Anthony Morrow trade reaction: Don Nelson calls Morrow second-best pure shooter he's ever coached

Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a deadline trade for Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Anthony Morrow on Thursday, and former Mavericks head coach Don Nelson helped by providing a strong endorsement of Morrow's game.

The Dallas Mavericks made a last-second deal before the trade deadline to acquire sharpshooter Anthony Morrow from the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, and it could wind up being an important move for the team as Dallas gears up for a playoff push in the crowded Western Conference.

When Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson called his dad for a scouting report on Morrow, it's pretty clear Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson vouched for the 27-year-old guard. "Next to Chris Mullin, [Morrow's] probably the best pure shooter I ever coached. You're going to love him." Nelson told Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News after news of the trade emerged.

That's high praise, considering Nelson's NBA coaching career spans 31 years. He coached future Hall of Fame talent with the Mavericks in Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, so the fact that Morrow made such a strong impression when the two crossed paths in Golden State is remarkable.

Morrow is a career 42.5 percent three-point shooter -- which is excellent -- and he hit even higher heights when paired with Nelson in Golden State. During the 2008-09 season the undrafted free agent guard nailed 46.7 percent of his threes, which ranked No. 1 in the NBA for the year. Clearly Nelson figured out how to get the best out of Morrow, and perhaps the Mavericks can tap into that same potential again in an up-tempo system. As Rick Carlisle noted in the same story, "He's one of the best shooters in the game, and you can never have too many shooters."