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The Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks are close to a major trade that would send forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas for forwards Josh Howard and Drew Gooden and guard Quintin Ross, according to a league source.
ESPN.com first reported that the deal was close to being finalized.
The trade would dramatically improve the Mavericks, who have struggled going into the All-Star break.
Dallas has been looking to upgrade both at small forward, where Howard has been slow to recover from injuries the past two seasons, and at center, where the Mavs gave Orlando's Marcin Gortat an offer sheet last summer that the Magic matched.
Haywood is having a career year for the Wizards, with career highs in scoring average. Butler has struggled with new coach Flip Saunders' offense, but is still a strong scorer who'd fit in in Dallas.
The trade would provide significant luxury tax relief for the Wizards, who are looking to lower their tax burden in the wake of the season-long suspensions of Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.
Howard would potentially provide relief for Washington next season because the final year of his contract is a team option.
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Good deal for Dallas, they don't give much up that they can't live without and improve alot, this team could contend i think with it looking like
PG Jason Kidd
SG Caron Butler
SF Shawn Marion
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Breandan Haywood
ESPN.com first reported that the deal was close to being finalized.
The trade would dramatically improve the Mavericks, who have struggled going into the All-Star break.
Dallas has been looking to upgrade both at small forward, where Howard has been slow to recover from injuries the past two seasons, and at center, where the Mavs gave Orlando's Marcin Gortat an offer sheet last summer that the Magic matched.
Haywood is having a career year for the Wizards, with career highs in scoring average. Butler has struggled with new coach Flip Saunders' offense, but is still a strong scorer who'd fit in in Dallas.
The trade would provide significant luxury tax relief for the Wizards, who are looking to lower their tax burden in the wake of the season-long suspensions of Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.
Howard would potentially provide relief for Washington next season because the final year of his contract is a team option.
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Good deal for Dallas, they don't give much up that they can't live without and improve alot, this team could contend i think with it looking like
PG Jason Kidd
SG Caron Butler
SF Shawn Marion
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Breandan Haywood
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