Dallas Mavericks in the Upcoming Year

The Mavericks' 2008-2009 season ended Wednesday with a loss to the surging Denver Nuggets. Now it's time to take a look at what is to come next season for the Mavericks.

They have a great player in Dirk Nowitzki who averaged 53 percent from the field, 34 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists per game vs the Denver Nuggets in the Western conference semifinals. The question now is if Dirk will have the right combination of players around him to win an NBA Championship.

I believe that the current Mavericks' roster is good enough to make the Western playoffs for the next couple of years, but winning an NBA championship is a different matter.

The Mavs have to make smart decisions this summer regarding who to let go and who to pursue in the free agency. They have Hollins (C) as a restricted free agent after this season and a handful of unrestricted free agents: Kidd (G), Bass (F), Singleton (F), George(F), and Green(F).

Jason Kidd will be 37 next year, and he will be looking for a Championship contender team to join to get his ring.

Out of the six Dallas free agents, I would like to see Kidd back with the Mavs next year along with Brandon Bass. An undersized PF, Bass will be able to chip in more quality time in his natural position if the Mavs get a quality back up for Dampier, or, better yet, get rid of Dampier and make a trade for a more mobile center like a Chris Bosh.

Let us say the Mavericks are going to be able to put together a deal to send Dampier out for Bosh in some crazy trade with Toronto. And let's suppose we lose Jason Kidd to the Lakers or the Cavaliers in his quest for a ring. The Mavericks will then have a double-double center and $22 million dollars of salary cap to put together a roster that will fight with Dirk for a championship.

The following are free agents whom Dallas should pursue:

• Zhazha Pachulia (C)—2008, salary of $4.0 million.
• Chris Andersen (PF)—2008, salary of $1.0 million.
• Ron Artest (F)—2008, salary of $8.5 million.
• Matt Barnes (F)—2008, salary of $1.2 million.
• Ben Gordon (SG)—2008. salary of $6.5 million.

Let's also assume that it made sense for Mark Cuban and Carlisle to sign these five free agents. Can you see it now?

Starters

Barea (PG), Artest (G-F), Howard (SF), Nowitzki (PF), Bosh (C)

Bench

Gordon (SG), Terry (SG), Barnes (G-F), Andersen (F-C), Pachulia (C), Bass (F),

I believe the Mavs are capable of creating this roster within the salary cap using mid level exception and other exceptions to the luxury tax. With that said, surrounding Nowitzki with hard working grunt players who like the hustle will bring Dallas back to the NBA Finals.