Your Mavs Off-Season Encylopedia

    Hours after the Mavs were eliminated in Denver, owner Mark Cuban proclaimed that “next season starts today.’’ Me? I needed a moment.

   But now, here we go: An encyclopedia of assorted thoughts on Dallas’ needs, predictions, areas where they are sound, areas where they are delusional, what flopped and what popped and what’s next.

   Pull up a comfy chair. This is going to take a while. ...

     DOES DALLAS NEED A STACKHOUSE CLONE? YEAH, STACK CIRCA 2001

   That first sentence is the headline on the “needs’’ story penned by my man Eddie Sefko, and Eddie knows as much about evaluating needs (and interpreting organizational whispers) as anybody.

   That second sentence? The part about “Yeah, Stackhouse Circa 2001’’? That’s all me.

    If the Mavs really believe there is “a void to fill’’ and “the void is Stack’’ and that need is “a guy who came off the bench and was going to guarantee double-figure scoring’’ – all those are coach Rick Carlisle quotes – and that such a player elevates the Mavs from an early-playoff-bounce team to a Lakers/Cavaliers-level team … the Mavs are delusional.

   The Mavs could use a swingman scorer who comes off the bench. But they don’t need that nearly as much as they need a full-fledged, two-way-playing swingman scorer who also plays top-notch defense …  AND WHO STARTS. 

   (By the way: It is said to be the NBA’s easiest position to fill, the Jordan-wanna-be 2-guard. Yet the Mavs have gone their entire almost-30-year life without such a creature.)

   They don’t “need a Stackhouse type to come off the bench and score 10 points’’ (because that’s what Stack did a year ago, score 10.7 points) nearly as much as they need what Stack once was, a stud with grit who can take turns being Robin to Dirk’s Batman. Or as long as we’re dreaming out loud, a stud who can even take turns being Batman himself.

    Stack in 2000-01 scored 29.8 points. Um, Dallas could use that. Or any of the six times in his career, back in the day, when he scored 19-plus? Dallas could use that.

   At the highest level, that can be a free agent like Houston’s Ron Artest (a Mavs trade target last summer, though he's making noises about staying in H-town) or Steven Jackson, who might want out of Golden State. Artest and Capt. Jack both come with some chemistry risks, but they are fireballs like Stack who, with their energy properly funneled …

   At a more reasonable level that can be a free agent like LA’s Trevor Ariza, a budding star. Or maybe Corey Maggette, a falling star because he’s a black hole of money and shot-hunting. Or maybe Dallas turns back the clock and re-unites with Indy’s Marquis Daniels.

   If reality causes the Mavs to settle for a 2007 version of Stack – say, Grant Hill -- fine.

   But the talent-acquisition goals at the 2-guard had better be MUCH more lofty than that.  

   Because the Mavs’ thinnest isn’t at the bottom of the roster. It’s at the top.

‘OK, WHAT IS THE ONE HOLE DALLAS MUST FILL?’ THE SINGULAR ANSWER IS …

   That sort of thinking is the way talk radio works: You know, “OK, name the one guy you think the Mavs should go for?’’ Or, “What’s the Mavs’ one greatest need’’?

    It doesn’t work that way in real life. The Mavs have 12 needs, 12 places to upgrade, 12 places to “fix’’ – and those 12 places are the dozen spots at the front of the roster.

    Of course, Dirk Nowitzki, coming off yet another MVP-caliber year, isn’t going anywhere. All things considered – talent, attitude and contract -- Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry isn’t, either. But outside of that? Each individual should try to get better while at the same time the organization should try to get better answers in each individual spot.

    One place? Nope. Every place. There is a grab-bag of needs and, at this early stage, a grab-bag of answers.

    And it’s not just talk radio. Even the players themselves play this game.  I give you Jason Terry, who is all over the map in trying to assist GM Donnie Nelson, saying the Mavs need:

   “A shooter, a scorer.’’

    "And a “tough, hard-nosed defender.’’

   “And a big man who’s going to foul hard, and be an enforcer. We’ve got to get an enforcer.’’

   And there you have it. More scoring, more defense, and Arnold Schwartzenegger.

   Get on that, Donnie, will ya?

THE ISSUE OF THE MAVS MAKING PROMISES THEY CAN’T KEEP

   This is a DallasBasketball.com reader bugaboo, and I take it as a compliment. DB.com has a history of offering insight into the Triangle of Trust’s thinking, the front office’s wishes and goals, and expressing those in ways both couched in “suggestion’’ and unfettered in on-the-record quotes.

    We probably contributed to breaking the fan’s Dam of Patience in this area with our exclusive coverage of the Mavs’ pursuit of Kevin Garnett two summers ago. Our stories earned much attention and much praise … until KG ended up not coming to Dallas, at which point many fans chided us for “being wrong’’ and chided Mavs management for “making promises it can’t keep’’ or “getting our hopes up.’’

   If you want all that to stop, in terms of coverage, you’ve come to the wrong place.

   If you want all that to stop, in terms of the Mavs being frank with me (or other media outlets, or the public in general), you might have a point.

   I still argue that I like that Dallas doesn’t treat its audience like children, fearing to “get your hopes up’’ by talking of title hopes. But maybe we are children; consider how Carlisle got slapped around in the media immediately after the Game 5 loss in Denver, when he expressed his disappointment by noting that championship-level play is expected “when you’re with the Mavericks.’’

 Why are people laughing? That’s how they feel. Don’t you want them to feel that way?

   Do you really want me to ignore whispers I hear regarding Shaq or Chris Bosh? Sorry, can’t do it.

   When I’m Washing Donnie’s Truck and he leans over and tells me he thinks Dallas’ “Big 3’’ “can play with anybody,’’ do you want me to not write that story?

    From Joe Smith to Rashard Lewis to KG to Ron Artest to whomever this summer’s focus turns to (how about Shaq AND Bosh). … do you want the Mavs to do it and just not whisper about it?

    OK. You might have a point there. But not because the whispers heighten your expectations. The reason Dallas should play it closer to the vest in their Personnel Dept. is because it would be a better negotiating strategy, not because it would be a better PR strategy.

   By the way: When it comes to Smith or Rashard or KG or Artest or Shaq, the Mavs really did try to acquire them. And when they really try on somebody this summer, DB.com will go ahead and report it – all the while assuming you are a big enough boy to take your medicine.

HAVING SAID THAT, LET’S ADDRESS ‘THE YEN FOR ‘10’

  Sefko writes that the Mavs “have their eye on the fertile 2010 free-agent class.’’ DB.com has already addressed all that in David Lord’s must-read epic on the situation, “The Yen For ’10.’’ Some of the Mavs’ much-talked-about plans (there we go again, taking issue with Dallas’ public pronouncements) simply do not mesh with reality.

   I’ll just say this about the Mavs having formulated some crafty scheme to make a huge leap forward for the 2010-11 season: As much as I’d like Dallas to acquire Dwyane Wade just in time to grab the Mavs’ baton from Dirk, there is a more believable idea. There is a more viable idea. There is a more rewarding plan.

    Do something to make that leap NOW, in preparation for 2009-10.

     Do so while (to paraphrase my man Jerry Jones) “keeping your powder dry’’ for ensuing swings in ensuing years, sure.

    But why just have a “Yen for ‘10’’ when “’09 Would Be Just Fine’’?

OBVIOUSLY, DIRK CAN WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, OF COURSE

   Anybody who thinks otherwise is a drunk, a hater, a victim of Short-Term Memory Loss or a member of The Bennett Salvatore Fan Club. Because he was good enough to “win a championship’’ in 2006. He didn’t win it, but he was good enough. Even just last week, he was good enough against Denver to do most anything. HE was good enough.

    I’m reminded of one of Skip Bayless’ old DFW con jobs, when he somehow made hay out of pronouncing that “the Cowboys will never win a Super Bowl as long as Mark Tuinei is a starter.’’ It was such a stupid, incendiary and transparent remark. … but then Tui’s wife started calling into Skip’s talk show to argue with him, and he had himself some radio gold.

   “An offensive lineman will never with a Super Bowl’’? What sort of empty prediction is that? Empty enough that Tui never did win a Super Bowl. … until the maturation of young teammates Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin, Johnston, Allen, Williams, Woodson, Tolbert, Maryland and many more. And then Mark Tuinei won three Super Bowls.

    Dirk’s teammates WERE good enough. Right now they are not. Dirk IS good enough. Get him his Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin, Johnston, Allen, Williams, Woodson, Tolbert, Maryland and more and Nowitzki is likely to contend for three or four more titles.

   Sidebar on Dirk: Son, you don't conduct an investigation on your girlfriend seven, four or one year after meeting her. You do so seven, four or one DAY after meeting her. Try that next time. Meanwhile, as Crista(l) screetches from jail that she's preggers, you immediately request not one but two doctors' tests. (Check that. Given the fact that she was a Stripper/Groupie in Love, you get THREE doctors' tests. 'Cuz you're gonna need one, too.) And if it turns out you are about to have a baby with a woman who is not your wife, you deal with it. ... the same way hundreds of your NBA brothers deal with it. Not my cup of behavioral tea, maybe. But really not that big a deal in a grand scheme of the sports scene.

THAT THING THEY DO IN MIAMI, GOLDEN STATE, NEW ORLEANS AND DENVER

   One thing those postseason Mavs beaters all have in common: Athleticism, explosiveness, length.

   We can hope Mavs like Ryan Hollins and Gerald Green (who both have those natural-born attributes) show up in September ready for basketball combat. We can hope Mavs like Brandon Bass and JJB (who have two of the assets) show up in September and are somehow four inches longer.

    There are acquisition targets who fill the bill but who come with their own blemishes. How about Chris “Birdman’’ Anderson? (Are we anywhere near Iola, Texas?) How about Rasheed Wallace? (I bet Dallas is on his wish list.) Shawn Marion? Lamar Odom?

    I’ve got two names – again, shooting for the top rather before circumstances force me to settle:

   A trade for New Orleans center Tyson Chandler.

   A trade for Toronto center/forward Chris Bosh.

THE CHASE FOR CHANDLER, THE BID FOR BOSH

   Both pursuits would be about being “opportunistic,’’ a new Cuban pet word when it comes to these situations.

   The chase for Chandler: Cash-poor New Orleans was willing to dump All-Star-caliber center Tyson Chandler to OKC for expirings. They figure to be willing to re-examine the same sort of trade, and of course, Chandler would completely alter the face of the Mavs’ starting lineup.

    I’ve heard people say NO “would never trade him to a rival like Dallas.’’ Newsflash: OKC plays in the Hornets’ conference. And had Chandler’s swap worked out, OKC would’ve become an increasingly prominent Hornets rival, in the region and in the conference.

    The bid for Bosh: No one in Toronto wants to even think of such a thing. Chris Bosh is their Dirk, their KG, their LeBron. He just can’t leave!

    But Bosh, the Dallas native who lives here in the offseason, is free in the summer of 2010. We will get hints of where this is going from the Raptors’ attempt to sign Bosh to an extension. If it goes poorly, maybe Chris Bosh goes.

    Josh for Bosh?

JOSH HOWARD: THE DISCONNECT

   At some point with Josh Howard, we need to quit worrying about what he says and just judge him on what he does.

   What he does? Serves as a difference-maker between Dallas being an eighth seed and a sixth seed in the West. … when healthy physically and mentally.

   What he says?

   Well, in a year we’ve jumped from one postseason evaluation from Josh (“You can’t control what the ball do, man’’) to another ("I think we can match any team offensively and defensively") and it’s all nonsense. Remember that National Anthem stuff? Some people were so quick to rush to J-Ho’s side there that they actually assigned weight to Josh “expressing his political beliefs.’’ He was no more doing that then that he was expressing his basketball knowledge last week when he said, “We won a series and proved everybody wrong.’’

    So while we could make a lot of bumper stickers and a lot of T-shirts out of the slogans Josh creates, there is almost literally NO weight behind any of them.

    Therefore, let’s stick with basketball.

    If you view the Mavs as having contention limitations because “they are who they are,’’ J-Ho is almost certainly the place you look to make a change. Josh – with that chip on his shoulder, that high-maintenance psyche (props to DA, but why does this kid need his own big-brother/coach?) and the seeming desire to take a turn being “The Man’’ -- may be the poster child for the “Change Of Scenery’’ cliché.

SHAQ AND THE ‘DO THE MAVS NEED TO GET YOUNGER?’ QUESTION

    Nope. They need to get better.

    Trivia: The average age of the “old’’ Mavs roster is 28. The average age of the “young’’ Nuggets roster is 27.

    The difference isn’t in biological age. The difference is in athletic ability and more, in perception. Dirk seems old and Chris Andersen seems young. In fact, they were born a month apart in 1978. But Nowitzki has been accomplishing grand things for so long that it’s almost mundane to some; Andersen is “exciting’’ and “fresh’’ despite being a fraction of the player Dirk is.

   There is a place on the south end of the bench for youthful experimentation and Dallas did a fine job with that in the last year, trying to catch Lightning In a Bottle with the LIBBs (Bass being joined by Green, Shawne Williams, James Singleton and later Hollins).

    But I no more care about the Mavs “getting younger’’ than I do about them “getting handsomer’’ or “getting manicures.’’ If the best available fix is in his late 30’s, then that’s the best available fix.

    Shaquille O’Neal – as DallasBasketball.com has detailed since well before the All-Star Break and then again at season’s end  – might end up being the best available fix.

    If you want a “get-younger’’ center, heck, play Ryan Hollins instead of Erick Dampier.

    If you want a “get-better’’ center, you can’t complain about relying on Shaq instead of Erick Dampier.

THE KIDD QUANDRY

     Do I want the Mavericks to replace Jason Kidd?

     Yes.

    Immediately.

    Just as soon as the Mavericks find a better point guard than he is.

    (Time to slip in a joke from Techsan: “I was surprised to hear that Kidd thinks he can ‘play at a high level for three more years.’ Surprised, that is, to learn that means he thinks he’s playing at a high level now.’’)

    Andre Miller isn’t better than Kidd. Allen Iverson isn’t better than Kidd. Steve Nash – who I believe becomes a very interesting option if Kidd’s departure opens a spot and if Cuban’s wallet opens to Phoenix – isn’t better than Kidd. The Mavs have always liked Charlotte’s Raymond Felton (and almost got him in an early Diop proposal) and they like the development of Barea.

   And remember our understated scoop just after the trade deadline passed? Keep the name of Chicago’s Kirk Hinrich somewhere at the top of your “maybe’’ list.

    But we’ve already explained in great deal the financial implications that figure to lead to Kidd staying in Dallas. (See “Capology and Captain Kidd.’’)  I would also point out that NBA people love the idea of Kidd as a Laker or Kidd as a Cav. Why? Because he remains a brilliant set-up man. … if he’s got enough people to set up.

     So why dump the setter? Would it be easier to add a set-ee?

    Dirk insists the Mavs must keep Kidd, and Josh feels so strongly about it that he says Kidd’s departure would be “devastating.’’ Both veteran Mavs say such things with the assumption that Chris Paul ain’t coming here (not that Cuban shouldn’t bring it up when he phones New Orleans about Chandler). So if you don’t have CP3 or Deron or Mr. Longoria, what do you have?

   You have Jason Kidd.

   Two more points:

   One, we still say that if Kidd leaves it’ll be for money as much for “a chance to get a ring.’’

   Two, if we may offer a trademark non-linear thought: Just because the Mavs keep Kidd doesn’t mean they can’t also add another PG.

THE TRIANGLE OF TRUST

   This gets ignored by outsiders, so I often stress it as a key point in the success of an organization: this coach, GM and owner work well together. Like each other, even.

   “This,’’ says Rick Carlisle, “has been my best year in coaching. Working for Mark has helped me become a better coach. … He's a guy who is going to do everything possible to provide the resources to be successful. He's emotional. But I'm absolutely convinced of this: When he walks in that building and sees a full house, that's something that he does not take for granted. He feels that everybody in this building is part of his family, and he feels an obligation to not only win but provide a great experience. …

This situation is about aiming for a championship. And that's one of the things I love about him.’’

   It doesn’t always work that way. Consider Minnesota, which can’t even get somebody to take the GM job. (And if your response to that is, “Well, we’re not Minnesota,’’ you, Dear Reader, have a short memory and a microscoping viewpoint.)

    Seriously, Dear Reader: Value this. Absorb the jokes about Cuban, Nelson and Carlisle. … or even tell the jokes yourself. But this is a management team with some skins on the wall, with mutual respect and with a tireless desire to win titles. I don’t know what else we can ask for.

   Well, except, you know, actual titles.

THE PURSUIT OF EASY BASKETS VS. THE PURSUIT OF ‘3’SY’ BASKETS

    There are two vastly different ways to go here.

    The first: Consider just how much of a deficit the Mavs have in the area of 3-point shooting and do something better.

     The second: Consider just how poor the Mavs are in the area of 3-point shooting and quit shooting so damn many of ‘em.

    So, do something better? (“DaMavs’’ on DB.com Boards goes way in depth on this.) The Mavs are 26th in the league. The short version of what that means: About the only thing Dallas did worse this year than “shoot 3’s’’ was “defend 3’s.’’

    Do you think shooting them better will re-make the club? If you lean that way, you look into acquiring the likes of Anthony Parker of Toronto, Wally Zoolander of Cleveland, Hedo Turkoglu of Orlando or Mike Miller (a Mavs fave) of Minnesota.

    But wait. … a veteran who has made a living out of being a one-dimensional long-bomber? Don’t the Mavs already employ that person in Matt Carroll? And isn’t the main reason he was cemented to the bench is because that one dimension was one dimension too few?

    If you think defending the 3 is a solution, good for you – but as we’re establishing here, Kidd and Jet are likely to be a part of next year’s backcourt rotation, and they have their limitations.

    So why not put the 3-point attack in its proper place?

    I have little interest in Dallas trying to find more ways to score from 22 feet out when they have such a difficult time scoring from 22 inches away from the basket. Some teams have a knack (or have the luck) for finding easy-basket masters. Consider Utah, a power-forward factory with Karl Malone, Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap. Can Brandon Bass build himself into that sort of player, as the Hornets’ David West did? (“The Animal’’ certainly gave postseason glimpses of that potential.) Or, if New Orleans is conducting a wide-open garage sale, how about a bid on the actual David West?

    Check out Bob Sturm’s straight-from-the-play-by-play chart that demonstrates just what a “jump-shooting team’’ the Mavs really are, from Game 5 in Denver:

 

11:26

Dirk Nowitzki makes 20-foot jumper (Jason Terry assists)

 

10:41

Josh Howard misses 25-foot three point jumper

 

10:14

Dirk Nowitzki makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jason Kidd assists)

 

9:41	Jason Kidd makes 25-foot three point jumper (Josh Howard assists)

 

9:15	Josh Howard misses three point jumper

 

8:45	Jason Kidd makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dirk Nowitzki assists)

 

7:47	Chauncey Billups blocks Dirk Nowitzki’s 26-foot three pointer

 

7:09	Jason Kidd makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dirk Nowitzki assists)

 

6:30	Jason Terry makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dirk Nowitzki assists)

 

6:03	Jason Terry misses 25-foot three point jumper

 

5:20	Jason Terry makes 20-foot jumper (Jason Kidd assists)

 

4:31	Jason Terry misses 19-foot jumper

 

4:16	Jason Kidd makes jumper

 

3:00	Jason Terry misses 25-foot three point jumper

 

2:20	Jose Juan Barea misses 27-foot three point jumper

 

1:12	Jason Kidd misses 24-foot three point jumper

 

    Ahem.

   Add to that the fact that there was an eight-minute span near game’s end when they attempted nine 3’s (making one), and you have the Mavs at their worst: 20 of the final 24 minutes of that game – a close game for some of that time – was occupied by nothing but 19-, 20- and 25-foot jumpers.

     I would encourage the Mavs to quit pondering why low-percentage shots result in low shooting percentages (duh!). And to quit trying to “re-program’’ and “re-wire’’ established strengths, and to instead commit assets to finding – that is, ADDING -- that sort of powerful, high-percentage interior finisher.

    And then they won’t have to worry about how to make 3’s. Because they won’t have to worry about having to shoot so many of them.

SOME BUILT-IN TRADE PARTNERS

    Based on knowledge we have of where Mavs’ front-office relationships intersect with Mavs’ personnel interests:

   Dallas will talk, for example, with Chicago (Hinrich, Salmons), the Clippers (Kaman), Golden State (Jackson, Maggette), Charlotte (Felton), New Orleans (Chandler, West, Paul), New Jersey (Vince Carter), Minnesota (Mike Miller). Keep in mind, too, that the relationships are two-way and that Dallas’ willingness to take on salary will be pivotal. For instance, if you get Chandler you might have to take on Peja’s salary … of course, Peja can help on the court, so that’s no disaster. If you want Kaman, it might end up being a major package that includes, say, Baron Davis. Again, you are taking on massive salary there. But you are re-making your team and if you are one of those fans just a little bit tired of 9X50, isn’t that what you want?

   More potential partners (and this merits further study): Find me a team that had its hand out for that NBA loan, or a team that is going to be way over the tax threshold and way under .500. Milwaukee? Washington?

    The Mavs need to "partner up'' with teams like that. ... and kick them while they're down.

IS DALLAS LOSING GROUND IN THE WEST?

   The Mavs get to say that their “changes for 2008-09’’ were Kidd and Carlisle. And then they get to say that staying the course through the growing-pains 2-7 start was justified. And yes, whether it’s the sixth-place finish in the regular season or the fact that they were one of four Western Conference playoff survivors or the now-famous DB.com concept called “9X50,’’ stability has its virtues.

    But Portland is suddenly young and good. OKC is suddenly young and gonna-be good. The Nuggets got Billups and got great. Houston underwent changes in the form of injury losses and got better. The Lakers can afford to stand pat. New Orleans will stay good if it can pay its bills. Phoenix has Amare (maybe). Utah is good. The Spurs aren’t done.

   And what did the Mavs do to their roster that impacted the playoffs this season? Ryan Hollins had postseason cup o’ coffee. That’s about it, and unless Dallas wants to find itself on a treadmill respective to the rest of the West, that’s not good enough.

THE DOLLARS AND SENSE OF DALLAS’ ASSETS

    The Mavericks have the 22nd overall pick. (Time for a “hit’’ there, eh?)

    The Mavs have decisions to make on Kidd, Hollins, Singleton, Green and Bass.

    The Mavericks also have the MLE, enabling them to pay somebody around $5 million.

    The good news here: We hear a lot about how Cuban can take advantage of other teams because of economic troubles. Here’s a logical place for tight-budget clubs to save dough; many teams end up not using the MLE, so in most cities, there won’t be a public outcry if an owner keeps this $5 mil in his pocket.

    The bad news here: While Dallas has the cash, the need and the will, the Mavs have no impressive track record of successfully flexing the MLE muscle. A case in point comes from just a summer ago, when the Mavs were convinced they could re-acquire ‘Gana Diop in a cheap sign-and-trade, then found themselves having to use some of the MLE to get him from the Nets, then had to use ALL the MLE to bring him home. … and a few weeks later began the process of dumping the whole mess on Charlotte while having to take on Matt Carroll’s similarly unattractive contract.

   This summer? Erick Dampier’s deal is expiring. J-Ho has this year and another, his last year being a team-option year.    

   But the big asset is …

JERRY STACKHOUSE’S CONTRACT IS THE CHIP – AND THE TEST

   Stackhouse’s expiring (his $7 million salary can be bought out for $2 million) is not just A chip. It’s THE chip. It’s a guy who might still have some on-court value to somebody, but infinitely more important is the fact that his contract will essentially save some team around $10 million worth of room.

    EVERY TEAM IN THE NBA WILL WANT THIS CONTRACT.

    And here’s the part about “the test’’: If you are skeptical about the Mavs’ braintrust being able to negotiation a “win’’ in a swap, you will look for proof (or better, disproof) here. Managed properly, Stack’s contract should be the centerpiece of a bidding war.

    The equation is simple: Identify the teams that wants to save money, identify the teams with talented players they find somewhat expendable, and sit back and sift through the bids. This is how you get Kirk Hinrich or Chris Kaman or Jamal Crawford or Boris Diaw – all of whom fit the profile – and done properly, THE MAVS CAN CONTROL THE BIDDING.
    Each of those guys, and many more, fit into the $10-mil slot. Each of those guys can be a huge help.

    Or, even bigger and better, use Stack to pull off the above-the-marquee deal with the likes of Bosh.

    Either way, it’s a win waiting to happen.

    And all the Mavs have to do is … not screw this up.

WE LOVE OUR TEAM – BUT WE’D LIKE A TEAM EVEN MORE LOVABLE

    "We like the major pieces that we have in place," Donnie says. "We're going to look to … get a little bit more athletic, get some slashing from the right positions. We’re always looking for shooting, a low-post presence. I think those are all areas that we would like to upgrade or address in some form or fashion."

    In other words, “the core group is fine.’’ In other words, “We love our team.’’

    Says Carlisle: “We want to be playing in the Finals, so we've got work to do. We've got to get the guys who were here that are going to be here better. That's going to be a lot of work. We've got to be active and look for opportunities to upgrade the team overall and inject whatever we can into our core group."

     In other words, “the core group is fine.’’ In other words, “We love our team.’’

     Of course, as we’ve all seen, the core group is fine. And there is a lot to love about it. But we want more. A move from 9X50 to 10X50 is the starting point, not the finish line. And speaking of starting points, Mark Cuban and Co., that offseason of yours? It starts …

    Now.

 

 

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255pm may 19 2009

 

                                                            

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