The Mavericks probably aren't done reshaping their roster this summer. But it's hard to imagine additional tweaking being as splashy as what they did this week.
Shawn Marion represents a major alteration to the look and perception of the franchise. Marcin Gortat, assuming he ends up here, will supply fresh hope - as well as fresh legs and better hands - at the center spot. We know the Mavericks like this culture change. We know they are better. Maybe not world-beaters or even Lakers-beaters. But they are better. At the least, they will make a jump into the conversation about teams that have the personnel to be considered just one significant move away from the Lakers.
So what do they have?
Let's start in the backcourt. Jason Kidd will eat up 30 minutes a night at point guard. J.J. Barea will back up with rookie Roddy Beaubois waiting in the wings.
At shooting guard, Josh Howard might start, but Jason Terry will get the bulk of the playing time.
Howard will shift to small forward when they go with a smaller lineup.
Marion starts at small forward and plays some power forward.
Dirk Nowitzki will play his usual 35 minutes at power forward with Marion and probably James Singleton getting the backup minutes.
Gortat and Erick Dampier probably will split time at center for now.
"This gives us the firepower that we need to compete with the top teams in the West," president of Basketball operations Donnie Nelson said of the acquisition of Marion.
Defense and rebounding are two areas that Marion certainly will help.
But perhaps the best thing that the deal does is give the Mavericks the option of putting four legitimate scorers around Jason Kidd.
The Mavericks deserve credit for working hard and putting together a complicated deal like this. It's not really a roll of the dice because they clearly have upgraded in several areas, losing only role players.
Not to be overlooked, it also sends a wonderful message to Nowitzki that management is as desperate to make the most of his window of opportunity as he is.
DMN
Long and short of it
The Mavs now have the option of putting a high- powered offense on the floor using either a big or small lineup.
GOING SMALL
Pos. Player 08-09 ppg
C Dirk Nowitzki 25.9
F Shawn Marion 14.3
F Josh Howard 18.0
G Jason Terry 19.6
G Jason Kidd 9.0
GOING BIG
Pos. Player 08-09 ppg
C Dampier/Gortat 5.7/3.8
F Dirk Nowitzki 25.9
F Shawn Marion 14.3
G Josh Howard 18.0
G Jason Kidd 9.0
