Former Wizards Get New Lease on NBA Life in Dallas

DALLAS -- They weren't quite like inmates putting X's on the calendar for each day they got closer to their release. Still, there was sense of relief when life preservers were tossed over the weekend to three members of the Washington Wizards.

Swingman Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson all were shipped to Dallas. If you're keeping track at home, that means a 14-game improvement in the standings from the 17-33 Wizards to the 32-20 Mavericks.

"I'm very excited, just happy to have a better shot to just compete for a title,'' said Butler, who, like the other new arrivals, wasn't able to practice Monday because the trade wasn't fully official, but all three should be available for Tuesday's game at Oklahoma City.

"That's every player's dream every season is to have a realistic shot at the title. That opportunity was taken away and God answered my wishes and now it's given back to me. So I'm happy.''

Not that Washington officials previously had been preparing for a June parade. But any chance of the Wizards contending was lost after star guard Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the remainder of the season due to a December incident in which he and guard Javaris Crittenton, also suspended for the rest of the season, brought guns into the locker room.

With the Wizards tearing down their team and looking to cut their luxury-tax bill, the three players were sent to Dallas for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton in a deal that was finalized Saturday.

"I had a feeling for while, probably for like two weeks,'' Butler, averaging 16.9 points, said of likelihood he would be dealt. "I've been through this before. Where there's smoke there is fire. I know that it was steaming up real hot. I knew some things were about to happen, to take place. I was praying and hoping that it was a good situation. Obviously, being in Dallas, you can't lose with that.''

Butler called it a "breath of fresh air'' being dealt and said it was best from a basketball standpoint. But Butler did talk about how he will miss a city that "accepted me with open arms.''

Haywood, averaging 9.8 points and 10.3 rebounds, expressed similar sentiments. He said he will miss people in Washington but also is in the mood to do some winning.

"It's a situation that you're happy and you're sad,'' Haywood said. "I'm glad I'm going to a team that is contending and a team that is competing. But, at the same time, I'm sad I'm leaving a lot of friends behind. A lot of good people.''

Like Butler, Haywood could sense a deal coming as Thursday's trade deadline got closer.

"I got to the point where I talked to my agent [Andy Miller], and we figured it was 50-50,'' Haywood said. "After a while, I figured it was probably going to happen, especially with the luxury-tax issue.''

Butler, a two-time All-Star, and Haywood, who will play valuable minutes spelling sore-kneed Erick Dampier in the pivot, are the two pieces the Mavericks coveted. Stevenson, averaging a meager 2.2 points, will look to fit in where he can.

The Mavericks were so excited about the deal they pulled the trigger in the middle of All-Star Weekend in their own city. There was no reason to give the Wizards time to change their minds or to risk not having these players for a stretch starting Tuesday of four games in five nights.

"This gives us a real chance to do some damage in the West,'' said Dallas general manager Donnie Nelson. "It's like a nuclear arms race out here. From top to bottom, there's 11 that look like they're viable and eight that are going to make it. But we feel [the trade] gives us a real chance to take this next step.''

The likely plan is for Butler to start at shooting guard with Jason Terry moving back to his familiar spot coming off the bench. Terry won last year's NBA Sixth Man Award, and will be in contention again since he has just 12 starts in 51 games.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle didn't want to speculate on how many minutes the three will play Tuesday against the Thunder. But Carlisle had no problem saying he expects the Mavericks eventually to be much improved.

"If we felt we were strong contenders to begin with, we wouldn't make a trade if we didn't feel like it got us better,'' Carlisle said. "So obviously we feel like we've gotten better ... We're hitting the ground running here. It's a situation [a trade at midseason] that isn't ideal, but we're going to make it work.''

It won't be hard for the Mavericks to play better than they have recently. They've dropped five of seven, their most recent outing a 127-91 loss last Tuesday at Denver.

The Wizards actually have been playing better lately than the Mavericks, winning three of their last six. But don't read anything into that.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson.