Alll Star Deron Williams Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Over the past several years, the Dallas Mavericks have devolved from an ultra-aggressive, in-the-middle-of-everything franchise into a team that is rarely recognized as a serious threat when the top names in the game are on the move.
When Mark Cuban purchased the dead franchise, he quickly and aggressively moved on seemingly every front and, in the process, turned the Mavericks into nearly instant contenders. Those days are long gone.
Consider the last nine months or so. LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire and Dallas native Chris Bosh all moved in the offseason, yet Dallas was never recognized as any sort of threat for any of them. Carmelo Anthony (not to mention Chauncey Billups) was traded to the New York Knicks on Tuesday after being on a very public trading block for months, yet the Mavericks were never more than on the most extreme periphery of any rumors.
Then today comes word that the New Jersey Nets and Utah Jazz have pulled off a blockbuster of a deal involving two of the top young point guards in the game—Deron Williams and Devin Harris. One more time, the Mavericks prove to be nothing more than a faint misty rumor in the night on Harris and are never mentioned in connection with Williams.
Even Harris, who might not be considered on a par with Williams or Chris Paul, would have been a welcome addition and a potential difference-makers for Dallas. After all, when Harris isn't being micro managed by Avery Johnson, he gives every appearance of being one of the most explosive young players in the game. But alas, nothing. Just another in an exceedingly long line of Mavericks rumors that never comes to pass.
Another year of Dirk Nowitzki wasted. Unless, of course, you're one of those people who places more value on regular-season wins than playoff victories and championships. If you're in that group, the Dallas Mavericks are for you!
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