Mavericks Having a Rough Off-Season

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Created on Saturday, 07 July 2012 11:38

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:51

Written by Travis Pulver

Mark Cuban is the kind of guy that knows how to get what he wants and has the means to make it happen. He likes to win, and is not afraid to take a few chances to make things happen. Since he bought the team 2000 he has been anything but afraid to make moves and take chances.

Except this time it might have backfired.

It’s been an off-season of trades and free agency moves; some have worked out for the team while others are putting the Mavericks in a bind.

Getting rid of Lamar Odom (and actually getting something rather than nothing for him) was an important move. The cap space will help the team going forward and Tadija Dragicevic could potentially turn into something.

Other than that, it has been mostly downhill for Dallas.

For much of the last season the talk has been centered on Deron Williams coming home to Dallas where he grew up and played high school basketball. At least Williams made his decision quickly so the Mavericks will have  a chance to pursue other free agents.

Trading Tyler Zeller appeared like a good move on Draft Day; the team needed to keep the cap space available to make a run at Williams. In hind sight, Zeller could have been a good addition to the front court with Nowitzki, possibly giving them a solid defensive prescence that they haven’t had since losing Chandler. In all fairness, they could still get that out of Florida forward Bernard James.

Where the team may be hurting now is in the back court. Losing Jason Terry can’t come as too much of a surprise after some of his in-season comments, but the loss of Jason Kidd as well came as somewhat of a surprise.

So instead of picking up the next great superstar in Deron Williams, the team has lost its back court. Not only are they in need of another player to complement Nowitzki in the front court, but the only real experience they have in the back court is Vince Carter, a player that is definitely in the twilight of his career.

Unlike wine, basketball players don’t necessarily get better with age.

There is still plenty of time for the Mavericks to make a move that will vault them back into the upper echelon of the Western Conference. Just because they've swung for the fences and missed so far doesn't mean they are done. There are still guys like Dwight Howard, Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman still available.

Looking ahead to the 2012-13 season it is hard to say what fans will get from their Dallas Mavericks. Will they be a team in need of a major player (and look like it) or will head coach Rick Carlisle be able to integrate young guys like Bernard James and Jared Cunningham into the lineup? Does Vince Carter still have enough to be a solid, full-time player?

Only time will tell.