The Top Five Players the Dallas Mavericks Should Pursue

With free agency kicking into high gear July 1, the Dallas Mavericks are in a position where they have to be ready to make some moves.

The Mavericks can get better with creative trades and salary cap maneuvering that would allow them to sign a free agent or two.

I think it would be a mistake if the Mavs are thinking if the best plan isn’t simply to mark time until the free agent class of next summer. Too many teams have the same thought.

Do you really think LeBron or D-Wade are thinking about coming to Dallas?

Should the Mavs sit back and hope they can convince Joe Johnson to come to “Big D” in the summer of 2010?

More importantly, the Mavs have other pressing concerns. It appears two of their key players will be leaving town this offseason.

All indications are Jason Kidd is looking for a deal somewhere else. The Knicks are reportedly in a full court press to add Kidd as early as tomorrow.

Plus if Kidd wants to go “ring-shopping” the Cavs, Celtics and Lakers are also rumored to be interested in the 36-year-old point guard.

In addition, Brandon Bass is going to have suitors. The Magic are the latest team expected to pursue the power forward who is one of the Mavs most athletic pieces.

So what can the Mavs do now? What assets do they have that they can use to acquire impact players this summer?

They have four valuable resources to offer. First, they have team owner Mark Cuban’s cash. Cuban has had little success in luring meaningful free agents to Dallas. But there are always players out there where it is all about the money.

Small forward Josh Howard is another resource the Mavs have that they could include in a sign and trade package. Howard had a solid season averaging 18 points per game.

They could also acquire an impact player by trading Jerry Stackhouse's expiring contract, perhaps pairing it with Erick Dampier's contract, which also expires after next season.

So let’s take a look at five players the Mavericks should take a serious look at adding to their team this summer.

Charlie Villanueva

The 6’11” power forward is only 24 years old. The Bucks declined to offer him a qualifying offer making him an unrestricted free agent.

One of the Mavs most pressing needs is to add a physical inside presence. A “banger” who will not get pushed around.

Villanueva is coming off a solid year where he averaged 16.2 points per game and nearly seven rebounds a game.

Villanueva is young and his best years should be ahead of him He would fill in nicely were the Mavs to lose Bass or Dampier.

Ron Artest

Two words that have been used to describe the Mavs team of late “soft” and “finesse.” Well, these are two words no one uses to describe Ron Artest.

Artest brings toughness and intimidation to the court. He would immediately change the tone of the team.

Last summer there were rumors of an Artest for Josh Howard trade. It would be in the best interest of the Mavericks to revisit those trade talks.

Hedo Turkoglu

Turkoglu is an unrestricted free agent that is looking for a big payday.

This is the kind of acquisition that will take Cuban’s money as well as some players as a sign and trade deal is the only way to add Turkoglu.

The addition of Turkoglu would help ease the anticipated loss of Jason Kidd. As a “point forward” Turkoglu wants the offense to run through him.

He would take the pressure of the point guard as well as off Mavs All-Star Dirk Nowitski. Turkoglu wants the ball at the end of the game.

He doesn’t mind taking the last shot or setting up teammates like Nowitzki or Jason Terry for a game-winner.

Ricky Rubio

Trading for the fifth overall selection in this year’s draft would be a tremendous move by the Mavericks if they are to lose Kidd.

It appears Rubio has no desire to play in Minnesota and it is hard to believe that with the right offer the T-wolves would not pull the trigger on a trade.

The addition of Rubio would immediately put the Mavs in the spotlight. It would generate fan interest and help make up for the public backlash of losing Kidd.

Backup point guard JJ Barea is a solid performer, but he is not cut out to be a starter in the league.

The combination of Rubio and Barea may be enough to solve the Mavs point guard situation for years to come.

Chris Bosh

If the Mavs will only listen to one thing, they should listen to this. Go get Chris Bosh.

Bosh is the one potential 2010 free agent that the Mavs have a legitimate shot at obtaining. Bosh is from Dallas and may jump at the chance to come home to play.

The Raptors would be crazy not to listen to trade offers. If he's leaving in 2010, why not trade him? Why end up with nothing in return?

Bosh is a 20 and 10 player that would team up on the front court well with Dirk.

Bosh can play with his back to the basket and is the athletic rebounder the Mavs sorely need.