The Once and Future Mavs: Ring Ceremonies and Tomorrow
by andytobo on Jan 24, 2012 12:23 PM CST
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PrintImagine a stock market. You can’t, because no one knows what a stock market actually looks like. Google informs me that a bunch of people yelling, wearing suits, is either the stock market or congress. Pass on.
In this particular stock market, though, you get one bid for one of thirty items. There’s no rhyme or reason to when you get to pick, and what you get to pick isn’t the same. This is a stock market for "team centerpieces".
If you get "Dirk", "Kobe", "LeBron", "Dwight" or "Durant and Westbrook" your teams are contenders, until they get too old. If you get "Chris Paul", "Deron", "Rubio and Kevin Love" your teams just need a couple of other pieces.
If you get "Joe Johnson", you’re in trouble. If you can’t do that well, you’re the Washington Wizards.
The point is, everybody knows what you do if you’re a stockbroker with a crappy commodity, which is that you sell.
In the NBA, you’re either winning or you’re selling. The Mavs are winning. Don’t get confused about that.
But they’re also selling.
Mavs fans wouldn’t be people if they didn’t feel a little vertigo this year. That doesn’t mean Cuban’s wrong about this team being better than last year’s. Consider Saturday’s gutty win over the Hornets. It shouldn’t have had to b ea gutty win over the Hornets, the NBA equivalent of a grown man’s gutty win over a small child suffering from a painful disease, but there it is.
The fact of the matter is, in other parallel universes, that game was a lot worse. Consider:
The two high-scorers, with 16 points each, were Lamar Odom and Delonte West. Brandan Wright chipped in 6.
In other words, of the Mavs 83 points, 38 points came from new Mavs. 6 more came from Mahimni, who didn’t play basically at all last year. 14 came from Marion, the only old Mav currently playing well.
In Universe 2, where the old guard Mavs minus Chandler played the Hornets and you were waiting for the old guard Mavs---the Jasons for example—to make their impact in that game, they did, but mostly in terms of paint fragments chipped from the side of the rim.
The Jasons were 3-22. It wasn’t fun.
That’s how the Mavs are built to win now, with new Lamar Odoms and Delonte Wests and evolved Ian Mahimnis and Roddy Beaubois’. That wasn’t DEFINITELY going to happen, in any universe. Turns out it would be just as easy, in fact easier, to have salary cap space next year and have no Wests or Odoms at all. I’m not saying. I’m just saying the Mavs apparently lost to the Hornets 81-51 in that Universe. Apparently.
And even if you added a current Dirk Nowitzki to the mix, current Dirk Nowitzki looks like Lurch from the Addams Family, and you’d still lose 81-68.
So yeah, in that sense, the Mavs are better this year than last year.
On the other hand, in the Universe in which the 2013 Mavs played the Hornets on Saturday, things got a little nutty. Since the only Mavs signed through 2013 are Beaubois, Haywood, Marion, Dom Jones and Dirk, the Mavs lost that game 81 to 13, since contributions by players yet to be signed are deemed relativistically ineligible.
Which means that the Mavs next year could be literally anything.
(No word on what happened in the Universe where the Hornets had to try to kill a mammoth with spears made of a stone tied to wood).
That’s the thing that strikes me, at this moment. The 2013 Mavs are likely to be more different from the 2012 Mavs than the 2012 version is from 2011. Which is something to think about.
This may be the last year you see Jason Terry in a Mavs uniform. This may be the last year you see Jason Kidd in a Mavs uniform, though it’s relatively likely that Kidd would be willing to sign a 1-year veteran minimum contract to stay here. This may be the last year you see Shawn Marion in a Mavs uniform, since his contract would have to go to get big fish and he’s obviously not the Mavs’ future.
For all his ups and downs, the Jet will be the hardest one for me.
Think about it, that’s all. This Wednesday, when you see your Mavs receive their rings, and we all miss Tyson Chandler, DeSteve, and see Barea get his in a Wolves jersey, know that there is much more of this in your future than your past. That it all still seems so new, but someday, maybe, you’ll look back on the Delonte-Odom Mavs the same way you do the Chandler-Mavs.
And in all the thought of present and future, appreciate what is now, because we’ll miss it, too, pretty soon.
Enjoy these shadows on the wall, as they go. The future may be brighter, but it will be different.
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Now why did you have to make this article?!!
The Mavs without Terry, Marion, or Kidd? What are you doing to us? I hope for all it’s worth that all they get is a reduced salary. I really hope. And why do we have to get two free agents? We can just have one, right? A Terry-less Mavs will never be the same. If Dirk is the face of the Mavs franchise, Terry is like the heart of it. If 8/10 of Mavs fans wear Dirk’s jersey, 1.8/10 wear Terry’s and the other .2/10 wear the others’. I want these guys to end their careers as a Mav, with 2 or more championships under their belt. It’s the perfect ending, the happily ever after I think we all wish.
sorry man, no recommendation on this one
no hard feelings…I’ll just pretend I’ve never read this and will move on. I’ll go on with my life thinking Jet, Kidd, and Matrix will forever be wearing a Mavs jersey.
Seriously though
Matrix will be the one I miss the most. I have liked the guy since his Suns days. When people talk of 3D, the excitement is quick to fleet. Becoming the new Heat is just one aspect of it. I will hate seeing these guys go.
But the fans move on. This is one aspect of Basketball fandom that I never really got. How quickly things change from loving a guy to picking on him….and I am not talking about Lady BJ. People already seem to dislike TC. But it will be a sad day if Jet ever gets booed at the AAC (as much as I hate his transition jumper).
This has been running on my mind for a while now. Props for writing about it. Rec’d.
We have to do what we have to do.
It’s a sad day when Dirk, Kidd, Terry, Marion, or whoever has to leave the organization, it sucks. It has to happen though, Cuban has made it clear that his plan is to buy a player or 2 during the offseason, sadly some of those players don’t fit in with the direction we’re going. I’m still depressed that Barea isn’t a Maverick, it sucks. But, we have to deal with it with this direction we’re going.
Dallas and Houston fan making it work. Gig 'em!
The unfortunate truth of being a fan.
Rosters always evolve to a certain extent. I for one never imagined the Mavericks without Steve Nash, at some point it happened though and as time went on it just ‘is what it is’. Think about other favorites that have left that was a total bummer; for me Nick Van Exel, Michael Finley, Eduardo Najera, Jerry Stackhouse. It’s inevitable unfortunately whether due to age or cost. I hope we can keep most of these Veterans around with salary reductions or any other means maybe an amnesty then resign for Marion if it comes to that. Jason Terry is on another level for me with all the others mentioned however, if JET doesn’t retire a Maverick that would be 2nd worse thing that could happen for me as a Mavs fan next to Dirk obviously leaving. Jason Terry has gave his heart and soul to this Franchise and it would turn my stomach seeing JET 31 on the Runway for another team. We’re obviously positioning towards a new era and I am grateful to have Cuban as an owner to stay competitive I just hope it happens with out certain heartache!
by BlizzStarkiller on Jan 24, 2012 5:12 PM CST reply actions
It still stings and the pure idiocy of it makes it worse.
We’ve already let go of what could have been a promising unit for any team in Chandler, Butler, Barea, Fernandez and Brewer. Worst thing is we gave away a whole unit for the POSSIBILITY of getting one or two guys. While D12 is purely amazing and being from Illinois I have always thought Deron Williams was a badass they are still each only one guy. They can each only play one position at a time and can only play so many minutes. Our management really fucked us long and short term. What we did is like selling out testicles so we can afford condoms later, poorly thought out and leaves you shooting blanks…
by elbow greater than face on Jan 24, 2012 6:16 PM CST reply actions
I would actually have to disagree with you on this
yes, I would have wanted our championship group to come back, and the management would too, it would be stupid to say otherwise. They formed a bond I’ve never seen in any other team. But banking on the franchise’s future for that very same group, who won’t make the mavericks any younger and won’t be able to compete for the following years (let’s face it, the way the NBA works right now is teams becoming superteams, and sadly if you don’t get on that bandwagon you’re not doing yourself any favors and dirk isn’t getting any younger). What the management did was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen through all the years that I’ve watched basketball as limited as it may be (along with the heat trio, as much as I hate them, the heat organization/wade made a heck of a move acquiring LBJ and CB), they’ve kept this organization a contender while being a CONTENDER for not only next year’s free agent class, but the following years as well. And don’t get me wrong, we are just contending for the free agent class next year, that’s all we can hope and wish for, but isn’t that what every other team is doing? NY, NJ, BOS, you name it. they’re doing the same thing. We don’t have the chips to acquire a superstar (read: D12 or Dwill) via trade so we have to wait. And as far as I’m concerned, once the trade deadline passes, the Mavericks have one of the biggest, if not, the biggest, chances of landing both dwight and dwill (obviously, roster changes must be made). But back to your point about our management doing a bad job this offseason, I honestly believe they did the right thing and did a heck of a job.
www.brentonang.wordpress.com
let the daggers rain
Damn good argument, I had to write out bullet points for my reply.
1. While we have Dirk and he is able we should do our best to stay in title contention. First, he deserves that kind of treatment, second once he’s gone he’s damn near irreplaceable. Get it while the gettin’ is good.
2. Okay keeping our team together doesn’t make us any younger (obviously) but we went out and made moves to become the oldest team in the league now anyway. Moot point given this.
3. Sure the Nicks and Nets are trying to be in the free agent hunt, they are both just now getting good enough to matter. They had nothing until recently so their business model and ours have nothing in common. Boston, their issues are twofold. Ainge murdered “ubuntu” and their mojo with the KP failure. Aside from that the rest of the team is aging and or injured. So yeah Boston is after new blood, their team from last year couldn’t possibly win the title. Besides, chasing the big free agents has now been romanticized so much that a lot of people just do it because “everyone else is doing it” and all the teams are screaming to be “competitive” now.
4. Trade chips, we had several but we either did not resign them or have already traded them.
5. So what even if we did get both of them? Like I said before, each is only one player regardless of how talented. Teams that spend all their $$$ at 2-3 spots tend to have subpar players filling out the roster most often. That leads to holes both offensively and defensively that can be exploited. Think OKC, doubles on Durant and Westbrook are almost automatic because nobody needs to guard KP and Sefalosha. On the defensive end think Amare or Melo. A good defense requires all five men to be in on it, those holes get you scored on a lot.
In summation if we hadn’t done what we did we could still be in the title hunt, been younger on average than we are now, maintained a balance team that was capable on both ends of the floor and still had trade prospects to grab one of the big FAs without gutting the bench. We don’t NEED both. WE just proved that the superteam bullshit is not necessary and you can’t tell me we couldn’t have come up with something that Otis Smith would take for Dwight.
by elbow greater than face on Jan 25, 2012 6:13 AM CST up reply actions
I'll reply using bullet points as well
1. I totally agree with your argument that while we still have Dirk we should keep milking the cow till it’s dry. And that is what Mark Cuban is thinking as well. Here’s the thing, we did lose our championship team but we replaced it with an ARGUABLY better one, both defensively and offensively if we were to believe the stat sheet. And you might argue that you liked the team last season better, you can’t deny, however, that with this current roster we are still in contention. It’s not like we tanked this season plus we didn’t get our hands cuffed with long contracts for players getting older. which leads me to my next point.
2. You are right that we went out and got older with our new acquisitions this year BUT what I was pointing out was that after this year’s group (which are mainly short term deals) we have the cap space to reel in some of the younger talents which will make us younger plus give dirk the help he needs. As opposed to signing chanlder, barea, stevenson, and butler and be locked up with their contracts which in the long run won’t make us contend anymore and won’t make us younger for years to come. So in essence, yes we are older right now, but in the following seasons we have the chance to turn it around and become younger plus possibly contend depending on who we acquire.
3. You just pointed out why we should, in fact, chase after the bigger names because if we don’t then we’d go into oblivion, okay, not really oblivion but it would be way way way harder for us to compete which we all want. We don’t want to go back into the dark ages, right? be that as it may seem, wouldn’t you do it if you were given the chance especially in these times? okay, let’s say we hypothetically stayed with our championship bunch, obviously we won’t be able to make any moves so that’s that. we compete with miami’s trio which you can’t deny despite their almost identical record from last year has been better, plus compete with other possible superteams (e.g. lakers with howard, nets with howard and williams, nyk with howard and melo, etc. the possibilities are endless), do you think we’d have any chance against those superteams? and yes we beat miami last year, but that was one heck of a run from dirk and the crew, and the possibility of them doing another 15-0 run, 18-0 run, 12-0 run, or whatever type of run you might want to end an game and keep doing that would be slimmer. As much as i loved our championship last year, an argument could be made that that was a once in a lifetime happening…..or just destiny.
4. please elaborate about the trade chips that you see will land us something that will keep this franchise in contention. I know there are a lot of possibilities but who?
5. That is a good point and I might not have any concrete evidence but the Mavericks’s FO have always proven to be able to reel in players who have been labeled as done or in the decline. Plus, if you had a superteam, other players would quickly want to be a part of the aforementioned superteam. Think about the heat, they’re one or two pieces away from championship material and one could even argue that they are championship material. Their only hole is their center imho.
So yes, you did make a valid argument that keeping our championship team would mean title contention for this year and possibly next year but isn’t that what we are doing this year? and next year, if fate allows, we could be better than 2010 mavs and 2011 mavs. if not, then keep this bunch which for me is clearly better than the championship roster. And we didn’t gut our bench, in reality, we have a better bench now than what we had years past. and yes, the Mavericks could have come up with a trade for dwight but we really don’t have the best trade chips on our team. You really think that a trade centered around chandler would be better than a trade centered around, let’s say, andrew bynum? and I do get where you’re coming from, I really do, but the way I see it is that the FO did the right job by keeping us in contention this year plus keep the flexibility for years ahead. And ss ainge and cuban have both said, with the new CBA cap space is more valuable.
www.brentonang.wordpress.com
let the daggers rain
I'll echo some things as well
I agree, It would have been great if we could have kept JJ and Tyson accepted the 1 year $20 mil offer and had another go with the Championship core. I think it just shows that Cuban desperately wanted a legit repeat attempt but at the same time wanted to to try and sustain excellence after the Kidd,Terry,Marion, and Even Dirk days by having cap space for future free agents. Dallas is a very desirable destination for players and I do not fault Cuban nor Maverick’s management at all. There is a very good chance of acquiring Williams or Howard; getting both would be phenomenal but would require a lot of player salary dump and using the amnesty clause on Haywood or Marion. If we could keep most of the same team and land either Deron Williams or Dwight Howard this summer I think most people that questioned Cuban and the management will be singing a different tune. Only time will tell, obviously nothing is guaranteed I just have faith in the front office and in my opinion the best owner in sports.
"I wish Mike all the best off the court, ... As always, I hope the Spurs lose 82 games." - Mark Cuban
by BlizzStarkiller on Jan 24, 2012 9:10 PM CST reply actions
so far this season is one to remember.. and still not holding my breath on dwight or deron.
who would have thunk matrix being a real option in scoring. hes feeling the touch again back when he played in phoenix. if he keeps it up that will definitely be the replacement of what tyson brought. except with more quickness.
I'm not holding my breath for a superstar either...
However, I usually do not make ‘predictions’ or ‘semi-guarantee’s’ but, if Dwight Howard does not go to the Nets and teams up with Deron Williams in New Jersey.. I am VERY confident that Deron Williams will sign with Dallas as a free agent. Then it’s up to Dwight Howard and his agent, plus Mavericks front office and salary dilemas to make it work for him to come here. I feel really confident about securing one of the marquee Free Agents..it’s getting two that starts to get complicated, plus, if one would technically not take a max deal and a ‘pay cut’. We’ll just have to see how it goes. Either way I’m a MFFL!
"I wish Mike all the best off the court, ... As always, I hope the Spurs lose 82 games." - Mark Cuban
by BlizzStarkiller on Jan 25, 2012 2:41 AM CST reply actions
Me gusta
"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot."
- Bill Russell
by Marjun Raposon on Jan 25, 2012 11:32 AM CST up reply actions
You could
punch out a lot of non-championship-winning players with that ring.
"I'm a unitard!" - Ralph Wiggum
by stupidsexyflanders on Jan 25, 2012 2:34 PM CST up reply actions
LOL
"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot."
- Bill Russell
by Marjun Raposon on Jan 25, 2012 8:29 PM CST up reply actions
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