There are a little over four weeks before the Feb. 19 trade deadline and already four Mavericks players have seen their names linked to trade speculation, which can be an uneasy feeling, especially for younger players like Brandon Bass, who has never experienced it.
"You just have to concentrate on what you have right here and that's a job," Jason Kidd said. "Everybody's name circulates at some point in a career. You just have to realize it's a business. When you play hard, good things will happen. They just have to concentrate on what's taking place right now." Bass, DeSagana Diop, Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse (by choice) have been bandied about in trade rumors. The Mavs are in a critical stretch leading into the All-Star break and then the deadline.
They're on the outside of the tight Western Conference playoff chase and can't afford to lose more ground. They're dealing with Josh Howard's third injury of the season and now trade speculation can add another level of stress.
"These guys are all aware that trade rumors are part of this business," coach Rick Carlisle said. "They've got a job to do and we expect them to do it."
NUGGETS 99, MAVERICKS 97: Chauncey Billups made four free throws down the stretch, including the two game-winners with 2.2 seconds left after Jason Terry bumped him and bailed him out of a difficult shot. Dirk Nowitzki scored 44 points, but only Jason Terry (16 points) and Brandon Bass (10 points) reached double-figures.
