What our season looks like at this point

[mffl_14]

I have been racking my brains about what REALISTIC moves the Mavs could make or the best alternatives and no one ever seems to think most of the trades that are listed are worth making.

So with that being said with the roster as currenty constructed and lets say we have George and Wright where do you guys see this thing going this year ? Champs ? Finals ? Out in the 2nd round ? Out in the 1st round ? We dont make it at all ?

Personally I think we're lucky to get in the playoff's again and most likely out in the first round. It's not so much that I think we just suck but that the west is so tough.

[dirkforpres]

The West is as tough as last year, if not tougher... We didnt make any significant changes... We're out in the first round realistically

[-Phenom-]

For some odd reason, I'm pretty confident about this season going in with the current team. I dont know maybe its the coaching change.

[italy_23]

the coaching change will help to some degree, but it wont be enough. you need a certain quality on the roster and as constructed right now we are clearly missing that quality. any team with jason terry/josh howard as a second option is not a title contender.
playoffs yes, second round maybe, finals no.

[JES12]

2nd round if we stand pat

Howard for Redd/Carter --> No playoffs
Bass for Sefolosha --> No playoffs
Any other downgrade trade --> No playoffs.

WCF if we rape some team the way the Nets did us and the Lakers did Memphis last year.

[italy_23]

ok, then lets rape some clipper
dampier and bass for kaman
dampier bass howard for kaman thornton mobley

[italy_23]

rapin the bobcats
dampier, bass, jones s&t for okafor

ok, it's getting out of hands now..

[mffl_14]

2nd round if we stand pat

Howard for Redd/Carter --> No playoffs
Bass for Sefolosha --> No playoffs
Any other downgrade trade --> No playoffs.

WCF if we rape some team the way the Nets did us and the Lakers did Memphis last year.

So you think this team which is basically the same as last year except getting Diop back and signing just spares for the bench is making it to the 2nd round ? Not sure how that happens but hey I am a Mavs fan I could convince myself to believe it but thats going to be tough.

What exactly isn't a downgrade trade, besides the Memphis/LA trade no one is just giving players away ?

[mrmreg]

If they head into the season with the roster as is, I would say that the braintrust of the Mavs is on the fence as to whether they really want to go after one last chance at a title, or just blow the thing up. I'd guess they'll see how the first half of the season goes. If Carlisle is making a difference, Jason's freedom makes him more like the Kidd of old, Josh gets his head on straight, and they're among the better teams in the league, then Cuban decides he's willing to trade an expiring deal or two to take on players from bad teams looking to salary dump, and maybe they give it a run.

Other hand, if Carlisle can't make chicken salad out of chicken s..., Kidd is really just plain old, Josh continues to not give a damn, and the team is doing the math on what has to break their way just to make the playoffs, they start looking to make wholesale dumps. I don't know if Cuban would ever trade the big German, or if in-season is the best time, but I'd say no one should be off limits. Get younger, get picks, get cap space, and start building for the next time around.

Option C, they barely scrape the into the playoffs, but decide to give it one more try with the same crew, and some of us Mavs fans start checking out that OKC franchise as maybe a new place to hitch our wagons.

[JD45]

50-55 wins.

5-8 seed in playoffs.

Out in the first round. But should win at least 2 games.

The Mavs are no longer contenders.

[Pointguard01]

I think mrmreg assessment is pretty good. And hopefully true. I just dont know if they'll ever have it in them to trade Dirk.

[jtg41]

Everyone knows the second half of last season Josh Howard sunk down to an all time low in terms of ability, we all seen that, was it because of the numerous deaths in his family? the pressure of the media about his weed issue? kidd? avery? we don't know but when he is playing at the level we all know he can, we are a very good team. hopefully he fixes whatever personal issues he had going on by next season. We have Diop back, along with Bass. We have if not all all, most of the core that took us to the finals a few years back with a coach that will let Kidd free.

Kidd/Terry/Barea
Stackhouse/Terry/Foster/Wright/Jones
Howard/Wright/Green
Dirk/Bass
Damp/Diop (either or)

I'm feeling good about the team, any word on how the young guys are doing in the summer league?

[your_dallas_mavericks]

...and some of us Mavs fans start checking out that OKC franchise as maybe a new place to hitch our wagons.

no truer words may have ever been spoken...