DALLAS – Donnie Nelson talked to three reporters after this morning’s shootaround about a number of issues.
One topic included discussions about veterans Vince Carter and Shawn Marion.
Carter was recently rumored to be on the trading blocks. Meanwhile, Marion said Friday that if the Mavs traded him to a bad team, he probably would retire.
Nelson, the Mavs’ president of basketball operations, cleared the air a bit earlier today, saying the Mavs won’t be trading anybody unless an “over the top’’ deal falls in their lap.
“Shawn and Vince have probably been our most consistent players all year-long,’’ Nelson said. “We like guys like that.
“Veterans know how to win. We’re looking to get those kinds of guys into our locker room, not out of our locker room.’’
Nelson then reacted to the Friday comment made by Marion.
“The fact that Shawn recently expressed an interest to stay here, well, it’s mutual,’’ Nelson said. “We’re looking for guys like that.’’
The Mavs are appreciative that Marion can guard anyone from Chris Paul to Kevin Durant to LeBron James to Kobe Bryant.
“The guy guards three-and-a-half positions,’’ Nelson said. “He can guard any (shooting guard) and (small forward), guard some (power forwards) guard some (point guards).
“That’s a commodity. You’re never the same team from year-to-year, but those are the kind of pieces that championships are made of.’’
-- Dwain Price
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