Van Horn goin to the Mavs . . .

[Eagle since birth]

I thought this would have already been posted . . . any opinions on Van Horn?

DALLAS -- The ever-tinkering Dallas Mavericks made a surprising move to bolster their rotation Thursday, getting Keith Van Horn from the Milwaukee Bucks for Alan Henderson, Calvin Booth and cash.

"I think we need to stretch defenses," Dallas coach Don Nelson said. "If we're going to have to play Phoenix, Seattle and other high-scoring teams, he's going to be nice to have. ... I don't know if you can ever talk about titles, but I think he gives us a better shot than we had before."

Moving Van Horn, in addition to the trade of Mike James to Houston earlier Thursday, removes nearly $13 million in salary-cap obligations from the Bucks' payroll next season.

The Bucks made the moves in anticipation of presenting free agent-to-be Michael Redd with a contract offer sufficiently lucrative to convince Redd to spurn advances from his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers and stay in Milwaukee.

"I think what we've established is that Michael is a piece to building a championship team," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "He has a skill that is unmatched (except) by maybe four or five players in the league."

When healthy, Van Horn would provide Dallas with another scorer, perhaps when star Dirk Nowitzki rests or even alongside him at small forward. Coach Don Nelson loves trying to create mismatches, so he might even pair the two perimeter-oriented big men at center and power forward.

Problem is, Van Horn isn't always healthy. He's missed 19 games this season because of tendinitis in his right ankle and has been hobbled often in his 10-year career. Milwaukee has mostly limited him to fewer than 20 minutes per game since he came off the injured list in January.

In addition to his lessened role, the Bucks were willing to give him up for salary-cap reasons. He's due nearly $16 million next season, while Henderson becomes a free agent and Booth is owed a little more than $6 million; Booth also gets a small raise the next season.

Dallas acquired Henderson and Booth over the summer, with Henderson basically a throw-in on a deal with Atlanta after he played just six games last season. He wound up becoming a key part of the team's rotation -- he was the only Mavericks player to appear in all 52 games so far this season.

The timing is a bit awkward for the Mavericks because center Erick Dampier just went on the injured list with a stress fracture in his right foot and Henderson started in his place the last two games. Booth's role had increased, too. Dallas had no choice, though, because Thursday was the trade deadline.

[UNTLifer]

Bad trade. What in the world do the Mavs need Van Horn for?

[UNT_92_Fan]

Now if I haven't gotten the latest news on it then dont shoot me but honestly....Van Horn is better than Calvin Booth...did I really wanna see the guy in a Mavs jersey....not at all but if the waivers clear and from my understanding they should and we get Alan Henderson back....then this trade will not be bad at all....The Mavs could actually get rid of a waste of space and get another shooter (kind of a shooter...) and still keep the energy (not Najera energy) off the bench...then I appluad them

[UNTLifer]

Didn't realize we would get Henderson back. Still, I would like the Mavs to aquire defense and rebounding, not someone a former teammate labeled as "soft."

[UNT_92_Fan]

the bucks waived him pretty much as soon as he got there and the mavs can grab him off waivers on tuesday and sign him to a veteran minimum contract....and the bucks are stuck with the 8 million he has left or something....its kinda confusing...and i am probably wrong, but the guy has played well this year for being just a throw in on a deal this past offseason...

Mavs trade Booth for Van Horn....wont look as stupid if we get henderson back

[Cerebus]

The higest paid maverick? Van Horn.

Insanity.

[PerryG2480]

Even if the Mavs get Henderson back, I'm still not crazy about Van Horn. Don Nelson won't be able to resist playing him. If he's here to spell Dirk and save him some for the playoffs, fine. But look at the game against Phoenix the other night. I know Van Horn had some rebounds and did okay, but when the game was on the line he came down and jacked up a three pointer fairly early in the shot clock...and missed. The Mavs were in a shoot out and played little to no defense...just like when Raef Lafrentz was here. I just think with the way the Mavs were rolling, they should have just left things well enough alone.

By the way...DUNK THE BALL DIRK! Would that last second miss have happened to Amare Stoudemire or Kevin Garnett? I don't care if he was fouled.

[Guest JohnDenver]

He was trying to dunk the ball. My woman and I were at the game .. clear as day that he was trying to dunk, but it was knocked out of his hands.

Killer game.