The Dallas Mavericks pushed the 2014 NBA Champion San
Antonio Spurs to 7 games in the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
That was better than the Portland Trailblazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, or Miami
Heat could do. Now it’s time to add pieces to a team poised to make a run in
2015. Over the next Five days I will bring you a different position and who the
Mavs may target.
Owner Mark Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson wasted no time in
making moves early in the Off-Season by trading Jose Calderon, Wayne Ellington,
Shane Larkin, Sam Dalembert, and two 2nd Round picks (Cleanthony
Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo) for Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton.
The Mavs gave up quite a bit to bring back Tyson Chandler
(whom they loved in 2011) and an overweight PG in Felton, but they got out of
the Calderon (4 yr $29M) contract to clear space for this years big Free
Agents. The move has the Mavs with roughly $27 Milllion to spend this
Off-Season.
Here is a look at who the Mavs could be targeting:
Small Forward
This is where the Mavs are going to focus most of their
time. More options here because the top two are on every teams list.
1) LeBron James – 6’8” 27.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Do I really need to tell you anything about him at this
point. 4-time MVP. Best Player on the planet. Looking for a Max Contract ($22,120,000) with a 4.5% increase each year.
2) Carmelo Anthony – 6’8” 27.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg
See above post. Mavs made strong push by acquiring Chandler
and Felton from Knicks to help recruit him. Best Offensive Player available. Max deal for Melo costs ($22,458,401) with 4.5% increase each year.
3) Luol Deng – 6’8” 16.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Good mid-range game, solid defender. Gave up in Cleveland
last year and that could hurt his stock. Was best available before James and
Anthony opted out of their contracts. Made $14M last season.
4) Trevor Ariza – 6’8” 14.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Another good wing player with 3-point range. Good Defender
who was a key to Washington’s success last year. Looking for similar contract
as last year in the $7.7M range.
5) Shawn Marion – 6’7” 10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Mavs love Matrix and everything he brings, but
they want him to take a big paycut and a role on the bench in order to stay.
Can still get $5-8M/year elsewhere.
July 1st is when Free Agency begins but i wouldn't expect to hear from Deng, Ariza, or Marion until after LeBron and Melo make their decisions.
Check back tomorrow for Shooting Guards
Geoffrey Craig
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