The Dallas Mavericks made a bold move to upgrade their backcourt, an indication that they expect to challenge for the NBA title this season, though its not a move without risk.
Norman Powell Jersey . Numbers Game breaks down the Rajon Rondo trade. The Mavericks Get: PG Rajon Rondo and PF Dwight Powell. Rondo, 28, is a pass-first point guard who has averaged a league-leading 11.0 assists per game since the start of the 2010-2011 season and leads the league this season with 10.8 assists (and 76.1 total passes) per game. As a shooter, Rondo is abysmal. He can penetrate and get to the rim, though he has not been as effective driving the ball to the basket this season, averging 6.6 drives per game, compared to 9.5 per game last season. Rondos inability to hit jump shots makes it easy for defenders to give him more room on the perimeter and his horrific free-throw shooting -- hes hitting a career-low 33.3% from the line this year -- doesnt offer much reason to do anything but get physical with him when he attempts to get near the basket. At his best, Rondo can be a tenacious defender, with long arms which help him steal the ball and hes an exceptional rebounder, averaging a career-high 7.5 rebounds per game this season, but hes also run into injury problems, playing 143 of a possible 252 games since the start of the 2011-2012 season. In Dallas, a healthy Rondo should be an asset. He doesnt need to shoot often, as the Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons ready and willing to fire away, and Rondos other skills -- most notably ball distribution and rebounding -- will be clear upgrades for the Mavericks. Rondo makes a little less than $12-million this season and will be a free agent at seasons end. Powell is 23-year-old rookie from Toronto, who played four years at Stanford and was a second-round pick by Charlotte in the summer; he has since been traded to Cleveland, Boston and now Dallas. Thats a lot of different franchises in a short period of time as a pro, and hes only played nine minutes in the NBA this season, but the athletic 6-foot-11 forward did put up 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in four games in the D-League. It might be a stretch to imagine Powell playing any kind of role for a contending Mavericks team this season, but they are a little thin in the frontcourt, so its not out of the question that Powell could see some action. Powells contract runs through next season, and pays $507,336 this season then $845,059 next season. The Celtics Get: PF/C Brandan Wright, PG Jameer Nelson, SF Jae Crowder, a conditional first-round pick in 2015 and second-round pick in 2016. Wright, 27, had found a niche as an extremely efficient big off the bench for Dallas, shooting a league-best 69.7% from the field since the start of last season. The 6-foot-9 power forward shoots such a high percentage because he rarely bothers to shoot from beyond 15 feet, and does most of his damage close to the basket. In Boston, Wright should fit into the Celtics big-man rotation with Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger. Making $5-million this season, Wright will be a free agent at seasons end. Nelson is a 32-year-old point guard that had trouble adjusting to Dallas, scoring a career-low 7.3 points per game while shooting a career-low 37.4% from the field. Earlier in his career, Nelson could penetrate and get close to the basket more regularly but, whether its age, his role in the Mavericks offence or some combination of the two, Nelson was rarely getting to the rim and his shooting percentage suffered as a result. In the first year of a two-year, $5.5-million deal, Nelson can fit into the Celtics rotation, but it does appear that hes in decline, so not much more than a stopgap solution for a team that hopes to get better. 24-year-old Crowder has been a back-of-the-rotation player, playing 10 minutes per game this season, averaging 3.6 points and 1.2 rebounds per game, shooting 43.4% from the field and 34.2% on threes. Hes making $915,243 this season and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, but can fill a role as an inexpensive wing defender. Boston also received a conditional first-round pick in 2015 and a second-round pick in 2016. Any pick from the Mavericks is likely to fall in the bottom third of the round; looking at picks 21-30 from 2004 through 2013, there were an average of just under two picks per year in that range that turned into NBA starters, but about six in 10 were multi-year rotation players, so there is some value to a late first-round pick, but hitting a home run (like Rondo, Kyle Lowry or Kenneth Faried) is rare. On top of all that, the Celtics have a $12.9-million trade exception available to them when looking to make further moves. Verdict: The Mavericks have an opportunity to compete for a championship this season and Rondo gives them a guard that can go head-to-head with the other quality point guards in the Western Conference. If, for whatever reason, it doesnt work, the cost wasnt really prohibitive -- some pieces that can be helpful, but no shooting stars going the other way. Scott Cullen can be reached at
scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca Serge Ibaka Raptors Jersey . - Skiing far more aggressively than in her season debut a day earlier, Lindsey Vonn was in provisional 10th place after the first 45 skiers in a World Cup downhill on Saturday.
Kyle Lowry Jersey . 25 against Miami. Hillis left Browns Stadium about two hours before kickoff, a decision that has led to speculation he was upset over ongoing negotiations with the club on a contract extension.CALGARY -- As the NHL entry draft approaches, Sam Reinharts stock keeps rising. The Kootenay Ice captain won the Western Hockey Leagues player-of-the-year award Wednesday. The leagues general managers and coaches voted for Reinhart over Western Conference finalist Mitch Holmberg, a 62-goal scorer for the Spokane Chiefs. Reinhart set a franchise record for assists in a season with 69 and, combined with 36 goals in 60 games, the 18-year-old from Vancouver tied for fourth in WHL scoring. But the son of former NHL defenceman Paul Reinhart was a stellar two-way player for the Ice with a plus-24 rating. He posted a torrid 48 points in 22 games from Dec. 4 to Feb. 28. Central Scouting ranks Reinhart third among North American skaters for the NHL draft, up from fourth in Januarys midterm rankings. The Four Broncos Trophy that goes to the player of the year is given in memory of four Swift Current Broncos who died in a team bus crash in 1986. Reinhart, six foot one and 186 pounds, also earned the WHLs sportsmanlike award for his paltry 11 minutes in penalties. "Both of those awards say a lot about his character," Ice coach Ryan McGill said. "Mitch Holmberg is one heck of a player, but Sam is the complete package. He is the smartest player in the Western Hockey League not only with the puck, but without the puck." Reinharts brother Griffin is an Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman who was drafted fourth overall by the New York Islanders two years ago. Another brother Max is a Calgary Flames prospect currently playing in the AHL. Sam and Griffin both played for the Canadian team that finished fourth in the world junior hockey championship in Malmo, Sweden, in January. Sam was a dominant player upon his return to the Ice. "It was a good year individually and as a team," Sam said. "I think our depth really showed in the second half and ultimately made it easier on me to produce offensively." The Ice were eliminated in the second round of playoffs in a seven-game series with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Reinhart had six goals and 17 assists in 13 playoff game. Hes begun preparing for the NHL combine May 25-31 in Toronto. Reinhart intends to play in the NHL next season. "Im confident in my abilities right now to do that," he said. "I learned a lot this year, played in a lot of situations. I think thats only going to benefit me down the road. "Im excited for it and Im ultimately preparing for training camp in September where ever that may be." Holmberg, a 21-year-old winger from Sherwood Park, Alta., won the WHLs scoring trophy. Hes only the second player to score over 60 goals in a season in the last 13 years. Holmberg spent his entire five-year career with the Spokane Chiefs and recently joined the Bakersfield Condors for the ECHL playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets picked up a pair of major player trophies with Jordon Cooke named the seasons best goalie and centre Nick Merkley taking the rookie awaard.
Marc Gasol Raptors Jersey. The 16-year-old Merkley, from Calgary, compiled 25 goals and 33 assists in 66 games. Cooke posted a 39-7-0-4 record with four shutouts. The 20-year-old from Leduc, Alta., had a 2.28 goals-against average and a save percentage of .922. Derek Pouliot of the Portland Winterhawks was chosen top defenceman. The 19-year-old from Weyburn, Sask., contributed 19 goals and 53 assists in 58 games and posted a plus-minus of plus-40. Pouliot is a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Victoria Royals swept the hockey management awards with former NHL winger Dave Lowry taking the coaching award and general manager Cam Hope named executive of the year. The Royals finished third overall in the Western Conference with a 48-20-1-3 record. Saskatoon Blades defenceman Nelson Nogier earned the scholastic award with a 96 per cent average in his Grade 11 studies, while the Calgary Hitmen took team scholastic honours. Moose Jaw Warriors captain Sam Fioretti was given the humanitarian award for his work in anti-bullying and reading programs. Nathan Wieler from Regina was chosen the WHLs top official. Prior to the awards luncheon, the WHLs board of governors approved the sale of the Regina Pats and Prince George Cougars to new owners. The Cougars ownership group includes local businessmen as well as alumni and NHL players Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer. "Its great to have WHL alumni like Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, both former Prince George Cougars, who will do a great job," WHL commissioner Ron Robson said. "These guys are not just there because of their names. Theyre there because they want to contribute and be actively involved and thats great news for us." A group of Regina businessmen headed by Anthony Marquart takes over the Pats from Russ and Diane Parker, who have owned the team for 19 seasons. Both sales are expected to be finalized next month. Robson says the WHL has taken a hands-on role with the struggling Lethbridge Hurricanes, who have been losing games, money and attendance in recent years. Some players left the community-owned team during the season and an assistant coach is reportedly suing the team for wrongful dismissal. The league is working with the club on a new business plan. "Weve set out some conditions of approval of that business plan of which we want to see some changes immediately," Robson said. "One is certainly improving the financial performance of the franchise and probably most important is making sure the on-ice performance of the team is going in the right direction. "Theres not a team thats not going to be impacted by missing the playoffs the number of seasons that they have and they find themselves in a bit of a hole, but with the proper structure moving forward, they can be successful. "Its a great hockey community, a great facility and we just need the right leadership to get in place to get that job done." ' ' '
