The Dallas Mavericks Are Back, Thanks Cuban

The Dallas Mavericks have obviously been a different team since the wealthy, yet chancy Mark Cuban bought the team in 2000. 

When he bought the team, the Mavericks were the laughing stock of the NBA headed by the offensive-minded approach of Don 'Nelly' Nelson.  Cuban has never been hesitant to make a splash, whether it is through free agency or trades. 

He caught the Jerry Jones fever and ever since has had one of the top payrolls in the NBA.  Cuban’s business model has been very simple...please the customer.  Building a new arena, changing the Mavs logo and creating an exciting buzz throughout the city has pleased his customers, Mavs fans. 

Now from a basketball perspective Cuban has made many transactions to bring the Mavericks to relevance in the NBA.  Let’s take a look.

1999-2000 (Cuban inherited): Nash/Finley/Strickland/Nowitzki/Bradley – 40 wins

                Cuban inherited a team that was getting better, but still awful.

2000-2001: Nash/Finley/Nowitzki/Howard/Bradley – 53 wins

                Huge blockbuster trade for the largest contract in the league, Juwan Howard.

2001-2002: Nash/Finley/Nowitzki/Najera/LaFrentz – 57 wins

                Acquiring Van Exel and Lafrentz for the above mentioned Howard.  Remember when Lafrentz was supposed to bring Shaq out of the lane to guard him.  Well that surely worked.

2002-2003: Nash/Bell/Finley/Nowitzki/LaFrentz – 60 wins

                The best player in France, Rigaudeau, came to Dallas, only to sit the bench and return to France the next year.

2003-2004: Nash/Daniels/Finley/Walker/Nowitzki – 52 wins

                Great draft choice in Josh Howard.  Great signing of undrafted Marquis Daniels.  Traded for Antoine Walker (Nelly’s dream of a point forward).  Traded for Jamison, as a sixth man.

2004-2005: Terry/Finley/Howard/Nowitzki/Dampier – 58 wins

                Traded Jamison for Devin Harris and Stackhouse.  Traded for Keith Van Horn.

2005-2006: Harris/Terry/Howard/Nowitzki/Diop – 60 wins

                Changed coaches from Nelly to the General, Avery Johnson.  Great yet heartbreaking season.

2006-2007: Harris/Terry/Howard/Nowitzki/Diop – 67 wins

                Quite offseason.  Great REGULAR season.  Awful post season.

2007-2008: Kidd/Terry/Howard/Nowitzki/Dampier – 51 wins

                Traded Harris for Kidd.

2008-2009: Kidd/Wright/Howard/Nowitzki/Dampier – 50 wins

                Changed coaches from Avery to Rick Carlisle.

Cuban has made two moves in these last four years, trading Devin Harris for future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd and changing coaches.  The fans have been itching for the usual offseason blockbuster trades that they had grown accustomed too in the earlier part of the 2000’s. 

Over the past four years, Maverick fans have seen their team blow a 2-0 lead in the finals, lose in the first round twice, and lose in the second round once. 

The Mavs took the backseat to the Cavs, Celtics, Magic, Nuggets, and Lakers. 

While most teams in the NBA would love to win 50+ games a season and make the playoffs nine straight years, Dallas fans expect championships. 

After all, the Dallas Cowboys have five Lombardi trophies and the Dallas Stars hold one Stanley Cup. Cuban understands the need for change and publicly acknowledged a roster overhaul this summer.

And Cuban has delivered thus far.  Making a splash this offseason with the re-signing of Kidd, signing of SMU product Quinton Ross, hopeful signing of Gortat, and the trade for Shawn "The Matrix" Marion has brought the Dallas Mavericks back in the hunt for a championship.

I have been reading many articles and hearing many analysts and reporters suggest the Lakers, Nuggets, and Spurs are alone atop the Western Conference.  I beg to differ. 

Adding Gortat and Marion bring major upgrades to two positions, Center and Wing (yes, with Kidd on your team the position change; PG, Wing 1, Wing 2, Forward, Center). 

I do not understand how a starting lineup of Kidd/Howard/Marion/Nowitzki/Gortat with Terry, Dampier, Ross, Humphries, maybe Bass, maybe Singleton, Barea, and Boo Boo (you guessed it right Rodrigue Beaubois) off the bench cannot be considered at the top of the Western Conference. 

The Mavericks acquired Marion for Stackhouse, who contributed absolutely nothing last year, meaning we are attaining free points, rebounding, and defense.  Also, it is necessary to surround great point guards with athletic players who can run, jump, and dunk the ball. 

Magic Johnson had James Worthy, Michael Cooper, AC Green, and Abdul Jabbar.  Steve Nash had Marion, Amare, Bell, Barbosa, and Diaw. Even the younger Jason Kidd had Richard Jefferson, Kerry Kittles, Lucious Harris, Keith Van Horn, and Kenyon Martin. "The Matrix" brings the athletic tools needed to lift the Mavericks over the edge.

Cuban has brought the Mavericks back to relevance this offseason, and do not be surprised if he has a few more moves up his sleeve. The Mavericks will be in the group of elite teams this year hunting for the championship.

Cuban has done it once again, brought the buzz back to the city of Dallas and made the Mavs a legit contender.

Oh, and one more thing, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE DIRK.  HE KEEPS GETTING BETTER.