OK, the therad title is half-joking, but... If you were Mark Cuban, what do you do with the team? On one hand, yes, they are the champions and you want to give the core guys another shot. On the other hand, they are pretty old, and who knows which ones of them will see their performance fall off a cliff next year. Such things happen to 30-something atheletes. Do you basically bring back Chandler + Barea and do nothing else and run with the status quo or do you trade, say, Kidd or Terry (big expiring contracts) and/or Haywood (decent C, which most teams need) and maybe Roddy B (the high upside kid) for a star player closer to his prime (like Monta Ellis)? I am thinking Kidd+Haywood+Roddy B for Biedrins+Ellis work salary wise. GS gets a local product (Kidd) to mentor Curry, a legit center, and a young prospect who might be the next Monta.
I think Cuban loves Kidd way too much to trade him even for Monta Ellis. I know it's a business and Cuban understands that more than anybody but his loyalty towards Kidd is unreal. Kidd will retire a Mav. I guarantee that. Besides, GS could get more than a package of Kidd+ fillers for Monta Ellis. I think the Mavs are a one year wonder no matter how you slice it. If they don't make any moves I can't see them winning it all next year. If they do make some minor or major moves I still can't see them winning it all again. Nothing against the Mavs but this was their year and there's nothing harder than repeating. Especially with all the talent and up and coming teams around the league.
you never stay status quo b/c the other teams will improve (miami, chicago, OKC, lakers just to name the big 4 challengers). they must upgrade the PG position. jkidd is another year older, and he's turning 72. although he is still very much serviceable, you can't afford to take that risk if you want to repeat. and barea isn't starter material. but maybe beaubois can develop into that role, but i believe he's more of a scoring type of guard. furthermore, they need someone to provide interior scoring. they LIVED by the jumpshot this year (just like how orlando did in 09, but lost in the finals). if they believe they are going to shoot 40%+ from 3s again, it's not going to happen. but the return of butler and beaubois will add tremendously to their depth, which already is a huge plus.
Keep Dirk, Terry, Chandler, Kidd, Barea, Butler, Marion, Stevenson Do not touch Peja. Haywood is an expensive $10M backup which they can do without.
Tough to say before seeing the CBA ramifications. In all likelihood, Haywood has to go, and they may have to make a choice between Butler and Marion. Stevenson and Barea both have to be resigned as well. Cardinal's also a FA. But in general, you keep the nucleus intact as best as you can.
Kidd said he feels good enough to play2 or 3 more years, and i believe him. He's kept himself in good shape and he did stay with lebron, of all people, throughout the series. I also don't think the mavs exaggerated when most of them said Kidd was their leader who kept them calm enough to come back time after time. I dont see how you trade him. His contract runs out next season and i'm sure he'd come back after that at a very low price. Butler is the odd man out here, unless he's coming back cheap. Terry's role is too great to keep him on the bench too long, and with Barea looking good, you can't give Terry much time, if any, at pg anymore. Other than that, i think you roll with what you have. there's really no excuse right now for breaking this team up significantly. Wait and see what moves other teams make and how dallas performs early in the season.
^^^ Cuban reportedly loves Butler so much that he opted to keep him and his expiring contract at the trade deadline, despite the very slim chance he'd be back from his injury by the playoffs. I think Cuban will want to keep this team virtually intact for one more season and give it a shot at repeating. Chandler, Stevenson, Barea, Butler and the Custodian are all free agents, but I think Cuban figures out a way to bring them back. With Barea and Chandler, it could get pretty pricey but as long as it doesn't break the bank, Cuban will match any competing offer, especially for Chandler. I think even Peja comes back if he's willing. He was benched in the finals, but with a healthy Butler, he'd just be insurance anyway. And for $706,000, he's not much of a risk. I could see Cuban and Nelson being forced to trade Haywood in order to make room to re-sign their free agents. But if it's financially feasible, Cuban will try to bring back this group exactly as it is now.
Kidd and Marion as starters won't be enough next season. Healthy seasons for Roddy Beaubois and Caron Butler will be needed for a legit chance to repeat.
It really depends on what happens with the new CBA, if the current system is kept in place relatively the same you keep the players and see if they can repeat because I believe with smart management, it is not that difficult to break up a team even if you have a numerous large contracts. If however, the owners get their way and their is a hard cap or numerous restrictions going into effect in a few years, I just don't see how Cuban would be able to do that. I thing I really wonder is if a number of these players will come back to the Mavs at a discount. Normally championship teams have a number of younger players that need to be resigned, but those players are looking to get the big payday or find a team where they can be more of the star/1st option. This team is entirely different because most of the key players (other than Barea) are cast-aways. This team has told them you can be a part of something and we want you here, and with that they won a title. As a older player in the league, that not something taken lightly. So, I can easily see Chandler & Butler coming back to the the Mavs at a discount. Stevenson often acts like a douche. He could just go to the team offering the most $$, but I feel that he could be replaced (perhaps by Brewer if he stays around and improves while hanging around vets like Terry, Dirk, Kidd, & Marion). I also feel that even if Barea leaves, Rodrigue Beaubois could be the fill in. Even players like Peja can be replaced with other vets like Michael Redd.
Dirk,Yao,Bud, Lee, Lowry ... with Scola, Dragon, and [defensive center] coming off the bench. Throw in some free agents and trades, and it could work.
