MAVS NEWS:

[hakeemfaan]

Healthy Davis is (was) a top 3/top 2 center in the league.

His problem are that he doesn't want to play at the 5, his bad attitude (shoot 3s or midrange Js), heavy injury prone obviously and weak mindset.

Those famous three quarters against the Rockets were a fluke and mostly Houston was a dysfunctional team worse than the Mavs.

If, big IF, Nico stupid Harrison would have asked Reaves (and i don't love AR) the situation would have been completely different. At least it was a sense.

One of the few times I disagree with you, other than the part about AD being great when he was healthy.

a) I never blamed or judged AD or Christie based on the trade. They were not responsible for it.

b) AD was a guard growing up and had a late growth spurt.  So while we want him to play like a 6'11" guy and be more assertive down low, it is difficult for a guy who didn't grow up dominating his peers that way.  So you can see why he falls back more to mid range shots and why he doesn't play the 5. Despite what we or others want him to be, it didn't stop him from being a great player among the top 1% of great talent who even make it to the NBA.  Maybe he could have been better but it's like saying Tyson Chandler could have been a great player if he developed a jump shot, but ultimately both AD and Tyson contributed immensely to title runs and have had long productive careers. 

c) AD was a dominant player even the year we got him.  When healthy he was still dominant. However, we forget that he was on the IR. We also forget how evasive Nico was when asked if AD cleared the Injury Report. I am 100% convinced he failed it, but Nico still went ahead with the trade. Then he was pushed to play before he fully recovered and hurt himself against the Rockets.  He was still hurting later in the year and the Mavs still pushed him for the play in games and he got hurt again against Memphis.  I felt bad for him both those times. In a normal situation he probably shouldn't have played the year they traded him for Luka until he was fully healthy.

d) I also remember how he was the first one off the bench when Coop would get some dunk. He seemed like a terrific teammate always encouraging other players.  

i didn't agree with the Mavs trading him, but I could see the rationale of them not wanting to extend him. I also felt that once we got Flagg, AD, with his injuries, seemed slower and not suited to playing a fast paced style that best suited Flagg's game.  However, I don't look at his tenure here like I do with someone like Rondo.  AD hurt himself not once but twice by suiting up when he should have been resting. He was a great teammate as well.  I wish nothing but the best for him.