If Tyson Chandler Departs, What Is Dallas Mavericks' Next Plan?

Tensions are high during the period where the defending champion Dallas Mavericks try to reassemble the team that hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy this past June. With six guys from the championship team eligible for free agency, they will be left scrambling to fill out their roster, namely keeping last summer's big-time acquisition, Tyson Chandler.

But with Chandler hinting at a Dallas departure, have the Mavericks positioned themselves to return to the NBA Finals?

If Chandler's premonition comes to reality and he does not re-sign with the team, Brendan Haywood, the $60 million dollar man, would be thrust into the starting lineup for the first time since the 2010 playoffs.

That idea won't settle the stomachs or the wallets of owner Mark Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson, who watched a team with Haywood as the starting center put up a lackluster performance in a first-round playoff exit to the San Antonio Spurs.

With that knowledge in the back of their minds, and young Frenchman Ian Mahinmi not ready to start, it wouldn't be far-fetched to think the Mavericks might go another direction at the center position. My suspicion is that Cuban and Nelson have a back-up plan, and his name is Superman.

Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be on the short list for Dwight Howard, the five-time All-Star and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He wants to get out of Orlando and move on to a bigger market, a team that will annually contend for a championship and somewhere that has warmer weather.

The Mavericks fit that description to a tee, qualifying in all three of Howard's categories for a change of scenery. And it would seem that they have the assets to offer the Orlando Magic in exchange for Howard, although I'm not sure their package would be as enticing as that of the Brooklyn Nets.

But if that deal never materializes, the situation could work out perfectly for the Mavericks, who could see what their fortunes hold with Haywood at center until the trade deadline, potentially making Dwight a mid-season acquisition before he departs for free agency in 2012. 

It will likely take Haywood, J.J. Barea (if he re-signs), Caron Butler (if he re-signs) and another piece, as well as a potential future first-round draft pick. Would the Mavericks also be willing to take on Hedo Turkoglu's contract in the deal?

Those questions won't materialize until later on, but one glaring question is left in the minds of the fans as they await the upcoming free agency opening on Dec. 9: If the Mavericks can't re-sign Chandler, what do they do?

The answer is Howard. Cuban and Nelson won't be afraid to buy high on a guy that can potentially replace Chandler's defensive presence, add a scoring dimension on offense and immediately become the answer for those who ask what the post-Dirk team will look like. Not to mention his nickname is Superman.