The Dallas Mavericks Post-Gortat

Thoughts On The Mavs

#1 Assets

What assets do the Mavs have?

• Eric Dampier’s expiring contract ($12.12 million)
• 2010 cap space should they fail to find a Dampier trade (about $47 million on the books if they part with Josh Howard)
• 2009 MLE … and 2010 MLE if the Mavs make a Dampier trade
• Josh Howard as a trade asset

So, the Mavs only realistic opportunity to add an elite talent is either through a Dampier trade or a free agent signing in 2010.

#2 Nowitzki At Center

The Mavericks don’t have enough assets to be able to acquire a high quality center, and to add an elite star to play alongside Dirk. I think they’ll only be able to acquire one or the other, and that elite star player is far more valuable to the Mavericks than the new center will be.

Ergo, the Mavs are hugely unlikely to be able to find a highly talented center and would instead have to settle for a mediocre body up front. I think the Mavericks have far better options by moving Dirk to center, and then signing more talented power forwards or keeping Marion at the four and signing more talented wings for their money, rather than the mediocre center they’re likely to get with the MLE.

If the Mavericks cannot acquire a center, and I don’t think they can without hurting their more important opportunities, then I think Dallas has to move Dirk Nowitzki to center.

#3 Run and Gun

If Dirk Nowitzki is your center, you’re not going to be a defensive dynamo. However, you do have the opportunity to be the most fearsome offensive force in the league.

The Mavs need to become and offensive powerhouse, and they need to play run and gun basketball.

#4 Shawn Marion

With no clear big man options, and with Marion being a far more effective player at power forward, the Mavericks have to move Marion to the power forward slot. This will help Marion get back to his All-Star levels of production, and will allow him to be a larger difference maker for the Mavs.

Unfortunately, this will make the Mavs interior defense quite weak and puts a lot of pressure on their perimeter players to rebound.

#5 Mavs Priority

Dallas needs a wing player who can create off the dribble for himself, and is capable of creating a shot for another player. They need someone who can play a two man pick and roll game with Dirk Nowitzki.

In other words, they needed Vince Carter.

#6 Other Needs

The Mavs backup bigs need to be versatile enough to play both big man positions, and also need to be able to play a running style of basketball. Kris Humphries looks a good fit in this setting, but I’d feel more comfortable with him being the fourth big in the rotation rather than the first big off the bench.

Dallas also needs a bunch of shooters out on the perimeter. Dallas was sixth last in three point field goal percentage last season, and that won’t cut it.

Dallas also needs athletic wing players who can run, defend, and finish plays. In other words, they needed to sign Mikael Pietrus last season instead of DeSagana Diop. They need two Pietrus types, one to start at shooting guard and another one to be the main backup wing off the bench.

#7 MLE

The free agent market looks very weak right now for full MLE type talents. It’s simply too late in the game, and the main players are already off the board.

Dallas will struggle to find a suitable player to sign here … plus signing this player hurts their 2010 free agency opportunities (as has the Shawn Marion signing), should the Mavericks fail to find a good Dampier trade.