Stackhouse Wants Out of Dallas

Less than a year ago, Jerry Stackhouse tried to find a way to come back to the Dallas Mavericks after almost being traded to the New Jersey Nets for Jason Kidd. Now he's trying to get out and he's unhappy with new coach Rick Carlisle. Out of the Star-Telegram, Carlisle's offense doesn't mesh well with Stackhouse's style. His agent, Jeff Schwartz, is seeking a buyout or trade. Schwartz is also the agent of teammates Josh Howard and Jason Kidd.

Stackhouse, 34, is averaging career lows of 5.3 PPG, 1.1 RPG 1.3 APG in 17.6 MPG through eight games with the 3-7 Mavs and didn't play in the OT win against the New York Knicks. He was disappointed that he didn't play in the game because he played Wilson Chandler, Quentin Richardson and Jamal Crawford over the summer and that they were "scared" to guard him.

Stackhouse on his options of leaving the team:

"I’m exploring options. The team is always going to protect itself. I can’t force their hand to do anything. I don’t really know all the options right now. I think it’s to the point now where it’s time to start researching some things and seeing if there’s other possibilities that make more sense for me right now."

President Donnie Nelson explains the problem and what he plans to do:

"Our first choice would be for what Jerry brings to the team, with his experience and playoff skins, toughness and intensity. Those things are valuable. It’s just that during this period of time, we’ve got to be able to bring some of our younger players along as well. Therein lies the conflict. With our relationship and openly and honestly communicating, we’ll be able to come up with a game plan and hopefully that game plan will be one that includes Jerry in a Maverick uniform. If it’s just not a comfortable situation, if it’s a situation where the minutes are just not there, then we’ll work together with his agent and see if there’s some win-win together for both of us."

There's no bad blood between him and Carlisle, but Stackhouse has made it clear that he's ready to move on:

"The key part is there’s really no conflict with us. It’s understood that it’s his job to coach the team, but it’s my job to protect my future. I’ve got to have some say-so and dictate with the role that I’m kind of in now, that I’m ready to accept that. I don’t think I’m ready to fully accept that at this point."

It's not like he knew that he wanted to get out when Carlisle came, but Stackhouse had at least a couple of opportunities to get out of Dallas before. The first being the Jason Kidd trade, where he said he would come back after getting traded. The NBA then stepped in and said that any trade the Mavs make for Jason Kidd must not include Stackhouse. If he was, he couldn't go back. The second was over the summer where the Sacramento Kings were shopping Ron Artest and the Mavs offered Stackhouse and Brandon Bass. The Kings wanted Josh Howard and the talks fell through.

He isn't demanding a trade, but he hopes to return to the franchise with a coaching or front office position. In an e-mail to the Star-Telegram, owner Mark Cuban, who's going through legal troubles unrelated to the team, said that Stackhouse could be valuable to the team "on and off the court." The article also says that the Mavs hope for Stackhouse to mentor Antoine Wright and Gerald Green.

Stackhouse, a 14-year veteran, is no stranger to new teams. In his career he's played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards. If he does move, he'll try to go to a contender, such as the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers or maybe his old team the Pistons, with recently acquired Allen Iverson.

The Celtics lost James Posey, but Tony Allen has stepped up. What if Stackhouse went there? What if the Lakers got another good player in addition to Kobe and Co.? What if the Cavs fit him into their second unit with Wally Szczerbiak, Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson? What if Stackhouse went back to the city that embraced him the most and teamed up with Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and A.I.?

All four of those teams could go after Stackhouse. The Cavs made a move for Mo Williams over the summer and are rumored to go after Vince Carter again. The Pistons traded Chauncey Billups for A.I. this year. Every team except the Pistons made moves before the trade deadline last year. Stackhouse could be the difference maker on any of those teams if he's done in Dallas. If he is done, expect him to look for a ring.