NBA Free Agents: Why Dallas Mavericks Need to Sign Vince Carter

The Dallas Mavericks may have just won the 2011 NBA Championship, but they are a team that nobody is really talking about as we get closer to the start of the 2012 season.

This offseason has, so far, been one that hasn't really gone in favor of the defending champions.

Small forward Caron Butler walked away from the team to join Blake Griffin and the Clippers.

The team completed a sign-and-trade sending center Tyson Chandler to the Knicks.

Thus far, the team has subtracted without any real addition this offseason.

The team did acquire power forward Brandan Wright, who has battled injuries over the span of his career. If he can stay healthy, the team feels he has tremendous upside.

However, that's not going to be enough. The team needs to make a bigger splash with at least one more signing.

Many believe the team needs to go out and grab at least two guys in the free-agent market to have any shot at repeating.

One of the guys who is expected to find his way to Dallas is Vince Carter.

It's a move that the team simply has to make.

Carter has the ability to play at both shooting guard or small forward. If the team would sign him, he would likely be a replacement at forward in place of Butler.

The move is essential, mainly so there is no drop off in talent at the position.

The aging superstar may be past his prime, but he still has the ability to play in the league at a level similar to what Butler brought to the table.

Carter is coming off of a poor year, which has brought many to question his ability at this point in his career.

However, it was just two years ago that he was hitting shots at a better rate than he had during the span of his entire career.

He still has something in the tank and is one of the top talents available in the free-agent class. The Mavericks need to get a deal done.