After a poor start, Dallas Mavericks end an important offseason on a high note – NBA Feature (Part 2)
The Dallas Mavericks made another great move when they claimed Elton Brand off amnesty waivers. Brand was amnestied by the Philadelphia 76ers after the end of the last season, and the Mavericks decided to give the veteran centre
once more shot. In recruiting Brand, the Mavericks not only get an experienced big man, but at only a fraction of the cost since the bulk of Brand’s salary for next season will be paid by Sixers as part of the amnesty clauses.
Brand averaged 11 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks last season and has a career average of 18.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Together with Dirk Nowitzki, he could form a dominant front court for the Mavs which
can score in the low post and also dominate the boards. The only trouble with Brand is his injuries and if he can stay healthy for the bulk of the season, he could do a lot of service to the Mavericks.
The addition of Brand and O.J. Mayo give Dallas a decent starting roster with which they can compete for a place in the playoffs. Nowitzki is still by far their best player, and much will depend on how he plays next season. If
it is anything like the 2010-2011 season, the Mavs may even have a chance of finishing in the top 6 teams in the West next season.
The best part of the Mavericks comeback from a poor start to the free agency has been the fact that they have added some decent pieces into the line-up to make it competitive, but they have not given up their position of having
enough cap space to target any of the biggest free agents next season. And there will be a whole pool of talent in June next year that will be looking for a new home. Chris Paul will be a free agent next summer, so will be Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum if
they do not sign extensions with their respective teams. If James Harden is unable to reach an agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder over an extension, he could be head lining the free agent class of 2013.
The Mavericks faced a few road bumps early on in an offseason that was supposed to make then championship contenders once again. They lost their biggest free agent prospect to the Brooklyn Nets, and also their depth in the back
court. They have done a decent job of recruiting some good pieces that will help them finish with a decent seeding next season, but their main strength throughout this whole process has been their ability to show patience and calmness, and still hold on to
an enviable cap space that they can utilize next season.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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