Thursday, May 15, 2014

Mavs Free Agency Preview



Free Agents Currently on the Roster

Dirk Nowitzki
There is no doubt that the Big German won't be going anywhere, the only question is how much money will he get. I would expect that contract in line with what Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have gotten of around 3 years for 30-35 million. That would serve both parties well giving the Mavs ample room to surround Dirk with the necessary pieces this team needs to be a contender.

Shawn Marion
This is where it gets tricky. The Matrix has been so important to this team in his tenure here and is a huge key on the defensive end. However age has started to take his toll and the Mavs will probably be leery on giving too much of a long term deal. If Marion wants to take significantly less to stay in Dallas that is great, but if not he might move on to a championship contender.

Vince Carter
Carter has remade his game to become a key role player and gives the Mavs 2nd unit a tremendous scoring punch. He likes it in Dallas and I would expect him to return on a probable 2 year deal at around the 3 million per year mark he has been at.

Devin Harris
Harris initially signed a 3 year deal in the offseason, only for that to be scuttled when toe surgery was needed. I could see both parties returning to that 3 year range for around 9 or 10 million for Harris to return, as long as another teams doesn't blow Harris away with a deal.

DeJuan Blair
Blair was a valuable piece as an energy guy off the bench, especially in the playoffs. However I doubt the Mavs would be willing to go too crazy on a deal for Blair as they look to upgrade at the center position defensively, where Blair's lack of size in an issue.

Bernard James
In two years "Sarge" hasn't shown much more than being a decent end of the bench big. He could return on a minimum salary but don't look for much of an expansion of his role.

Free Agent Targets

Marcin Gortat
Gortat, of course signed an offer sheet with the Mavs in 2009 only for Orlando to surprisingly match the offer. Since then Gortat has only gotten better and has been a key contributer to the Wizards postseason success this year. I would expect Washington to go all out to keep him, but if not the Mavs should be ready to pounce on one of the league's most underrated bigs.

Luol Deng
Probably the Mavs' most realistic free agent target, Deng would be a great replacement for Marion, giving the team a lift on both ends of the court and a great locker fit as well. The question will be is how much you can commit to a guy with a lot of miles racked up already in his career.

Emeka Okafor
Okafor missed the entire 2014 season with a herniated disk in his neck. If he his fully recovered however, he can be a real presence on the defensive end just like another big man the Mavs took a chance on coming off an injury, Tyson Chandler.

Trevor Ariza
Another Wizard veteran, Ariza has had a great year in the nation's capital and is another effective two-way player. If Deng doesn't work out Ariza would not be a bad way to go to fill the perimeter defensive stopper role.

Kyle Lowry
This one is likely a long shot as odds are he will stay north of the border, but Lowry blossomed this year into one of the game's best point guards. He obviously would a tremendous help not just on offense, but on defense as well as he rates as one of league's best defensive point guards.

As for Lance Stephenson, the Mavs apparently are not interested and I don't blame him as he seems to be a bad fit chemistry wise both on and off the court.

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