The Mavs and the Mav-Nots

Deja Diop? DeSagana Diop? Matt Barnes? Shan Foster? Be still my bouncy basketball heart. Because the Dallas Mavericks are apparently going to next year look a lot like they did last year. Or, come to think of it, a lot like they did in 2006. NBA free agency started with...

By Richie Whitt

July 1, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Deja Diop?

DeSagana Diop? Matt Barnes? Shan Foster?

Be still my bouncy basketball heart. Because the Dallas Mavericks are apparently going to next year look a lot like they did last year. Or, come to think of it, a lot like they did in 2006.

NBA free agency started with a whimper last night, and, because the Mavs have few options, it doesn’t figure to ever become a roar. With only the mid-level exception to use, Dallas is eyeing a return of Diop to fill its need at backup center. Some of that money could also be used to land a small forward like Barnes, the Golden State scrapper who helped befuddle Dallas in 2007.

Other than, hmm. The Mavs added Vanderbilt shooter Foster in the draft and has designs on re-signing Devean George, Eddie Jones, J.J. Barea … yawn.

Without a trade, Dallas’ top seven next year will be: Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier and Diop.

In other words, this Carlisle kid better be pretty good. -- Richie Whitt

KEEP THE OBSERVER FREE... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.