Dallas Send Parks to Minnesota, Makes Room Under Salary Cap

The Dallas Mavericks traded forward Cherokee Parks to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday in a deal that will put the Mavericks about $3 million under the new NBA salary cap.

For Parks, a first-round pick last year who starred at Marina High and Duke, Minnesota agreed to remove 2-6 lottery protection on the 1997 first-round pick Dallas acquired from the Timberwolves in the 1994 Sean Rooks trade.

Under the original terms, Minnesota would have kept the 1997 pick if it landed in the top six, in which case Dallas would receive the Timberwolves’ No. 1 pick in 1998 unconditionally. Now, Minnesota will keep the 1997 pick only if it is the No. 1 pick overall.

Parks played in 64 games for Dallas as a rookie, averaging 3.9 points and 3.4 rebounds. He scored a season-high 25 points with seven rebounds against Portland on March 17.

“Cherokee is a talented player, but with the additions of Eric Montross and Samaki Walker, there would have been less time for him,” said Keith Grant, the Mavericks’ director of player personnel.

“By not receiving a player in return from Minnesota, we have more flexibility under the NBA salary cap.”