NBA's Southwest Division: Off-Season Report Card
Dallas Mavericks - B
In perhaps the wildest offseason in NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks were able to retain one of the most talented free agents, Dirk Nowitzki, for a reasonable price tag.
The team wisely did not overreact to a poor postseason showing and retained most of last season’s club.
Dallas was also able to unload the nasty contracts of Matt Carroll and Eduardo Najara for an athletic center, Tyson Chandler.
The Mavericks were in the Al Jefferson talks as well, but were unable to net a premier backup big man like they hoped. Tim Thomas is not that.
Still, the acquisition of Tyson Chandler is a big one, and, by retaining the team and handing out more minutes to second-year guard Rodrique Beabois, the Mavs should be on course for next season.
Houston Rockets - B
Houston completed a very interesting deal last week which netted the team a shooting guard, Courtney Lee, but most importantly it kept the Rockets within the dreaded luxury tax.
This was probably a better financial move than basketball move as the departed Trevor Ariza did provide Houston with a nice all-around offensive game and athleticism at the wing slot.
The team managed to retain highly touted foreign big man Luis Scola and their young point guard, Aaron Brooks.
Certainly a task not worth overlooking as many teams (how many times are we going to cough and refer to the Nets) were looking to sign either player for a hefty price tag.
Their overall outlook going into next season will depend heavily on the conclusion to the Yao Ming situation.
Questions are arising over his health status and/or whether he will opt to retire.
Memphis Grizzlies – C-
Memphis had a very promising season last year, in which they were in playoff contention up until the All-Star break.
In order to retain the talent, General Manager Chris Wallace shelled out max money for up and coming, but not there yet, star Rudy Gay.
The team also signed veteran Tony Allen, who showed a knack for perimeter defense in last year’s playoffs.
The team also drafted Kansas guard Xavier Henry, but as of late, he does not seem too thrilled about joining the club.
The team came into the offseason without many concerns about the present, but of their future, with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr. yet to sign extensions. They will likely be huge players in 2011 free agency, where teams like the Pacers and Cavaliers will be likely suitors.
Rudy Gay may have netted a max deal, but, like Joe Johnson, Gay was unlikely to get large sums of money elsewhere.
Still, with such a large sum allotted to Gay, will management also be able to retain Conley Jr., Gasol, and Zach Randolph next offseason?
The Xavier Henry saga also needs to be resolved if this team wants to add the proper depth and improve on last season to sneak into the playoffs.
New Orleans Hornets – C+
The Hornets started the off-season with a bit of a scare. After the LeBron James frenzy had passed franchise guard Chris Paul started his own demands.
New Orleans seemed to be in a very tough spot and many believed the former Wake Forest star would need to be traded per the star's on-going demands.
New Orleans was able to act patiently though, and ensured moves were on the horizon to turn around the fortunes of the team.
In response, New Orleans was able to swing a deal in which they dealt backup point guard Darren Collison and aging-veteran James Posey for athletic swingman Trevor Ariza.
Ariza should fit in quite nicely alongside Paul and finally gives the Hornets some scoring ability from the wing slots.
Many believed the team may have been able to net more in a return for Darren Collison, but the fact that the team was able to use him to unload Posey’s contract and still acquire an ideal, young fit at the small forward slot should be viewed as a gain from New Orleans’ perspective.
The team still has many holes left open.
Emeka Okafor has an enormous contract and the team would seem much better suited with an athletic center.
With Collison gone and Marcus Thornton seemingly penciled in at the starting two guard New Orleans will need to upgrade their bench.
Newly acquired Marco Bellinelli, rookie Craig Brackins, and veteran Aaron Gray seem to have too many minutes to play at the moment.
San Antonio Spurs - B
How lucky were the Spurs that Richard Jefferson actually opted out of his contract?
Lucky…or surprised?
Either way the team managed to cut major payroll in the move and use the extra cap space to acquire (or just flat out sign) foreign forward Tiago Splitter.
Many are claiming the Splitter contract to be the best deal of the offseason.
Tiago should be a nice pickup, but San Antonio still did little to reassure fans that they would progress beyond the second round, unlike last season.
