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Well, after yesterday’s signing of 3-point shooting specialist Tim Thomas I think the Dallas Mavericks are finished with their significant off-season moves.
Of course, at points during the summer I also thought Marcin Gortat was coming, Brandon Bass was staying and Mark Cuban was losing to the SEC. And, come to think of it – uh-oh – the acquisition of Drew Gooden hasn’t made it past Twitter confirmation has it?
Assuming Gooden’s coming and the Mavs are saving their bi-annual exception for next summer’s juicy free-agent crop, Dallas appears pretty much set.
In summary:
*Nobody else wanted Gooden, yet the Mavs feel he may wind up as their starting center.
*I really liked flashes of Ryan Hollins, but he seems all but gone now.
*Thomas is a bigger, better Matt Carroll, right? Think Walt Williams on Nellie’s 2003 team. Also think Carroll is history.
*Looking at the roster, the Mavs will still have trouble guarding athletic centers and – unless Beaubois develops at warped speed – jitterbug point guards. But, then again, who doesn’t have trouble guarding those types?
*In the end, Marion, Gooden and Thomas all signed for about half as much as they initially figured to make in free agency. Still trying to decide if this is a good thing.
Let’s jump for the roster …
PG: Jason Kidd/ J.J. Barea/ Roddy Beaubois
SG: Josh Howard/ Jason Terry/ Quinton Ross
SF: Shawn Marion/ Tim Thomas
PF: Dirk Nowitzki/ James Singleton
C: Erick Dampier/ Drew Gooden
What do you think?
Another 50-win, playoff season that ultimately goes nowhere in the spring?
Or a versatile, athletic group that scares the West’s elite?
