Howard Eisley got his wish and was traded away.  Dallas was involved in a
3-team trade that had Houston sending a re-signed Shandon Anderson (6
year, $42 million contract) and receiving Glen Rice and the rights to Kyle
Hill, New York sending Glen Rice and Muggsy Bogues and receiving Shandon
Anderson and Howard Eisley, and Dallas sending Howard Eisley and the
rights to Kyle Hill and receiving Muggsy Bogues.  Houston used the trade 
exception they received from the Hakeem Olajuwon trade to complete this 
trade.

On the surface as a Mavs fan, you might say, "Why?"  But if you look
deeper, this trade does have some benefits for Dallas.  Kyle Hill, who
Dallas took with the #44 draft pick, was unlikely to make the team.  The
Mavs got rid of the rest of Eisley's 5 year guaranteed contract (06-07 is
at the team's option).  Eisley, who played well while Steve Nash was
injured, disappeared for the last 3rd of the season and the playoffs and 
the coaches had lost confidence in him.  Eisley was a bargain at the 
mid-level exception ($2.1 mill) Dallas originally planned on signing him 
to last summer, but not a bargain and with too long of a contract with 
the 7 year, $41 million contract that Mark Cuban stepped in and arranged 
with a sign-and-trade deal with Utah and 2 other teams.  This trade gets
rid of that contract.  Eisley will earn $4,781,250 for 01-02 and Muggsy
Bogues will earn $1,957,500.  Since Dallas got less dollars contract wise
than they sent in the trade, they get a $2,823,750 trade exception.  And
with the 15% plus $100,000 fudge factor allowed in trades, that means 
that in a future trade Dallas can receive $3,347,312 more than they trade
away.  [Correction: cap guru Larry Coon corrected me in that the 15% does 
not apply when a trade exception is involved, so it's only $2,923,750.]
That amount can _only_ be used in a trade (but can be split and used in 
different trades).  They will have until 8/10/02 to use that trade 
exception.  

How they use that exception will determine the value of this trade.
With a lot of teams worry-worting over the luxury tax, it could be used to
acquire a valuable asset from one of those teams.  Rumors still persist 
that Dallas wants Tim Hardaway.  Using the exception on him would work as
Miami is worried about the luxury tax and a sign-and-trade could be
arranged where Miami does not receive any salary in return by sending a
future 2nd round pick or the rights to Kenny Satterfield (or some other
player Dallas technically has the rights to and no one remembers).  I
still think that is not a good thing as the trade exception is valuable
and I wouldn't give Hardaway, who has knee problems and is nearing the end
of his career, any more than minimum.  If Hardaway is brought on board, it
better be for just a 1 or 2 year contract.

As for Muggsy Bogues, he'll earn $1,957,500 for 01-02 and $2,175,000 for
02-03.  The $2,392,500 for 03-04 is a team-option.  The shortest player
ever in the NBA (5-3) is near the end of his career and both of his knees
are shot - neither has any cartilage in them.  He also has the NBA's best
career assist-to-turnover ratio.  I doubt he'll see any court time with
Dallas, but unless there is a real roster space crunch, he'll probably
stick with the team as his contract could be very valuable in making the
numbers work in a future trade.


patricia