Talks are under way. Are the Mavs finished this offseason? What else should Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson be looking at to best position this team to compete in the Western Conference?

A lot of speculation floating around these days about a Shaq to Dallas deal. Mostly because Shaq and Mark Cuban have been such good friends over the years. That, and the fact that Phoenix will make Shaq the scapegoat for all their failures this season (which is ridiculously unfair, but whatever).

Put on your thinking caps. What does Dallas gain from a Shaquille O’Neal acquisition? What do they lose?

BENEFITS

If Dallas picks up Shaq this offseason and resigns Jason Kidd, they trade Erick Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse’s expiring contract. And next season, you get to see a starting lineup of Jason Kidd, Antoine Wright, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, and Shaq, with Jason Terry coming off the bench. That doesn’t suck, let me tell you. But Shaq is old. Even though he had an unexpected resurgence this season, he’s historically a battered player who sits out up to a third of regular season games in order to be ready for the playoffs.

If Shaq were to return next season in even better condition than he was at the start of this year, however, Dallas could be fit to make a serious NBA Finals run. That depends, of course, on everyone staying healthy. Ryan Hollins, James Singleton, JJ Barea, and Jason Terry are the most reliable contributors off the bench, with a very disappointing Gerald Green, Devean George, and Brandon Bass also waiting in line.

HANDICAPS

If Dallas uses up it’s expiring contracts on a Shaq nearing retirement, that leaves no gas in the tank for the future. No draft picks this year due to the Jason Kidd trade. No Jason Kidd or Shaq in the next two or three years. Even Dirk may be a #2 or #3 contributor to the team by the time 2012 rolls around. So you have an aging team that suddenly loses its superstars and has to rebuild.

Plus, if any one of those three stars gets injured for the season, forget about an NBA Finals.

Perhaps the best reason to pass on Shaq is the possibility of acquiring a stud like Chris Bosh or Vince Carter or who knows. The problem with a Chris Bosch is where to start him. He’s a power forward, the position which Dirk “plays” best. Dirk can’t cover a big Center on defense. He won’t take any risks with his body.

So that either means a serious mismatch, or Bosh plays the 5 with Dirk at the 4. Maybe that can work. I’ve always said that Dirk is really a shooting guard, which he is, except he can’t cover the quick shooting guards in the league, either. The joys of creating mismatches is that you often create one that’s a liability in addition to the strength.

VERDICT

Dallas has to see what’s out there first. When all the teams make it known which marquee players are on the trading block, Dallas will do its due diligence to get the best fit for the team. But, if deals for Chris Bosh or Richard Jefferson aren’t workable, Shaq becomes a very tasty choice.

We’d love to see the Mavs perpetually add skilled youth to the team, so that we don’t have to suffer the rebuilding years. But in a pinch, Shaq becomes a very tempting option.

And speaking for myself only, I’ve wanted to see Shaq in a Mavs uniform since he left Los Angeles. I’m just sad that Cuban waited so long.

It’s a tough sell at this exact moment. Dallas just pulled off an upset by defeating the Magic in Orlando. Back to back impressive road wins does NOT put anyone in the mood to trade.

105.3FM The Fan, a local Dallas area sports radio station, referenced yesterday’s Baron Davis article this afternoon, mentioning my comparison of Baron Davis and Terrell Owens. It’s a logical comparison. Both are divas. Both get PAID. Both perform best when they’re happy with their surroundings. Both are potential team chemistry wreckers. Both get more attention than they deserve. Both have failed to consistently live up to their potential, year to year to year. Can Baron fit in with the Mavericks? Or would he be the Mavericks’ own personal T.O.?

Now that you’re less interested in Davis, let’s go ahead and take a look at three trade scenarios being mentioned by the “experts.”

Scenario 1: Trade Kidd for Baron Davis and Marcus Camby now.

Scenario 2: Wait and see if you can get Chris Bosch in 2010?

Scenario 3: Make BOTH trades now, by moving Kidd to the Clippers and Dirk to Toronto. Seriously. Would you? If it could happen now, would you like to get six or seven years younger with Bosch?

Check it: Baron Davis, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Chris Bosch, Marcus Camby. Not a bad starting five, assuming they mesh together. Dampier and Camby can compete for minutes. Terry could remain sixth man if you want that scoring power off the bench. Davis, Howard, and Bosch could have some fun in a fast paced offense we were supposed to see in Dallas this year but never really materialized.

We all expect Dallas to opt out on Dampier in 2010. He’s a flop, as I mentioned in my article about Damp yesterday at DallasProSports.com. With this trade, you have Damp and Camby as options to keep, trade, or release. You might deal Josh Howard out for a better fit next year if he can’t mesh well, and see what you can get for him before next year’s trade deadline.

In the end, all you really lose is Dirk. Yes we love Dirk. We love him because he’s all that’s left of the big three. Releasing Nash was the biggest mistake in franchise history since the Karl Malone draft, so we should be able to stomach the loss of Dirk.

A word of warning, however. Give up on Dirk, and your team attitude will change forever. He may not be the killer instinct leader you want paving the way to a championship, but he’s been the focus of this team, and he’s brought a sportsmanship that many teams don’t have. A team led by Baron Davis won’t be known for its sportsmanship… I’ll guarantee you that. You will have a typical team with attitude, which is what you Dallas fans have been clamoring for these past few years.

You hate to give up on Dirk. He’s a guy we all expected would retire a Dallas Maverick. But change MUST come, or we must all change our purpose for watching Dallas basketball.

Kidd’s doing well over the past eight or nine games. Kudos to him for not being a flop. But are you REALLY expecting to build a championship team on his shoulders? Didn’t think so.

Jerry Stackhouse is reportedly talking to his agent about “exploring options” – either getting traded or bought out by the Mavericks. He’s not happy with his inactive status, and says he has too much good basketball left in him. In other words, the Mavericks coaching staff doesn’t know what they’re doing, and they’ve made a mistake by sidelining someone of his talent and ability.

Bah. Bah, I tell you. Coaches don’t sideline players who can contribute. They sideline bloated old players who can’t play defense or contribute points when necessary. If the coach wants him out, he’s out. It’s in the coach’s best interest to win, so he will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.

Is there a trade out there? Possibly. It seems hard to believe that the Mavs could get anyone of any value for Stack, but stupid trades have been made before (Lakers DID manage to get Gasol for nothing, remember!). What would it benefit the Mavericks to buy out Stack’s contract? At least now he’s on the team, and can be reactivated for any game if someone gets injured.

If a trade can be made, make it. He’s not doing much here, and he may fetch a little something from a possible contender. But do it soon. No sense in keeping an unhappy player on the roster. More than anything, this team needs a solid dose of unity.

The Houston Chronicle broke the story tonight that the Houston Rockets are trading Bobby Jackson and another player to Sacramento for Ron Artest. MavsUpdate has more on the story.

With everything that we as fans have been hearing and seeing in the media, blogs, and rumor sites it’s hard to get a clear grasp of what the 2008-2009 Mavericks will look like. This is what we know Gerald Green is a Maverick or is he???? Diop is going to be signed with the MLE or is he???

There is speculation that Dallas and New Jersey will try to work out a sign and trade apparently this benefits both teams…why you ask? Well Diop has already made it clear he wants to be in Dallas sign and trade benefits new jersey because they will get something back and it benefits the Mavericks because they wouldn’t have to use the MLE on Diop instead they could use it to sign a free agent….Maggette and Posey seem to be high on the Mavericks wish list…will this happen I will be thoroughly surprised if either of those guys sign with Dallas..Posey will stay put with the Celtics and Maggette is going to sign with the Spurs but that’s just my gut.

Bonzi Wells he could be some one the Mavs could lure with the MLE. And then there is Ron Artest the Kings could just release Artest and the Mavs could try to pick him up with the MLE (which I seriously doubt would happen). But this could definitely happen and man if Dallas and Sacramento would go for it would be real nice for both teams Carlisle says he has a good relationship with Artest and I am pretty sure the Kings are ready to be done with Artest…Cuban and Donnie should really look at this scenario.

Then there is Josh Howard and the pot smoking and him leaving a skunky taste in the Mavs mouths. But trading Howard would almost be doing it just to shake things up…I don’t know how you would structure a deal like this but Lamar Odom for Howard or Mike Miller for Howard… but I’d rather keep Howard. So in my GM fantasy world (where the numbers would actually work) this would be the Mavs team I would put together.

Starting 5
Point Guard- Jason Kidd
Shooting Guard- Ron Artest
Small forward – Josh Howard (if traded, Lamar Odom or Mike Miller)
Power Forward – Dirk Nowitzki
Center- Diop

Bench
Point Guards- Tyron Lue and JJ Barea
Shooting Guards – Gerald Green and Stackhouse
Small Forwards – Devean George and Bonzi Wells
Power Forward – Brandon Bass
Center – Dampier

Developmental Players
Shan Foster, Reyshawn Terry, and Atoine Wright

Coaching Staff
Head Coach – Rick Carlisle
Assistants- Paul Westphal, Dwayne Casey, Terry Scotts and Mario Ellie

A second move made by Dallas this week was to get a verbal agreement from Gerald Green, former NBA Dunk Contest winner and runner-up. At 6’8″ and 200 pounds, Green could be the inside help the Mavs have needed when Dirk is off the floor. “Could” be.

Dallas will be Green’s fourth team in as many years. He was drafted by the Celtics in 2005. He was then traded to Minnesota in the Kevin Garnett deal. Then he was sent to Houston, where he played one game before being released.

According to his agent, Green is hungry to perform well and earn his time on the court. He better be. With all the old men likely limping up and down the court for Dallas, they need some more youth to keep the team from flatlining.

I’ve never seen him play, so I can’t offer any insight on just how promising this acquisition could be. But Gerald Green has agreed to a one year deal for the minimum pay. He has one shot to prove himself.

Mark Cuban isn’t an idiot, despite what some of you have said over the past few months. Jason Kidd frees up a lot of salary cap in the next two years, positioning the Mavericks to make a play for some serious talent. Devin Harris’ contract locked them into a long-term gig, and I’m betting the Mavs have their sights set on one or two players they know will be available around 2010 or 2011. Gerald Green’s one year contract allows the Mavericks to maintain their loose and flexible future stance. If he doesn’t perform, well, he filled a necessary slot for one year. If he does perform, well, he could potentially be the third cog in the Dallas wheel.

Jason Kidd is old. The trade was a bad move. The Mavs shouldn’t have given up Diop and Harris. But that’s over. Time to deal with today. And today, the Bulls have the #1 pick. If they are smart, they’ll pick the point guard Rose. But if they do, they’ll have two college stars at point. Hinrich is obviously not the man of the future for Chicago. But he would fit nicely in Dallas.

His $11million salary might be prohibitive, but with all the free agents Dallas can flush, there might be room. Sadly, no matter what is said, Jason Kidd will be playing for Dallas next season. No matter how stupid that move is. So, with the remaining starting positions you have Dirk, Bass, Damp, and an opening. You put Hinrich at the 2 guard spot and let him reign down hell on his opponents from the outside. With Dirk and Kirk on the perimeter, Bass and Damp inside, Kidd should find enough passing targets to suit his non-shooter style.

Surely the Bulls could use a guard like Josh Howard on their quick, young team. Surely. Is this deal doable? Not likely. But it would make for one hell of a combo next season.