Lamar Odom just resigned with the Lakers and it seems as if most of the major pieces are falling into place for the upcoming season. Today I take a look at two similar teams in the West who are willing to spend money but haven’t used it wisely.
The Dallas Mavericks
Off-Season Moves- If nothing else I think that Mark Cuban has proved that this recession doesn’t affect the super rich. Cuban has long vowed to be active in the 2009 free agent market in the hope that he would catch other teams sleeping, and he has lived up to his word. Dallas has committed over $80 million towards their roster for next season, including resigning Jason Kidd, and saving the artist once known as Shawn Marion from oblivion. They also inked Quiton Rosss, and what at this point must be the disembodied voice of Tim Thomas (somewhere Derrick Coleman saw that deal and paused for just a second.) But perhaps the biggest splash the Mavericks made was the one that got away, in Marcin Gortat.
Projected Lineup
PG- Jason Kidd
SG- Josh Howard
SF- Shawn Marion
PF- Dirk Nowitzki
C- Eric Dampier
Bench- Terry, and Barea.
What This Means For The Fans- Well Cuban was good to his word, but I don’t understand the Marion signing. Did Marion’s agent burn every tape of him playing the last 2 years? Marion’s game is based almost completely on athleticism, and he has really lost a step or two or twelve. Also is this team ready to bench Dampier for good? Obviously their best lineup would be with Howard and Marion on the wings, Terry and Kidd in the backcourt, and Dirk at center. But playing Dirk at the 5 basically concedes that every team will be allowed to get the rim, while the Mavs try to get it back on the other end. That strategy may work with a coach like Don Nelson or Mike D’Antoni, but Rick Carlisle has always been known as a defensive oriented coach. Not exactly an ideal situation.
For all the money that Cuban spent this off-season, the team is still really weak off the bench. Does Carlisle really intend to float Tim Thomas’ corpse out there? I should hope not. That means his frontcourt options are down to Kris Humphries, Shawne Williams and Ryan Hollins. Yikes. I think I was one of the few people who liked the Gortat signing for Dallas. Gortat is mobile and athletic enough to protect the rim on defense, while finishing alley-oops from Kidd on the offense. Basically he’s everything that Dampier is not. For the mid-level exception I thought that was a great move.
Verdict- Well at least Cuban is trying, but for all the money spent the Mavs still don’t belong among the West’s elite. That flushing sound you hear is another year of Dirk’s prime circling down the drain.
The New Orleans Hornets
Off-Season Moves- After their surprising run in 2007-2008 the Hornets took a major step backwards last year. Every article I see about this team is that they’re hemorrhaging money and just barely hanging on in New Orleans. Obviously the big trade they made this off-season was swapping out Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor in a move that was aimed more at saving $2 million than winning a championship. Other than that they watched Jannero Pargo, their spark off the bench in 2008 return . . . to the Bulls, and picked up the always disappointing and undersized Ike Diogu. Not exactly stellar work.
In the draft they ended up with Darren Collison who I think is this years Mario Chalmers, an underappreciated winner in college who is solid enough to run the show in the NBA.
Projected Lineup
PG- Chris Paul
SG- Morris Peterson
SF- Peja Stojacovich
PF- David West
C- Emeka Okafor
Bench- Posey, Butler, Armstrong, Collison.
What This Means For The Fans- I think it means that the Hornets won’t be helping anyone forget about Hurricane Katrina this winter. If you still don’t have plaster on your walls, then I doubt this team will provide an extended run through the playoffs to take your mind off it. It’s frustrating because Chris Paul can be dominant, but not when he’s paired with Morris Peterson in the backcourt. Hell, I don’t even know if Mo Pete will play this year. I just threw that one out there because they don’t really have any other pure SGs on the roster, but the guy sucks. You know who else sucks? Peja, he looked completely washed up last year. But at least David West is one of the most unde. . . oh wait, nope he just became overrated. Posey’s intangibles really only help when he can be the 6 or 7th guy on a team. When he’s your 4th best player you’re in for trouble. The Hornets have some pieces but not the right ones. With Peja and Peterson due over $42 million for the next two years while basically just filling the line at the team buffet, this will probably be a lost season for the Hornets. Maybe they can flip those 2 expiring contracts next year for a shooting guard with a pulse.
Verdict- Who knows how long this team will be able to stick in NO. Their payroll is almost $80 million next year, but most of it is dead weight. Like the Mavs they’re in limbo out West; not good enough to contend for the title, and not bad enough to land a decent lottery pick.
-Jesse
Next Up Spurs and Bucks.
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