The Mavericks enter the off-season as one of the major players in free agency.
Not only do they have money to spend, but they also have a history of championship level contention, a still very good Dirk Nowitzki, and Mark Cuban to close the deal when it’s time to make the pitch on why the Mavericks are the place to be.
In a recent interview, Cuban opened up about what that pitch would include and it apparently at least part of it is major input on who will make up the roster beyond next season.
From Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas:“In essence, you get to come in and, it’s you and we have room for two more max free agents (next year),” Mavs owner Mark Cuban said during a Monday appearance on KTCK-AM. “That’s why when I talked about a two-year plan, that’s the concept there.
“So part of our sales pitch is, look, we’re not going to try to fool you and say that you and Dirk (Nowitzki) and Shawn Marion and Vince (Carter) and fill are basically a championship team. Maybe we get on a run, maybe we’re pretty good. But the reality is you’re going to work with us and Dirk to get out there and pick your team.”
It’s true that the Mavs have set themselves up well financially both this summer and next. And with Dirk Nowitzki already on record that he’d take a pay-cut after his current contract expires next summer, Dallas will be in position to sign some high salaried players to form a new core that would potentially compete for championships. So, for any free agent that signs on this summer, the allure of being able to have input on who made up the roster moving forward could be a great pull.
However, is this really a good idea? Players aren’t necessarily the best evaluators of talent or have the know how to build a roster that can compete for a championship. Be it Kobe Bryant’s rant to trade Andrew Bynum in the summer of 2007 (only to have the team go to three straight Finals with Bynum playing a key role) or whispers that Dwight Howard had strong input on the Magic’s acquisitions of Glen Davis and Gilbert Arenas, it’s probably best that players stay out of the General Management business and stick to improving their own games.
Further, let’s not act like the Mavericks are in the driver’s seat to get any of the top tier free agents this summer even with Cuban promising input on future players. The top two players on the market -- Dwight Howard and Chris Paul -- are both more than likely to stay with their current teams or bolt for the Rockets or the Hawks before they sign with the Mavericks this summer.
That said, Cuban has the money and he clearly has a plan to try and get someone to commit to signing in Dallas this summer. Maybe making a player a de facto assistant GM will be the clincher.
