The Wild, Wild West: A Team-By-Team Preview Of The NBA Western Conference
By Matt Packer
Dallas Mavericks (Southwest Division)
Last year’s result: Regular Season (49-33). Lost in Western Conference Quarterfinals to San Antonio Spurs in 7 games.
Significant players added: Tyson Chandler, Chandler Parsons, Raymond Felton
Significant players lost: Jose Calderon, Vince Carter
Projected starting lineup: Devin Harris, Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler
Analysis: The Mavericks made some bold trades and signings typical of a Mark Cuban-owned team. Cuban has never been shy about spending money to build a contender, and while it’s fair to say the Mavs overpaid for Chandler Parsons, he’s a great offensive talent and a rising star in this league. It was also a very smart move to bring back Tyson Chandler, a cornerstone of the 2011 championship team who is arguably a top-3 defensive center in the NBA. While losing Jose Calderon hurts, Felton helps partially fill the void, along with the incumbent Devin Harris. Overall, this was a great off-season for the Mavs.
Grade: A-