A Nerd on Sports
Today marks the first day of free agency in the NBA. Are there any big names in the market right now? Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Pops Mensah-Bonsu just to name a few. Will my favorite team, the Dallas Mavericks, make a big splash in free agency and finally have a true supporting cast to surround the 2006-2007 MVP, Dirk Nowitzki? Probably not. We’ll end up keeping Jason Kidd, hopefully getting rid of Jerry Stackhouse’s contract, and trading Ericka Dampier. Who do I want to see in a Mavs jersey next season? Tyson Chandler.
The Hornets made it clear last season that Chandler’s contract wasn’t worth keeping around. With CP3, Peja, and David West, Chandler’s athleticism and defensive presence was often overshadowed. On the Mavs, he could be a dominating force manning the middle. Jason Kidd’s lobs wouldn’t go to airballed layups like it does now to Damp. He would cut down on Dirk and Kidd’s need to rebound the ball and allow them to focus on defensive assignments and pushing the ball in transition. We would limit the double teams to Dirk and Terry in the perimeter because there would always be someone to dump the ball down to in the paint. Combined with the blocked shots and defense first mentality, Tyson Chandler becomes a great asset.
How could this deal possibly go down, you ask, my weary Mavericks fans? We’ll have to part ways with our former second in command, Josh Howard, give up the much coveted Jerry Stackhouse contract, and hell, give them Dampier. Pay out some cash money to make all the numbers balance, and there you have it.
Here’s a projected line up for the 2009-2010 season:
PG – Jason Kidd
SG – Jason Terry
SF – Antoine Wright / A possible Marquis Daniels return?
PF – Dirk Nowitzki
C – Tyson Chandler
With Brandon Bass providing energy off the bench, JJ Barea as our back up point guard, and possibly another addition to the team with the mid-level exception, I believe the Mavs could be a true force in the west. Will it be enough to take down the Lakers? Probably not. We’d need to sign Jesus for that. But in a west with the Yao-less Rockets, the departure of chronic-step-on-your-foot-when-you’re-going-to-shoot-so-that-you-hurt-yourself Bruce Bowen (waste of human flesh) from the Spurs, and Denver’s entire bench being unrestricted free agents, the Mavs will be ready to compete.
It’s going to be key to resign Brandon Bass and add a big piece like Shawn Marion with the full MLE (mid-level exception). But I hope that the recent signing of Gortat won’t prevent the Mavericks from making offers to players of Marion’s caliber. He might have lost a step but he’s still intriguing to envision in an open offense with Kidd at the helm. However, Kidd has received a 3 yr offer from the Knicks, similar to the 3 year offer that the Mavericks gave him. Everything is pretty up in the air at the beginning of the Free Agency period. Mavs fans, it is time to collectively hold your breath for the next few months. It’s going to be an interesting ride.
Trevor Ariza has verbally committed to the Rockets, as has Ron Artest to the Lakers.