Dallas Mavericks - Off-season and Financial Moves
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 by Robert Smith
51 wins and a playoff appearance would be considered a successful season for most franchises. For Dallas, it was a total disaster. The big (and very expensive) mid-season trade for Jason Kidd didn’t have the desired effect. And the 4-1 first round playoff exit at the hands of the young New Orleans Hornets was embarrassing. It was clear during that series the Mavericks needed to get younger and faster. Chris Paul diced up their defense, David West had his way with whatever defender the Mavs put on him, and the slow-rotating Maverick defense couldn’t get out to the Hornets’ shooters in time when Paul would drive and dish. The Hornets beat them a little too easily, especially when you consider that this was the highest paid roster in the league.
Another thing that was clear during the Hornets’ series was that Byron Scott out-coached Avery Johnson; just as Don Nelson did last year when the Warriors knocked them out in the first round, and just as Pat Riley did when the Heat took the title from their grip two years ago. Although the Mavericks didn’t make any major roster moves this off-season, firing Johnson and hiring Rick Carlisle will definitely bring needed change.
The biggest change being that Carlisle won’t “over-coach.” Veterans like Kidd, Nowitzki, and Jason Terry don’t need a whole lot of coaching. They know the game plan, they understand mismatches, and they will have positive suggestions about what to do during games. They will be much more successful if given more freedom. Carlisle will demand better effort on defense, but he won’t over-dictate play-calling. Kidd will be allowed to run this show, and that’s probably the best thing whoever is coaching this team could do.
As for the roster moves, they did try to get somewhat younger. Gone from the roster are old-timers Juwon Howard, Malik Allen, Jamaal Magliore, and Tyronn Lue. Added were the younger legs of Gerald Green, Keith McLeod, and James Singleton. Returning to the Mavericks’ bench are Jose Juan Barea, Devean George, and Antoine Wright. And, they lured Desagana Diop back with a 5-year, $31 million deal.
There are currently 15 players on the roster, and that’s not counting draft pick Shan Foster, an athletic swingman from Vanderbilt, and camp invitees Reyshawn Terry and Charles Rhodes. But unless one of these three makes a big impact in training camp, they’ll probably be playing in the D-league, and will only get called up to cover for injuries.
Financially they are still way over the salary cap with a current total of $85.7 million wrapped up in this year’s team. Besides the $31 million deal to Diop, the free agents were all signed for relatively cheap. Barea got a nice deal for about $5 million over three years. George and Wright’s deals are for two years, while Eddie Jones, McLeod, Brandon Bass, Green, and Singleton have only this year paid for; and none of them will be making very much.
Relief will come after this season. Kidd is in the last year of his contract that pays him a whopping $21.4 million this year. Subtract that number and the Mavs are back down to at least close to the salary cap.
Besides the new coach they really didn’t change much. It’ll be the same basic rotation, but with a couple younger, more energetic guys coming in off the bench. They overpaid to get Diop back. But he’ll plug a Mack truck sized hole in the defense when Erick Dampier gets into his usual foul trouble. With this being the last year of Jason Kidd’s contract, the Mavs are going to give he and Nowitzki this year to try and get something done. Expect more drastic changes next off-season.
