The NBA has seen a flurry of blockbuster trades and free-agent signings over the past year.

Before the summer, we saw Phoenix acquire Shaq for Marion, Dallas get Jason Kidd for Devin Harris, and Ben Wallace sent to Cleveland.  

Then in the offseason, we saw Baron Davis sign with the Clippers, Elton Brand go to Philly, Corey Maggette to the Warriors, and Mo Williams head to Cleveland.  The Clippers also got Marcus Camby, while Toronto acquired Jermaine O’Neal, and Houston got Ron Artest for virtually nothing.

This season, we’ve already seen New York trade away Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph, and the Pistons swap Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson to free up cap space for the 2010 free-agency bonanza.

Some teams have thrived with their new acquisitions.  The Cavaliers have crushed their opponents en route to the second-best record in the NBA (17-3), while the Nuggets have found a defensive identity with Billups and are 13-4 since acquiring him. The Nets (11-8) are a pleasant surprise, while the Rockets have stayed afloat without Tracy McGrady.

Then there are the teams that are struggling with their new players.  The Clippers and Warriors have an atrocious combined record 10-32, the Pistons are 7-8 with Iverson, the 76ers are 9-12, and the Raptors are 8-11, which led to the firing of Sam Mitchell. The Mavericks were 2-7 before winning nine of 10, while the Suns were only 11-9 after a four-game losing streak.

These teams were expected to compete in their conferences, but instead we find them searching for answers. Toronto’s answer was the fire their coach, which has only left them with more questions.

So who’s to blame for these teams’ struggles: the players, coaches, or an inadequate system?

Dallas Mavericks (11-8)

Blame: System, Mark Cuban

Most of the blame should fall on Mark Cuban—he traded away the Mavericks' future in Devin Harris and two first-round picks for Jason Kidd and an extra $11 million. He also fired Avery Johnson—after three straight 50-win seasons, a trip to the Finals, and the best record in franchise history.

The Mavericks with Kidd barely have a record over .500, and looked terrible during the 2-7 start. Since then, Rick Carlisle has righted the ship by winning nine of their last 10.

The Mavericks still do not look like championship contenders, simply because Jason Kidd does not fit with the players around him. Kidd has always most effective when surrounded with athletic finishers, such as Shawn Marion, Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson, and Vince Carter.

Kidd no longer has that luxury, since Nowitzki and Terry are jump-shooters. Only Josh Howard is athletic enough to finish at the rim in the transition game.

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