On Wednesday night, the Mavs re-signed A.C. Green to a 3 year contract
(with only the first year worth $1.7 million guaranteed) and then, as part
of the sign-and-trade deal, traded him to the LA Lakers for Sean Rooks and
the Lakers' 2000 2nd round draft pick.  Rooks will earn $1.9 million in
99-00 and is signed through the 02-03 season.  Rooks was seldom used in LA
and averaged only 2.7 points and 2 rebounds in 8.75 minutes in 98-99.  He 
is a bulky backup center (and can play some at power forward) at 6-10, 
260.  He started his career in Dallas.  The Mavs selected him with the 
30th pick of the second round in 1992 and was a very pleasant surprise (one
of the few positives from that terrible season) in his rookie year.  He 
averaged 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 29 minutes.  His numbers went down
in his 2nd year as he and coach Quinn Buckner did not get along [like most 
players on the team, however Sean was in Buckner's doghouse a good chunk of
the season].  He also missed 35 games due to injury.  He averaged 11.4 
points and 5.5 rebounds in 26.7 minutes.  He was traded to Minnesota right 
before the start of the 94-95 season for a first round draft pick.  
Minnesota was disappointed in his performance and he averaged 10.9 points 
and 6.1 rebounds in 30 minutes.  He was traded mid-season of 95-96 to 
Atlanta as part of the Christian Laettner trade.  He showed flashes of 
good performances for a backup during the playoffs in Atlanta and that 
earned him a 7 year contract with the Lakers.  Again he did not perform 
well and the fans were wondering why he was given a 7 year contract.

Besides the above, I like this move.  The only thing I don't like about it
is that Sean is signed through 02-03 - I'd prefer a shorter contract
remaining.  When Sean was here, he hustled, performed well, and seemed to
care about the fans.  And the fans loved him.  Despite always fan favorite
Derek Harper being on the team, Rooks won the Fan Favorite Maverick Award 
in 92-93.  I remember at the end of the season when the players would 
thank the fans for attending (shown on the jumbotron), Rooks said
something like, "Sorry for the crappy season.  I promise next season will
be much better."  Though his promise wasn't correct, his honesty about the
past season was refreshing.  He is a good, bang'em center - which is 
something the team desperately needed.  He won't supplant Shawn Bradley as
starting center, but he will provide good backup center minutes - where as 
Green was a forward playing out of position when he was at center and Hot 
Rod Williams showed last season that he has almost nothing left.  It's a 
minor move, but I think it helps.

Quotes:
Don Nelson: "We feel very fortunate to have acquired Sean Rooks."

Nelson: "Sean will be a replacement for Samaki Walker and A.C. Green and 
he will beef-up our front line.  He will play two positions for us - 
back-up center and power forward.  Sean has the ability to score in the 
low box, is an excellent passer, and is a fine addition to our young 
team."