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NBA Draft 2013: Dallas Mavericks To Trade Pick, Going For Dwight Howard?

By Vytis Lasaitis

October 30, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Elton Brand (42) fouls Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) in the first quarter of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
October 30, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Elton Brand (42) fouls Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) in the first quarter of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 30, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Elton Brand (42) fouls Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) in the first quarter of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
October 30, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Elton Brand (42) fouls Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) in the first quarter of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dallas Mavericks making an appearance in the NBA Draft Lottery is a rare sight, but after missing out on postseason action this season, the 2011 NBA champions were awarded with the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft to ease their suffering. Well, it seems that the Mavericks don’t need the consolation prize and are looking at the big picture, which might lead them to trading their lottery pick.

According to ESPN NBA Insider, Chad Ford, the Mavericks, who still have Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion signed to relatively big contracts, might be trading their pick. The idea is that the Mavs will be making a run at signing Dwight Howard, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Ford says that the 13th overall pick would earn $1,655,300 in the first year of his contract. While that isn’t that much, especially considering that Dallas has a bunch of one-year contracts coming off the books this offseason, the team still wants to maintain as much cap flexibility as possible. A player that would be picked 13th overall would likely not impact the team’s immediate championship aspirations that much, but would still get paid crucial dollars.

Nowitzki has already said that he would take a huge pay cut when his current deal expires, in an attempt to lure Howard to Dallas and allow the team to sign another superstar in the future.

@VytisLasaitis

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