Armstrong and Anthony Johnson have swapped according to radio stations in BOTH Dallas and Indiana

Not sure how Dallas is going to S&T Armstrong and include Powell unless it's two separate deals.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060723/SPORTS04/607230459/1088


Pacers to acquire Armstrong from Mavs, Indiana to send Johnson to Dallas for veteran

By Mike Wells
Mmike.wells@indystar.com

Anthony Johnson appears to be on his way to joining Austin Croshere in Dallas.

The Indiana Pacers are on the verge of finalizing a deal with the Mavericks for veteran point guard Darrell Armstrong in a sign-and-trade deal, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Mavericks forward Josh Powell is also believed to be involved in the trade. The deal is pending league approval, which could happen as early as Monday.

Johnson, who spent three seasons with the Pacers, was a steady contributor despite roles that ranged from third-string point guard to starter. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds while outplaying New Jersey's Jason Kidd in the Pacers' six-game, first-round playoff loss last season.

Trading Johnson, who said the team's "culture has to change" at the end of last season, avoids a point guard controversy with Jamaal Tinsley. Pacers president Larry Bird said Tinsley is "as good as you're going to get" if he is healthy in his season-ending news conference. Tinsley has battled injuries each of the past three seasons.

Sarunas Jasikevicius is also a candidate to be traded in the Pacers' crowded backcourt. Rookie James White and newly acquired Marquis Daniels can also play point guard.

The acquisition of Armstrong, a 13-year veteran, would give the Pacers a veteran voice in the locker room. He has averaged 10.1 points and 4.4 assists in his career. Powell, a rookie last season who went undrafted in 2003, averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 37 games last season.
This is the second offseason trade for the Pacers, who sent Croshere to Dallas for Daniels.

Shooting guard Fred Jones could be the next Pacer traded. The Toronto Star reported today that Jones is headed to the Raptors. The deal could be finalized in the next couple of days.

Anticipated 2007 Pacer Payroll: $1.00

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/nba/dallas_mavericks/15105044.htm


Deal near on third point guard

By Art Garcia
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The Mavericks are on the verge of filling their third point guard slot by trading for Indiana veteran Anthony Johnson, league sources confirmed Saturday night.

The Mavs are sending free-agent guard Darrell Armstrong and forwards Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall to the Pacers in a deal that has been agreed upon but can't be completed until NBA offices open Monday.

Johnson (6-foot-3, 200 pounds), a 10-year veteran, averaged a career-high 9.2 points and 4.3 assists last season, starting 53 games with the Pacers.

He averaged 20 points and 5.2 assists in six playoff games last season. Johnson, 31, has two years left on his contract for $2.64 million and $2.86 million.

Armstrong joined the Mavs during the 2004-05 season. As a free agent, he's agreed to a new contract to facilitate the sign-and-trade arrangement.

With a third point guard behind Jason Terry and Devin Harris settled, the next priority for the Mavs is adding another swingman or reserve power forward.

The Mavs have approximately $2 million remaining from the mid-level exception, a $1.75 million biennial exception and the ability to use Keith Van Horn in another sign-and-trade.

Among available swingmen, Devean George and Fred Jones could be in the team's price range. Power forward Reggie Evans is another option.

If I'm Devin Harris, I'm thinking I'm mid-season trade bait right about now...

I'm astounded that Indiana couldn't have found a better deal.

Anyone have a betting pool on how many games Tinfoilsley plays next year?

Not sure how Dallas is going to S&T Armstrong and include Powell unless it's two separate deals.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060723/SPORTS04/607230459/1088


Pacers to acquire Armstrong from Mavs, Indiana to send Johnson to Dallas for veteran

By Mike Wells
Mmike.wells@indystar.com

Anthony Johnson appears to be on his way to joining Austin Croshere in Dallas.

The Indiana Pacers are on the verge of finalizing a deal with the Mavericks for veteran point guard Darrell Armstrong in a sign-and-trade deal, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Mavericks forward Josh Powell is also believed to be involved in the trade. The deal is pending league approval, which could happen as early as Monday.

Johnson, who spent three seasons with the Pacers, was a steady contributor despite roles that ranged from third-string point guard to starter. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds while outplaying New Jersey's Jason Kidd in the Pacers' six-game, first-round playoff loss last season.

Trading Johnson, who said the team's "culture has to change" at the end of last season, avoids a point guard controversy with Jamaal Tinsley. Pacers president Larry Bird said Tinsley is "as good as you're going to get" if he is healthy in his season-ending news conference. Tinsley has battled injuries each of the past three seasons.

Sarunas Jasikevicius is also a candidate to be traded in the Pacers' crowded backcourt. Rookie James White and newly acquired Marquis Daniels can also play point guard.

The acquisition of Armstrong, a 13-year veteran, would give the Pacers a veteran voice in the locker room. He has averaged 10.1 points and 4.4 assists in his career. Powell, a rookie last season who went undrafted in 2003, averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 37 games last season.
This is the second offseason trade for the Pacers, who sent Croshere to Dallas for Daniels.

Shooting guard Fred Jones could be the next Pacer traded. The Toronto Star reported today that Jones is headed to the Raptors. The deal could be finalized in the next couple of days.

If a player is involved in a sign and trade, they don't have to be traded by themselves. Eddy Curry was signed and traded to New York last year WITH Antonio Davis. The year before, Jamal Crawford was signed and traded to New York WITH Jerome Williams.

Looks to me like the Pacers are trying to gain as many trade exceptions as possible. They got the 7.6 million one by sign and trading Peja, they'll get a 2.75 million one with this deal, and they'll get another one by trading Jones to Toronto (if it's just for a draft pick).

Jones, a former slam-dunk champion, spent the first four years of his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers and played a key role while the team fought through injuries and suspensions the last two seasons. The 6-foot-2 leaper from Oregon averaged 9.6 points a game as a backup last season, and 10.6 points and 3.1 rebounds two seasons ago.
The Pacers made a qualifying offer to Jones earlier this summer. But Jones' agent, Bill Duffy, told The Associated Press they rescinded the offer last week, making Jones an unrestricted free agent. Jones will sign with Toronto in the next few days.
The timing of the Pacers' decision made things more difficult for Jones. Being an unrestricted free agent earlier would have given Jones more options, but the Pacers' late decision limited Jones' options.

"We were behind the eight-ball," Duffy said. "Other situations were not available that would have been available because time had elapsed."

Jones should fit in well with the Raptors, who just added point guard T.J. Ford. Jones has spent most of his career as a backup, but will have a chance to compete for a starting spot in Toronto.

"I'm happy for the possibilities for him up there," he said. "I think it's going to be a new lease on life for him, and his role will be increased. Their style is more conducive to Fred's style."

Duffy was surprised the Pacers pulled their qualifying offer.

"I have never experienced that before," he said. "They had to do what they had to do. He's in a better situation for him, and that's all that matters at this point."

A message for Pacers CEO and president Donnie Walsh wasn't immediately returned.

If a player is involved in a sign and trade, they don't have to be traded by themselves. Eddy Curry was signed and traded to New York last year WITH Antonio Davis. The year before, Jamal Crawford was signed and traded to New York WITH Jerome Williams.

Thanks for clearing that up, there has been a lot of confusion about that here...so bring on the Cato (S&T) and Delfino package trades! lol

Also, back on topic, Powell & Marshall will be waived by Indy...

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/15109426.htm


Powell and Marshall were rookies last season who made the team as free agents in training camp. Both have non-guaranteed contracts and are expected to be waived by Indiana. The Pacers are trying to clear cap room to acquire free-agent forward Al Harrington.

Fred Jones to Toronto? Interesting.

Where's my Toronto thread (the cap thing)? I can't recall if I mentioned them chasing him way back then, but either way I think it's a smart move for him and them

Shags: appreciate the S&T thing, and I looked it up. We could have sent someone else with Ben (or we could package Cato and Delfino)

And Devin Harris is not trade bait - he's too fucking good for that.

The alternative is that Anthony Johnson is gone, but having just traded for him, I dunno. They have three PGs. Arguably, they could play SG, but they're all kinda small for that. Here's one scenario: Dallas could use a C that doesn't suck, and Milwaukee has one C extra and could use a PG now that TJ Ford is off to play mini-Nash...

The alternative is that Anthony Johnson is gone, but having just traded for him, I dunno. They have three PGs. Arguably, they could play SG, but they're all kinda small for that. Here's one scenario: Dallas could use a C that doesn't suck, and Milwaukee has one C extra and could use a PG now that TJ Ford is off to play mini-Nash...

But if you're going to go that route, couldn't they have just used the guys they traded for Anthony Johnson (which included PG Armstrong) to get a C from the Bucks? There is no way they see Johnson as a better option than Harris.

Darrell Armstrong ain't gonna get you a solid C. Devin Harris in conjunction with contract ballast (or maybe a KVH S+T) might. I just don't see a 6'2"-6'3" SG in Dallas' future, and I bet a KVH S+T all by itself gets someone a decent wing, so Dallas has 3 PGs.

And Dallas really needs that C, right?

Got to have another big man on board, despite having Diop, Dampier, Pavel and DJ savethewife on the squad.

Couldn't possibly do much of anything without trading Harris for a decent big

Sorry Mxy, usually I agree with you but not on this. Harris is too good to trade for Gadzuric or Magloire.

I'd have figured that Dampier might've been the trade ballast. IIRC, he and Avery don't get along, epsecially since he was benched.

I'm just speculating here. I just don't see where Anthony Johnson is going to be another Earl Watson in Denver. If they traded for him specifically, and re-upped Terry, I don't get where it all fits.

There's no way Dallas trades Harris. He's clearly the future at point guard for the Mavs. The plan is for Terry to be the shooting guard. Johnson will backup. Ager and Stackhouse backup Terry. Croshere should be a good change of pace backup for Nowitzki, as somebody who can come in and do some dirty work and get some boards. And there is no problem between Damp and Avery, Damp wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Avery.

I'd be surprised if Indi cut Powell, I think he can be a good player. He played some productive minutes in the playoffs for the Mavericks. IMO he's a good player to have at the end of the bench.

The Mavericks are NOT going to make major changes to their team, nor should they. They have the requisite "slasher" type players that the league has mandated. They've got guys who've performed in the clutch although they've yet to do it at the biggest stage. They've got young big players they hope can develop. And they have one of the best young head coaches the league has seen in quite a while.

I'd have figured that Dampier might've been the trade ballast. IIRC, he and Avery don't get along, epsecially since he was benched.

I'm just speculating here. I just don't see where Anthony Johnson is going to be another Earl Watson in Denver. If they traded for him specifically, and re-upped Terry, I don't get where it all fits.
didnt terry play SG for them?

Terry had plenty of time SG when they were doing (IMO) weirdo playoff smallball antics in the West, but I just don't see that flying against too many teams. During the regular season, it was split between Adrian Griffin and Marquis Daniels, with Stackhouse backing them up.