Mavs Full Court Press

Howard on the way

Juwan Howard will join the Mavs for practice in Atlanta tomorrow and could suit up for the game against the Hawks Friday night.

Avery Johnson said Howard provides a solid, big guy who can play defense and hit an open shot when needed. Johnson also played up the fact that the 34-year-old Howard could school the 22-year-old Brandon Bass.

"That's something that we visited about," Johnson said. "One of the things I shared with him is, four or five years from now when you're not playing, one of your biggest victories [will be] did you help develop anybody else? So we want him to help us develop him."

-- Jeff Caplan

Diop back in Cleveland

DeSagana Diop spent the first four years of his career in Cleveland, four hard, long years toiling on the bench.

He said his third trip back since joining the Mavericks isn't as meaningful as his first two return visits since the coaching staff and front office has turned over, but he did play with some of the Cavs like LeBron and Ira Newble.

Folks around here still remember the jolly 7-footer. One arena worker came over and gave him a high-five as Diop iced down his knees after the morning shootaround.

And Diop said he got stopped on the street last night by a Cavs fan.

"Somebody told me that if we had you we could have beaten the Spurs, or at least gotten closer," Diop said. "I guess you don't know what you have until it's gone."

-- Jeff Caplan

D. George working hard

Devean George is with the Mavs on the road trip even though he's still out with that stress reaction injury in his left foot.

George is mostly doing treadmill work, up to 45 minutes at a time. The running is basically to see how the foot reacts to the constant pounding.

On Monday he'll have his final bone scan. If the scan is positive, he'll begin getting back on the court and then from there monitoring progress until he can finally suit up again, which is undetermined, but George seemed to think he's finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

-- Jeff Caplan

Unofficial starting lineup

Here's your Mavs' unofficial starting lineup for tonight's opener at Cleveland:

G - Devin Harris

G - Jerry Stackhouse

F - Eddie Jones

F - Dirk Nowitzki

C - DeSagana Diop

Josh Howard is suspended for the first two games. When he returns Saturday night against the Kings, figure Stackhouse goes back to the bench, Jones moves to shooting guard and Howard takes his usual spot at small forward.

-- Jeff Caplan

Only a miracle gets Kobe here

After the initial hysteria in some quarters, reality has hit. Nothing short of a miracle or Dirk Nowitzki will land Kobe Bryant in Dallas. One of the first people to talk on the record was Magic Johnson, who holds the dual positions as vice president of the Lakers and member of the TNT studio crew.

How big of a player has Dallas been?

Johnson said on TNT that the Bulls and one other team engaged in legitimate conversations about Bryant, but said: "Dallas wasn't a serious player. They just tried to steal him."

Translated: Josh Howard and Devin Harris is not going to get it done.

Johnson said he doesn't believe Kobe will be traded anytime soon and said that he wouldn't be surprised if Kobe was with the Lakers the entire year and that if he is traded, it could be next summer.

-- Jan Hubbard

Breaking news! Mbenga out; Juwan Howard in?

The Mavs have waived center DJ Mbenga, which could clear a path for veteran power forward Juwan Howard to join the team.

Howard, who has no shortage of suitors because of his low-post scoring ability, reached a buy-out agreement with Minnesota on Monday.

A deal with the 13-year veteran, who played for the Mavs from 2001-02, could be completed by Dallas on Wednesday.

What's up with Kobe?

Kobe Bryant is starting the season on the inactive list. All signs pointed that he would play in tonight's opener against the Rockets, but when the league released official rosters Monday, listing active and inactive players, there was Kobe, along with Lamar Odom, on the inactive list. He had a knee issue earlier in training camp and a wrist injury at the tail end.

So is Kobe really hurt? Or is it his feelings that are hurt after coach Phil Jackson was the latest to verbally rub the disgruntled star the wrong way?

Kobe Sweepstakes talk certainly intensified over the weekend with reports that the Lakers and Bulls were in hot talks, but couldn't come to an agreement. Detroit was listed as a possible suitor and Washington made an appearance with its star Gilbert Arenas possibly going West. Wiz president Ernie Grunfeld has since shot down those rumors.

The one team that has not been on the rumor hot plate lately has been the Mavs. Owner Mark Cuban, now free of his Dancing With the Stars obligations, is free to wheel-and-deal, but he appears to be sitting pat. At last week's owners meetings in NY, he said he had not discussed Kobe with LA owner Jerry Buss.

Asked again if all is as quiet as it appears, Cuban responded Tuesday morning: "Nothing new on Kobe."

-- Jeff Caplan

Big job for E. Jones

For Eddie Jones' first appearance as Maverick, his job is no other than to guard LeBron James, perhaps the toughest cover in the game today.

"I've been in the league 14 years; Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen, I mean come on, man.

"I've always taken those jobs of guarding the better player on each team. I think that's the reason I've been in the league for so long because teams know I'm going to go out there and I'm going to fight my butt off."

So there you go.

In other news with newcomer E. Jones, the 6-foot-6 swingman pretty much figures he's going to be the team's starting two-guard when Josh Howard returns on Saturday and the Mavs roll out their true starting lineup. Obviously, with Howard suspended for the first two games, Jones figures to be in the starting lineup regardless, and for at least two games, he figures to play quite a bit more than the 20 minutes he'll likely typically see during the season.

So is he ready for those kind of minutes against LeBron? Remember, Avery Johnson's been harping on him about getting into playing shape.

"I'm ready," Jones said. "I've been working my butt off on the floor and off the floor to get in better shape."

-- Jeff Caplan

Howard gets good news

Josh Howard was cleared to practice Tuesday after getting his sprained left wrist re-evaluated Monday afternoon. He got the hard cast removed and now has a removable splint.

Of course Howard won't play in the first two games due to his suspension, but this clears the way for him to be in the lineup Saturday at home against the Kings.

-- Jeff Caplan

Jet's coat drive

Jason Terry is teamming up with Dave & Buster's to help benefit area shelters with the first annual Jason Terry Coat Drive.

The program will last throughout November. Donation bins will be set up at all three Metroplex Dave & Buster's locations for fans to drop of any new or gently used coach. A Dave & Buster's $10 Power Card will be give to anyone who makes a donation.

Fans can also donate at the Nov. 17 home game vs. Memphis. Bins will be set up at all four entrances to American Airlines Center. Fans that bring five or more coats and/or blankets will receive a commemorative autographed Jason Terry photo (while supplies last).

"With the colder weather right around the corner, this is a great time to collect coats and blankets for people who need them, but just can't afford them," Terry said.

-- Jeff Caplan