Days after Antonio McDyess became a Knick, he and Nick Van Exel heard the trade rumors. Van Exel and his former Nugget teammate talked on the phone, excitedly dreaming of rejuvenating the Knicks.
Dreaming of contributing to victories at the Garden. Neither McDyess nor Van Exel has put on a Knick uniform in a regular season game, but last night Van Exel at least helped in a Garden victory.
Wearing a silver, blue and white No. 31 Maverick uniform and a blue headband, Van Exel came off the bench to drop in 17 points in Dallas’ 101-90 victory over the Knicks. Content now as a Mav, Van Exel reflected on his conversations with McDyess.
“We wished it could happen,” Van Exel said.
Although with the Feb. 20 deadline approaching, Van Exel is still involved in trade rumors, but Dallas owner Mark Cuban claims Van Exel is staying.
Why would the Mavs trade Van Exel now that he is Vinny Johnson-esque? Johnson, known as the “Microwave,” spelled Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars during the Pistons’ Bad Boy era. Asked if that is a good comparison, Mavs coach Don Nelson dryly said, “It’s not terrible.”
After being traded from Denver to Dallas last season, Van Exel, who owns a reputation for moodiness, actually went into his coach’s office with a suggestion: “Don’t start me.”
Van Exel said he didn’t want to harm the flow the Mavs had with Steve Nash and Michael Finley starting. Last night, former Sixer Raja Bell started at the two, pushing Finley to the three and leaving Van Exel to lounge on a camping chair along the baseline to begin the game.
“He made it easy for me,” Nelson said.
When Van Exel entered the game he shot often. Only Dirk Nowitzki (20) and Finley (17) had more than Van Exel’s 14 attempts.
If he were a Knick, Van Exel would be starting, but he’d be losing more. Perhaps a dream not coming true is a good thing.
“I’m happy with my role,” Van Exel said.