Let’s take a quick look at the Dallas Mavericks’ roster in light of salaries. You can tell me if it makes sense or not. Let’s start with the top paid salary of the ’07-’08 season.
Jason Kidd ($19.7 million)
Dirk Nowitzki ($16.3 million)
Erick Dampier ($10.6 million)
Josh Howard ($9.5 million)
Jason Terry ($8.9 million)
Mark Cuban admitted to Randy Galloway two days ago that prior to the 2007-2008 season, the Mavericks could have traded Dirk for Kobe straight up. And yet Cuban and Nelson didn’t want him. Do what? They didn’t want Kobe? The most driven player in the entire league? The self-starter?
On top of that, Dallas could have traded Josh Howard for Pau Gasol. That was an option briefly discussed, but the Mavericks sat on it and Gasol was gone to L.A. Nice going, guys.
Rick Carlisle coming in to take over as head coach for the Mav’s is just the first inevitable domino that will fall this off season. I think Carlisle is a great choice for the Dallas. Both restructuring the roster and implementing a new vision and identity will be Carlisle’s biggest challenges. Do they restructure again and try to pick up some pieces that will compliment Dirk and Kidd? Or do they blow the whole team up and start shopping Dirk and Kidd to the highest bidder?
It looks like Dirk isn’t going anywhere. Not as long as Cuban and Donnie Nelson are running the team. As for Kidd – I doubt Cuban will admit that it was a mistake to trade for Kidd and that’s what he would be admitting if he shopped Kidd around. So this is how we can speculate it will go down: Kidd and Dirk are safe for the next season. Bass is likely a lock as well. Everybody else will be cut, traded, or retire (hopefully).
If the rumors of a complete overhaul aren’t grossly exaggerated, MavsUpdate will be needing a new banner image yet again. The Mavs are sure to make some roster changes in addition to the head coach. One Bucks blogger is calling for a Josh Howard / Jerry Stackhouse trade for Michael Redd. That’s an interesting thought. Assuming Redd is as good as they say he is, he and Dirk could make an interesting combo. But Redd is not a name we’d necessarily get excited about here in Texas.
Certain names are more glamorous. Kobe. Nash. KG. Shaq. Gasol. Duncan. Bosch. LeBron. These are the types of names that draw a crowd. There ARE others, of course. But none, sadly, are likely to don a Mavericks jersey any time soon.
