…. you put him with a LEADER, who can impose his will on the team, you got an amazing near championship team. Dirk’s got a world of talent, but he just don’t got it in him. I wouldn’t trade Boozer and Kirilenko.
Feb.19 at 4:19 pm
Jukai says:
Hell, what about Kirilenko and Okur for Dirk? That would be a great trade. Utah would easily be my championship pick: Deron leading the way, Boozer imposing his will on other teams, and Dirk bringing the stats and not worrying about having to bring ANYTHING else. I’m not sure if the Mavs would do it… Build the team around Howard, hope for the best?
Feb.19 at 4:20 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
i wouldn’t trade Boozer for Dirk straight up. At least I don’t think I would.
Feb.19 at 4:24 pm
Jukai says:
Well, I wouldn’t go THAT far Russ.
Feb.19 at 4:28 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’m probably biased because I just wrote about him, but Boozer is a great fit for the Jazz. He’s a terrific rebounder, a load in the blocks, and he gets along great with Deron Williams. His defense still needs work, but Kirilenko cleans up a lot of mistakes. Also, I can’t imagine Dirk playing for Jerry Sloan.
Feb.19 at 4:33 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Kirilenko and Okur for Dirk would be interesting. Both of those guys would complement Kidd fairly well. What about Stoudemire? Amare would be even more of a monster with Kidd, and you’d reunite Dirk with his hetero life partner. Also, Dirk would complement Shaq better than Amare would.
Feb.19 at 4:35 pm
Cheryl says:
i’da been pleased as punch to take dirk and jt for shaq. wouldn’t been mad at all.
Feb.19 at 4:36 pm
what says:
Josh Howard has been the Mavs best player for the last 2 years.
Feb.19 at 4:37 pm
peteb80 says:
Yeah, in the first quarter.
Feb.19 at 4:41 pm
Jukai says:
Well, Russ, when I looked at your comment, I didn’t think of team situations. I just thought “Dirk for Boozer, straight up.. Dirk everytime!” But yeah, Boozer is a much better fit for Utah and Dirk would be a much better fit for the Mavs. The Amare trade, I don’t even know…. how well did Nash and Dirk work out in the first place?
Feb.19 at 4:41 pm
polowthaJon says:
some guys are not born leaders like Kidd or Nash. Dirk is obviously a all star talent, but he just isnt the type of guy who will inspire the guys around him to play better.
Feb.19 at 4:47 pm
peteb80 says:
So who are some players who “inpire the guys around him” and who are not point guards or bullies?
Feb.19 at 4:48 pm
Stewie Griffin says:
BK, I was talking about Kidd circa 2003. He put the Nets in the playoffs…with Kerry Kittles in that roster…THAT is awesome
Feb.19 at 5:29 pm
TADOne says:
Dirk for Elton after the Mavs flame out in the 1st round again.
Feb.19 at 5:31 pm
Sarah says:
Dirk drags them down without a doubt. He’s not, nor will he ever be, a leader. All he does is shoot fadeaway jumpers and he still always wants the foul. He doesn’t want the ball in crucial situations. Dirk in the post is a joke. Good player? Maybe so. Champ? He doesn’t have what it takes to lead his team there.
Feb.19 at 5:54 pm
Allenp says:
Randolph wasn’t a Knick when Avery was looking at trading him. I thought we were using Dirk’s value in that year, not right now. Back then, with AK47 slumming and Boozer often injured, I think the Jazz would have considered that trade.
Feb.19 at 5:56 pm
Allenp says:
And Thabo has shown signs, but I find it disturbing that Thomas still can’t dribble or shoot. That’s bad news.
Feb.19 at 5:59 pm
Allenp says:
Kerry Kittles was nice before the knee injuries, don’t sleep. Nice slasher with three point range.
Feb.19 at 6:19 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Ah yes, I was thinking now, not then.
Feb.19 at 8:48 pm
Sesa says:
Well, I thought that Kidd and Avery Johnson was a bad combo. I smell a coaching change.
Feb.19 at 9:35 pm
Glen says:
The Okur, AK47 trade would be ok, except for the fact that a team that had either Boozer (strong enough, but too short) or Dirk (self-explained) at center would not be good…
Feb.19 at 9:36 pm
phil says:
Dirk for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, and Sebastian Telfair.
Feb.19 at 10:54 pm
Dacre says:
Dirk to the eastern conference would be interesting.
Feb.20 at 4:43 am
McDonalds Fan says:
A lot of racists on here. Dirk is by far the best player on the Mavericks. Josh Howard averages about 2 points in the second half of games. I dont know if its a xenophobic or anti-German thing but Dirk gets far more hate than he deserves. He gets his team to the finals 2 years ago and now he sucks? fools
Feb.20 at 8:06 am
maio says:
Please Mark Cuban just don’t hire Larry Brown.
And Toni Kukoc was a way better basketball player than Dirk.
Feb.20 at 8:47 am
Deannba says:
macdonalds fan, how is there alot of racists :S clearly dirk is not as good as people think as he never wants the ball in the clutch and didnt exactly do much agaisnt the warriors last year did he ? just watch how he plays and then compare it to power forwards such as kg, duncan, stoudemire, boozer etc etc. the fact he won mvp must strongly anger players like kobe, lebron, nash who were much more deserving. and i would take boozer over dirk any day of the week, you cannot accuse me of being racist seeing as i am white . . .
Feb.20 at 10:14 am
marazolavich says:
you can be racist against lots of other things other than colour,…i think Mcdonalds fan is pointing at a anti european thing,…lol need to come to europe and uk then some americans could see what a real influx of too many foreigners is.
Feb.20 at 12:43 pm
Jukai says:
Glen, Okur isn’t that great of a center, he plays like a small forward.
Feb.20 at 12:45 pm
Jukai says:
McDonalds fan, I think racism and stupidity are very different. People are STUPID cause they ignore what Dirk is great at (putting the ball in the basket) and focus on his lackings (bad leader) and then say incredibly stupid things like Kukoc > Dirk.
Feb.20 at 1:33 pm
speedy says:
Deannba watches NBA for two years .
Dirk had the ball a lot in playoffs and he did make a lot of great plays before the Finals 06 and last years blackout.
But people always forget that Dallas had a great team with Finley and Nash and Dirk together but somehow they got rid of Finley and Nash what was dumb.(They would have at least one ring right now)
Dirk adjusted and led ( I repeat LED )the Mavs to the finals in 06 where they lost . ( I still wonder how many calls DWade got.)
Last year like I said was a blackout and a burnout. But I think that has a lot to do with Avery Johnson who couldn’t show his team a good way to play against a perfectly tuned squad from Oakland and he also let them go fullspeed the whole season what then showed in the first round.
So never forget how good he was before all the changes ( I forgot to mention the coach was changed )and how good he can still be .
Feb.20 at 2:27 pm
Allenp says:
Finley and Nash would have gotten them a ring? Based on what? You do realize that his last year in Dallas Nash had a horrible year and the Mavs lost in the first round, right? Random unsupported statements make you appear unintelligent. They say a word to the wise is sufficient.
Feb.20 at 5:05 pm
ezra says:
i think they should trade someone else for kidd rather than trading dirk, i think it would be a good combination to have both kidd and dirk together. with kidd’s passes and dirk’s shooting abilities, yea they should be together on one team
Feb.20 at 6:37 pm
speedy says:
Excuse me Mr. Einstein - it’s dumb dumb again. Yes right speedy.
-2001 (first time in the playoffs with this team) second round
-2002 second consecutive second round appearance
-2003 conference finals
I think they won some games and they lost some but in my opinion they could have gotten better .
And whats funny. Somehow Nash became MVP twice since then and Finley always was a legit scorer and defender.
Yeah in my opinion they would have a ring right now.
One last word I don’t appear unintelligent I am
unintelligent.
What means sufficient.