Mavs To Pass On Finley, Other Buyout Candidates. 'We'll Stay The Course,' Donnie Says

   The Mavs are going to “stay the course,’’ GM Donnie Nelson tells DallasBasketball.com, and not pursue any of the buyout veterans who are coming available today, including ex-Mav Michael Finley and Minnesota center Mark Blount.

   “I suppose it’s smart to say, ‘never say never,’’ Nelson says. “But we’ve examined the thing in depth. We’ve decided to not mess with what we have.’’

  That stand-pat decision is based on a trio of factors:

  2 As much as the Mavs have discussed needing a second center – conceivably like Blount, who Marc Stein says is about to come free – Erick Dampier is probably just two weeks away from making his return from that finger dislocation.

   “Damp is healing really quickly,’’ Donnie says, “and yes, that’s a factor.’’

   As a short-term solution to the backup center vacancy, the Mavs feel comfortable with Eddie Najera, who knows the system, fits well into the locker room and is a heralded Glue Crew guy.

   Which takes us to the third factor:

   3 “We’ve decided to not mess with what we have.’’

   Translation: The Mavs think they’ve hit on something special. They have won seven consecutive games with this post-trade reconfiguration of bodies. Two of the holdovers, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, just completed two of the finest weeks of their careers. There is harmony and there is success and in the view of the Mavs, there is no reason making a “name’’ change at the end of the bench that might in any way poison the magical mix.

    “Nothing against any of those guys,’’ Donnie says. “The decision isn’t about them. It’s about the guys already in that locker room. We like our team as it is.’’