Smooth Operator

You never know where Avery Johnson is going to take a question, so it should come as no shock the General channeled Sade when asked about Juwan Howard.

“Smooth,” Avery Johnson said of Howard. “They had a song Smooth Operator, he’s a smooth operator. Smooth.

“That’s what happens with veterans when they’ve been around the block a lot and when you’re smart. He’s a smart player, very heady player, so there’s no real stress attributed to adding him to our ball club.”

Howard is operating with a “condensed package” for the time being, but it shouldn’t take too long for the 14-year vet to get the Mavs’ system down. As Avery Johnson pointed out, Howard already knows the team’s plays having played against Dallas plenty the last three years with Southwest Division rival Houston.

Howard played seven minutes against the Hawks. He missed his only shot, had one rebound and committed three fouls.