Every year you can count on the Dallas Mavericks being very interesting with Mark Cuban as an owner and Dirk Nowitzki as your star player, you have all the makings of an explosive team with explosive ownership. The Mavericks as usual made a lot of moves to change their team. One of the most lethal moves was to pick up Shawn “Matrix” Marion.

The Shawn Marion deal helps; there’s no question about that. In talking with Mark Cuban during summer league he told HOOPSWORLD to expect a lot of small ball next season. He said they’ll run Dirk Nowitzki at the center, Marion at the four, Josh Howard at the three, and some combination of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and J.J. Barea in the backcourt. We were quick to point out that playing Dirk at the five has been tried and was a dismal failure for both Don Nelson and Avery Johnson, but Cuban insisted that the up-tempo style his team will look to run next season will make that lineup a lethal combination.
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Shawn Marion will be a Maverick

The Mavericks did not stop there as they also signed Drew Gooden, the man of 7 teams in 7 years.

Like Brandon Bass, Gooden has a good mid-range game. The good news for Mavericks fans is that Gooden is more consistent than Bass, who seemed to have good games about three out of every five nights. Gooden will deliver the same effort night in and night out, and given enough playing time he’s a solid double-double threat. He rebounds well, grabbing 7.9 boards per game over his career, hits 47% of his field goal attempts, and is an above average defender, as well. He should be a great addition, one who complements Jason Kidd nicely.
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The up tempo style of the Dallas Mavericks makes the need for a lot of players paramount and in case you were wondering, they are loaded with a lot of players. Check out the two deep of:
PG Jason Kidd Jose Juan Barea
SG Jason Terry Matt Carroll
SF Josh Howard Shawn Marion
PF Dirk Nowitzki Drew Gooden
C Erick Dampier Kris Humphries
[as reported in Yahoo Sports]

Most teams would salivate at the likes of that type of depth. Not the Mavericks, they still feel they need a shooting guard to really make the team go. These guys never quit, on the court or in the front office.

Photo source Newscom

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Maverick fans have to be drooling. Mark Cuban has let it be known that he would pick up the two worst contracts on the Hornets in order to get Chris Paul.

It makes the mind swirl to think of the Dallas Mavericks picking up Chris Paul to play on the same team as Dirk Nowitzki. You would have a former MVP still playing at a very high level with a future MVP candidate adding some much needed full court speed.

Chris Paul defies the laws of gravity

Dirk is still one of the top mismatch players in the league, presenting an interesting combination of size and long distance shooting ability. If you added in Chris Paul, just think of the explosiveness on the Mavericks. Chris is a penetrating point guard and they rule the NBA right now.

So why would the Hornets let this deal happen?

In a word, contracts. They have way too many dollars tied up in longer contracts.

Who would the Hornets want to get rid of so badly that they’d be willing to part with Paul? Peja Stojakovic ($13.39 million next season and $14.26 in 2010-11) would definitely be part of the deal. Chandler ($12.3 next season and $13.2 in 2010-11) probably would be included, too. Morris Peterson (due a total of $12 million over the next two seasons) or James Posey ($19.5 million over three seasons) are other possibilities.

Stojakovic’s contract ranks among the worst in the league. He’s had a very good career, but he’s an oft-injured 40-percent jump shooter these days. But he is the starting small forward for a playoff team.

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Photo source Newscom

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The trade rumors are heating up and Mark Cuban would love to have Rasheed Wallace.

The Pistons continue to fade with Allen Iverson, but Joe Dumars isn’t expected to try to find a new home for his star guard.

Rasheed Wallace could be another story. According to one Eastern Conference executive, the Pistons will take calls on Wallace. One team mentioned as a potential destination is Dallas.

“That’s a ‘Mark Cuban move,’ ” said an Eastern Conference executive. “Cuban would take Rasheed, no question. It would be bold, but he knows he’s got to do something to spark his team.”

Cuban tried that last season when he acquired Jason Kidd, but ended up making a mistake by giving the Nets Devin Harris.

The Mavs don’t appear to have enough to get Wallace. And the Pistons would like to use Wallace’s money – along with Iverson’s – to create enough cap space to make a run at LeBron James and/or Chris Bosh in two summers.

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Let us put this one in the farfetched column, but it is no doubt that Joe Dumars would move Wallace for the right offer.

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Byron Scott in with the new.

Avery Johnson out with the old.

That was the swan song of the Coach of the Year award.

New Orleans 99 Dallas 94

Top 10 reasons Hornets eliminate Mavs

10. Chris Paul at beginning of a potential Hall of Fame career, while Jason Kidd near the end of potential Hall of Fame career.

Chris Paul had 24 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds, and the Hornets held on for a 99-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks to win their first-round series in five games.

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9. Dirk Nowitzki settles too often for jumpers, even when there is a mismatch on D.

8. Poor recognition of mismatches on defense by Dallas.

7. Poor defense by Dallas.

6., 5., 4., 3., 2., 1. No clue how to defend by Dallas.

Just in case you think the Mavs never played defense, there is proof that they did.

Dallas never led and was hurt badly by an 11-1 Hornets run after Nowitzki’s free throw had pulled the Mavs to 73-66 early in the fourth quarter.

Dallas played solid defense on New Orleans’ next possession, keeping the ball on the perimeter, but Pargo hit a deflating 3 at the shot clock buzzer.

Time to stop blaming Jason Kidd.

“We’re better than what we showed this series,” Nowitzki said. “The summer is going to be long. … You don’t want to say stuff when you’re emotional and disappointed. … You’ve got to look at what you can do to make the team better. We’ve got to look at it this summer again, but it’s not the time now.”

Nowitzki gave mixed reviews to the Kidd trade, which cost the Mavericks young point guard Devin Harris, a former first-round draft choice.

Dallas will probably be looking at firing former Coach of the Year Avery Johnson and adding some defense to their games.

Kidd and Johnson never found a rhythm together, never found a common ground to make this work. And Mark Cuban did nothing in the losing locker room to end speculation that an NBA Finals collapse and two straight first-round playoff blowouts would end Johnson’s run as Mavericks coach.

“Nothing to say,” the Mavericks owner said, throwing a fistful of popcorn into his mouth.

“I pass.”

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Yes, Chris Paul was brilliant and outplayed Jason Kidd, but do you think for a minute Chris Paul would not have destroyed Devin Harris?

Dallas needs Defense.

NBA Basketball special comment Chris Paul sure is fun to watch. Go Hornets.

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All the after the fact analysts are now claiming the Jason Kidd deal was such a dumb move by Mark Cuban.

The facts? No victories against above .500 teams and the West is loaded with above .500 teams.

Now they have all this analysis about what Devin Harris brought to the team or even, oh yeah, get this, DeSagana Diop.

Excuuuuse me? What a bunch of baloney.

The Mavericks lost to the Warriors in the first round last year. The out of control Warriors took them down.

Was Devin Harris a good young player? Yeah, and he still is for that matter, but that is not the point.

Dallas needed to do something. The team they had was not going to win.

Jason Kidd turns his back on the nay sayers

Is Jason Kidd the answer? We don’t know yet, but he is getting blamed for everything including the stale hotdog buns in section 129 at the last home game.

It has been a difficult transition for Kidd, although he has played better the last week, averaging 19.7 points, 11 assists and 3.3 steals.

He is a positive person who is emboldened by the challenge: “If you want it badly, you’ve got to go through this. You kind of have no choice but to produce. That’s the fun part. You’re going to have good days and bad days, where you feel non-existent and everybody is on your back. That’s when you have to keep pushing.”

The Kidd trade was supposed to have positive leadership implications because the Mavericks have long been considered too soft — “too fragile,” as Jackson says. But the offense has struggled to find its flow and the defense hasn’t displayed consistent vigor.

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Maybe the bigger question is when will Dirk Nowitzki be back. The Dallas Mavericks need to make the playoffs first and foremost and then worry about what Jason Kidd’s role will be.

The status for the Wednesday game against Golden State is not good.

There were hopes that Nowitzki could play Wednesday after the team upgraded his status to day-to-day following his 45-minute workout Tuesday. But that optimism faded after the shootaround session.

“I’ve got to be pain-free. If I can’t move out there and cut and try to defend and move my feet, it really doesn’t make any sense to try to get out there,” Nowitzki said. “Just hobbling around wouldn’t help anybody. I would rather have somebody out there that can go and give 100%.”

Nowitzki sprained his left ankle and knee March 23. He said his knee is fine.

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Ultimately the team will be about Dirk Nowitzki and how far he can carry them, not about Jason Kidd.

NBA Basketball special comment The early returns mean nothing. The final polls are the playoffs. That is when the Jason Kidd trade will be fully tested. Can Jason get it done?

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The sweet J of Dirk Nowitzki will be missed

Dirk Nowitzki update.

Nowitzki met with reporters for about 10 minutes Monday to discuss the leg injury he sustained the previous day. He said he feels fortunate it’s only a moderate high-ankle sprain and a mildly sprained knee and he hopes to be back in a week or two.

But he also realizes it could be longer and the Mavericks might miss the playoffs without him.

“This is probably the most painful time to miss games,” Nowitzki said. “That’s very discouraging.”

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Yesterday you were told of Dirk’s leg injury and that on Monday we would know more. Well, the news was not good and neither are the Maverick’s playoff chances.

Hard to imagine not watching a Maverick-Spurs Tim Duncan battle or missing a Dallas-Phoenix Steve Nash shootout in the playoffs, but the West is just stacked with good teams.

Western Conference
Team GB
1. * New Orleans –
2. * LA Lakers -0.5
3. Houston 0.5
4. * Utah 2.5
5. Phoenix 1.0
6. San Antonio 1.0
7. Dallas 4.0
8. Golden State 5.0
9. Denver 5.5

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Dirk is just too much of the Dallas team. Can Jason Kidd turn it on and save them?

NBA Basketball Fan Question Can Dallas stay in the race until Dirk Nowitzki comes back?

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Dirk Nowitzki will know more Monday, while Dallas holds their breath

This seems to be an almost impossible scenario.

Who would have thought that Dallas could miss the NBA Playoffs? Dirk Nowitzki hurt his leg in a loss to the Spurs and Tim Duncan. Check out these standings with Dallas way down the list. Only 8 teams make the playoffs. Dallas has lost 3 in a row.

Western Conference
Team GB
1. * LA Lakers —
2. * New Orleans 0.5
3. Phoenix 1.0
4. * Utah 3.0
5. Houston 1.5
6. San Antonio 1.5
7. Dallas 4.5
8. Golden State 5.5
9. Denver 6.5

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You need more evidence?

How about the Jason Kidd trade?

Dallas hasn’t beaten a winning team since Jason Kidd arrived. The Mavs are 0-8, including their last three, all at home. They were 29-4 at home—without losing as many as two in a row—before falling to the Lakers, Celtics and now the Spurs.

Dallas is fourth in their own division trailing New Orleans and Chris Paul, the surprising Tracy McGrady Rockets, and the surging Tim Duncan Spurs.

Mark Cuban must be going out of his mind.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will Dallas make the playoffs?

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Jason Kidd cannot pass on a good deal

New Jersey seems intent on trading Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks, so GM Rod Thorn traded Kidd again to Dallas.

The new deal — as reported by various media outlets Sunday night, all citing anonymous sources — has Kidd and forward Malik Allen going to Dallas for point guard Devin Harris, center DeSagana Diop and swingman Maurice Ager, plus a few new pieces: retired forward Keith Van Horn and Trenton Hassell.

New Jersey also will get two first-round draft picks and $3 million.

Van Horn and Hassell replace Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George. source

Rod Thorn was not done there, he just went right on trading with Dallas.

In a separate transaction, Dallas will acquire Antoine Wright for a second-round pick.

Hey, why not? Gotta a deal working with Dallas myself, if the commissioner allows by dead great grandfather to be included in the deal.

Van Horn hates paperwork

Talk about a guy that really hates his paperwork. Keith Van Horn never got around to filling out his retirement forms for New Jersey. That is why he can be included in the trade.

How does that work?

And why did you attend his retirement party a year ago. Feel kind of foolish now, don’t you?

Aaron McKie returns

Now it can be revealed that the same stuff took place in the Memphis Grizzlies to Los Angeles Kobe Lakers Pau Gasol trade.

the Los Angeles Lakers had to extricate the 35-year-old from a coaching job in Philadelphia before signing-and-trading him as part of their package for Gasol.

Nothing fishy there, since you only have to convince the league you are serious about playing for the new team. Yeah, right.

Money talks

Apparently there is not much to show are far as desire to play with the amount of money being thrown around. Keith Van Horn was not sure he wanted to leave his business interests in Colorado.

Sources close to the process insist, however, that the league has not imposed any time requirements for staying with the Nets that Van Horn must meet to collect the full $4.3 million he’s scheduled to receive for the rest of the season. source

Hmm, 4.3 millions reasons to leave Colorado.

Anyway, Kidd was traded to Dallas and may being playing as a Maverick with Dirk Nowitzki and company as soon as Wednesday.

If not, Rod Thorn can always trade him again.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will Jason Kidd take Dallas to the title?

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Jerry Stackhouse may not be all smiles if the Jason Kidd trade does not go through

Jerry Stackhouse gave an interview saying New Jersey would buy out his contract, then after the 30 day waiting period, Stack could return to the Mavericks in a prearranged deal. source

This is illegal. It is called tampering. The league may not allow Jerry to return to the Mav’s if the trade happened.

Mark Cuban does not want to lose Stack.

Wow, this just keeps getting better. First, Devean George and his Bird Rights, and now Jerry Stackhouse and tampering.

Just think how happy David Stern must feel to stick the dagger in Cuban for once.

Losing Stack to gain Kidd, may hurt the Mav’s depth, but still would improve their team.

This deal just got more complicated, but will still probably happen in some form or another.

LeBron wants action

Meanwhile, LeBron James is upset that the Cavaliers have done nothing to try and get Kidd, in spite of LeBron’s lobbying for Jason. It is doubtful that the Nets would leave Jason Kidd in the same conference.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will Dallas and New Jersey get this deal done in time for the trade deadline?

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MARK CUBAN – Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team. He is the highly successful entrepreneur who founded HDNet, Broadcast.com and MicroSolutions. Cuban went on to sell Broadcast.com and Micro Solutions to Yahoo! and CompuServe, respectively. He is partnered with KYM JOHNSON, who returns for her third season.

 You can read more about it at Mark’s blog – Blog Maverick.

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