Ehsan Azad
Fork in the Road
It was
just 20-months-ago when the Dallas Mavericks were crowned the champions of the
basketball world. They made a magical run that few predicted and it helped
solidify Dirk Nowitzki as a true NBA star. Oh how things have changed since
that magical summer.
The Dallas
Mavericks are in a unique fork in the road. Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson made a
move to dismantle the championship team to create cap space to make easier
movies in the new CBA, and also pursue another big star to feature next to
Nowitzki. This past summer, they put all their eggs in a basket and tried to nab
the summer’s biggest prize, Deron Williams. Unfortunately for them, Williams
choose the Nets, and it cost them veterans Jason Terry and Jason Kidd to free
agency. They made quick adjustments and brought in a rag tag collection of
veterans. Former lottery pick O.J. Mayo was brought in with Elton Brand, Darren
Collison, and Chris Kaman. This team was supposed to compete for the playoffs,
while the Mavs still maintained a cap room for the summer. So far the results have been disastrous for
the team as they continue to fall down the Western Conference standings.
Currently,
the Mavericks set at 21-28 and are currently five games out of the 8th
spot for the playoffs. The trade deadline
is fast approaching and the team has a question to answer. Can they compete for
the playoffs? If the answer is yes, then the team would be buyers at trade
time, bring in some good pieces and try to make a run at continuing the 12 year
playoff streak. Or, if the answer is no, then be sellers at the deadline and
look for more expiring contracts and draft picks. The answer is simple. Sell the team away.
The Mavericks
are a sorry team. It is a bunch of pieces that were forced to play together for
one year and that is not a way to build chemistry. Also, your superstar is hurt
for the first real time in his career; this should be a time to shut him down for
the season and start to evaluate who you have on this team. Trade away Marion
and Carter, bring in some draft picks and find out who on the team can contribute.
Build a young, fast, tall, athletic team around Dirk for his last few years and
compete for the title. Because once Dirk is gone, the Mavericks will return to
irrelevance and futility.
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