Are we an offseason loser? ESPN thinks so!

[your_dallas_mavericks]

LOSERS
Dallas Mavericks
Two seasons ago, the Mavericks were an elite team in the NBA and had the league's best record. Coming into this season, the Mavs no longer look like a contender. In fact, there's a chance they might not even be a playoff team in the wild, wild West.

The Mavs still have Dirk Nowitzki, but the rest of the team is fairly underwhelming. The addition of Jason Kidd at the trade deadline last season looks like an awful move in retrospect. It's unclear whether Kidd really has the juice left to be an elite point guard.

Josh Howard's brushes with controversy over his comments on smoking marijuana and a charge of drag racing this summer haven't helped. And that huge $30 million-plus contract that they gave DeSagana Diop will come back to haunt them the same way that $60 million-plus contract they gave to Erick Dampier did.

The Mavs were actively trying to get their hands on Ron Artest, but, like the Rockets, it was more an act of desperation than a savvy basketball move. Maybe head coach Rick Carlisle can turn things around, but as it stands right now, a team in need of a major overhaul to get back into title contention did too little and risks falling into irrelevancy.

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[italy_23]

our offseason so far is not a success. but there is still some time left on the clock, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[dirkforpres]

Even if we are a playoff team, I almost dont even want us to try and get there just so we can get some value out of our first round pick. Theres no way that we get any further than last year with this lineup going into the season. Theres no way you can call us anything other than an offseason loser. Diop and Gerald Green wont make us too much better (or worse).

[catalyst]

This is an old, unathletic, poor shooting, poor passing team. They have made no changes. I am almost hoping for a total flop and trade Kidd by the deadline. What does the draft look like next year?

[littlemav]

What does the draft look like next year?

Weak, much weaker than the past few years. There are good prospects near the top, but we would have to totally tank to really get a difference maker.

[JES12]

Our loser status started Feb 19th. Unless we can pull a trade as lopesided as the Harris-Kidd, Gasol-Brown, Marion-Shaq or Artest-Jackson trades, then we will still be there.

[jlp0807]

Come on. The Kidd trade must be included into our offseason moves. I dont think it was a failure because we traded worthless (yeah worthless) draft picks and Devin Harris for Kidd and Antoine Wright. Wright is at least as good or better than anything we would have gotten in the late first round.

The huge move was getting Rick Carlisle on the bench and getting rid of Avery. Averys offense was to iso Dirk and have Kidd be a spot-up three point shooter. Now that we finally have a coach with a brain, we will actually run an offense that suits our players.

Now, I still think we need to make a move or two, but keeping Dirk, Kidd and Howard together is a must if we really want to win. Josh has made some stupid moves lately, but he is still a great player. Carlisle will get him driving to the bucket more and be able to keep him more focused.

Ive been preaching the Damp and Stack for Larry Hughes and Nocioni trade because it makes the most sense for both teams and actually works when you plug in the salaries.

JJ Barea blows. We have to get a backup point. As it stands now, if Kidd goes down, we are screwed!

[Darren]

We suck before the offseason. We've just improved nothing since then.

Our owners don't want to spend money.
Our ex-coach have no clues how to motivate players.
Our guys beside Dirk JET and Bass don't want to work hard for a playoff run.
Our cap situation is awful. No free agent want to be there.

I think DIrk's talking about "if I'm still there" repeatedly. This means he's actually
offered in some deals.

And the real incentive of Mark Cuban is to rebuild instead of contending.
J-Kidd should be kept. If we can offer Stack and filler for a short-term all-star,
we won't mind to try to make a run at the playoff.

My speculation is they consider Josh Howard the building block on the team.
That's why 'they should've done earlier' comment from JoHo.

[jlp0807]

I dont think it is that the Mavs dont want to spend money. Dallas has the third highest payroll in the League.

True what you said about trading Stack. He is worthless to us now. We should really try to develop Wright. He could be a great key a couple of years.

Dirk, Bass, Howard and Wright will still be great in a couple of years. If we could get a young PG to back-up and learn from Kidd that would be great.

Although Im not really for trading Howard, the ESPN trade of Odom and Farmar for Howard and Stack seems pretty good the more I think about it. Still wish we could dump Dampier for a younger Center making much less.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

Come on. The Kidd trade must be included into our offseason moves. I dont think it was a failure because we traded worthless (yeah worthless) draft picks and Devin Harris for Kidd and Antoine Wright. Wright is at least as good or better than anything we would have gotten in the late first round.

The huge move was getting Rick Carlisle on the bench and getting rid of Avery. Averys offense was to iso Dirk and have Kidd be a spot-up three point shooter. Now that we finally have a coach with a brain, we will actually run an offense that suits our players.

Now, I still think we need to make a move or two, but keeping Dirk, Kidd and Howard together is a must if we really want to win. Josh has made some stupid moves lately, but he is still a great player. Carlisle will get him driving to the bucket more and be able to keep him more focused.

Ive been preaching the Damp and Stack for Larry Hughes and Nocioni trade because it makes the most sense for both teams and actually works when you plug in the salaries.

JJ Barea blows. We have to get a backup point. As it stands now, if Kidd goes down, we are screwed!

I agree with your first three paragraphs, in fact I thought you were me until I read the rest. I am against the Mavs acquiring Larry Hughes, period.

[jlp0807]

What about the last paragraph about Barea? Gotta give that to me...

Hughes is defensively minded and tough. Two things that would suit this team well. He can score also. Doesnt exactly fit the whole "younger PG" mold, but gets the job done as the #2.

Nocioni is the big piece in that trade. He is making $8 mil this next season, but his salary decreases every year after that. He is a great piece that is nothing but energy off the bench. He plays his heart out every night.

What do yall think about Howard and Stack for Odom and Farmar, if we had to trade Josh?

[Darren]

For rebuilding purpose, it's fine. Odom is expiring. For contending, it solved nothing.

[italy_23]

first off, NO hughes here. go to the other thread and read why. if kidd goes down we wont have a premium point guard here, but who has? when chris paul goes down, who is playing in nawlins? same with williams in utah or any other club in the nba. terry will do fine then, he played the point role too long here to not know that he is good enough.
and where you see hughes as a point guard is beyond me.

[jwa1107]

[peppersquad]
F us
we're the Mavs
[/peppersquad]

[myconsumerclub]

Diop and Damp together is better at center than what we had last playoffs +2
Dirk will have help if one more Bass like find is credited to Donnie +1
Kidd and Coach on the same page and an offseason to work on it +2
Terry will play PG as Kidds backup instead of spending most of his time at the 2 guard +1

Out of Green Wright Rat Rhodes Singleton someone steps up if not 2 or 3 and that may just be what we need to find the elusive 2 guard we have been searching for. Personally I can see Wright or Green becoming the 2 and having a break out year. Possibly they share the position when they both break out. If Howard gets pushed to the 2 because RAT Rhodes Bass or Singleton step up and have a break out season at the SF post we also get our 2 now don't we? if several of these guys start to contribute and hit on all cylinders Donnie is a freaking genius and I'd have to say the Avery firing should have happened the year before right after the GSW BS.

That is 6 guys that could become starters if they grab the opportunity by the neck and just wring it out. Surely Bass RAT Rhodes Singleton Green and Wright is capable of developing into something useful that can end up netting us a starting 2. Even if it takes till the TDL for a team to be willing to do so we will get rid of Stack and grab something useful there so I feel patience is warranted.

We still could grab another big that helps us (Faz were are you?). Mourning would be a good 3rd stringer to bring in.
But as it is now we got this with another big potentially in Faz or some other center.

Kidd Terry JJ
Green Wright (Stack's replacement and don't delude yourself into thinking Jones will be on this team)
Howard RAT Rhodes
Dirk Bass Singleton
Damp Diop FAZ or Mourning

If that happens I will support the team with minimal bitching but I expect someone to step it up other than Bass.