The Mavericks have signed 24-year old shooting guard Von Wafer to a 10-day contract. Wafer played in 63 games (11 starts) for the Rockets last season and he averaged 19.4 minutes, 9.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has now played in 109 games (11 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 13.3 minutes, 6.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. The Mavericks were lucky to find a quality player like Wafer to help them off the bench.

The Dallas Mavericks were adamant that they would not include rookie point guard Rodrigue Beaubois in any trade offers last week. Beaubois has played in 35 games (13 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 10.9 minutes, 5.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Beaubois will likely be the Mavericks’ next starting point guard after Jason Kidd hangs up the sneakers but that won’t likely be for a little while.

The Mavericks are really happy with Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood so far. Butler has started 4 games for the Mavericks and he is averaging 37.8 minutes, 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is only shooting 38.1% from the floor so far but look for that to improve soon as he is learning a new position (shooting guard). Brendan Haywood has been a beast in the paint so far for the Mavericks. Haywood has played in 4 games (3 starts) for the Mavericks so far and he is averaging 31.0 minutes, 10.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. The Mavericks need Haywood to keep up the good work because he gives the team toughness, rebounding and defense.

With the acquisition of Brendan Haywood from the Wizards last night it looks like Erick Dampier is now the second string center for the Mavericks. He has played in 38 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 7.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Haywood and Dampier will likely combine to give the Mavericks a very productive center for 48 minutes a night as long as Dampier doesn’t mope because he’s coming off the bench now.

UPDATE: Erick Dampier dislocated his right middle finger last night in his first game playing with Brendan Haywood. His injury will require surgery that will keep him out indefinitely.

The Dallas Mavericks have traded 29-year old SG/SF Josh Howard, 28-year old PF/C Drew Gooden, 28-year old SG/SF Quinton Ross and 28-year old PF James Singleton to the Wizards for 29-year old small forward Caron Butler, 30-year old center Brendan Haywood and 28-year old shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson. Butler will move right into the starting lineup at small forward for the Mavericks. He played in 47 games (all starts) with the Wizards this season and he averaged 39.4 minutes, 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Butler has now played in 533 games (500 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 36.7 minutes, 16.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Butler will give them a good lift on both sides of the court. Brendan Haywood will bump Erick Dampier to the bench. He has played in 49 games (48 starts) for the Wizards this season and he averaged 32.9 minutes, 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game. He is playing the best basketball of his career right now and he will give the Mavericks a presence under the basket at both ends of the court. Haywood has played in 579 games (450 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 24.5 minutes, 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. DeShawn Stevenson was a throw in that the Mavericks will have little use for. He played in 40 games (13 starts) for the Wizards this season and he is averaging 15.4 minutes, 2.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. His shooting (28.2% from the floor) has been really pathetic this season. Stevenson has now played in 621 games (422 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.9 minutes, 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

The Mavericks won’t miss any of the guys they traded as they replaced them with better players. Josh Howard is the best player the Mavericks traded but he has been gimpy this season. Howard has played in 31 games (9 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he is averaging 26.7 minutes, 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Drew Gooden was a solid backup PF/C for the Mavericks. He played in 46 games (11 starts) for the the Mavericks this season and he was averaging 22.4 minutes, 8.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Quinton Ross wasn’t doing much for the Mavericks this season. He played in 27 games (7 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he was averaging 11.1 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.3 assists per game. James Singleton also wasn’t making much of a impact for the Mavs this season. He played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks this season and he averaged 8.4 minutes, 2.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists.

This was a great trade for the Mavericks and it will put pressure on the powers in the Western Conference to counter it.