Offseason Wishlist - Fully integrating the 'new' guys

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Offseason Wishlist - Fully integrating the 'new' guys

Joining a team in the middle of an NBA season is kind of like being the new kid at school. That's how Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson felt when they first arrived in Dallas.

After the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards pulled off a seven-player trade on Feb. 13, Butler, Haywood and Stevenson didn't have much time to get used to their new surroundings. Just three nights after the transaction, the trio suited up for the Mavericks in the first game after the All-Star break. Though the Mavs went on to drop that game, a 99-86 road loss in Oklahoma City, it was the start of something bigger. Much bigger.

The squad went on to win 13 straight games after that loss, doing so without any practice time with their new teammates. A 55-win season, Southwest Division title and No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs was also in the team's future, though so too was a first-round postseason exit. Now, with a full offseason to get better acquainted, the team hopes that the new arrivals can help bring a championship to Big D next season.

"The trade with Washington has been a big positive for us," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "It helped our overall toughness. I thought it put more of the right kind of players around Dirk (Nowitzki)."

Headlining the deal was the exchange of former All-Stars, as Butler and former Mav Josh Howard swapped spots. But the transformation was not seamless for Butler, as he had to adjust to playing in the shooting guard slot after spending most of his career as a small forward.

The swingman's regular-season scoring average slipped from the 16.9 points per game in 47 outings with Washington to a 15.2 average in his 27 appearances for the Mavericks. But the former Connecticut star showed that primetime players step up in primetime moments, averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals in the Mavs' first-round series against San Antonio.

"I hit a nice stride in the playoffs, and I was finding out what was expected of me and what my role was. I look forward to seeing what's going to happen next year," Butler said.

He may have served notice to the rest of the league prior to next season with a playoff career-high 35 points in the Mavericks' 103-81 blowout win in Game 5 of the series. No. 4 swished in 12 of 24 shots, hitting 3-of-8 from behind the 3-point arch and a near perfect 8-of-9 at the foul line. He also put the icing on the cake by pulling down 11 rebounds, collecting a double-double.

"(Butler) really is one of our tough guys...I was really, really thrilled to see him have a game like that. He is just a great guy. You just love to see a guy like that succeed and have that kind of night...He has just been a great pro and a guy that is really into winning," Carlisle said after the performance.

While Butler did his work on the perimeter, Haywood turned heads with his dominance inside.

The 7-footer split time with fellow big man Erick Dampier to secure the starting center duties. But when his name was called, Haywood proved to be a force in the interior. The 30-year-old, who had spent his entire career in Washington before the trade, produced five double-doubles in his 28 regular-season games for the Mavericks.

"I really liked what (Haywood) did for us. He's a guy that had an impact on both ends...Brendan is very athletic. He's got a good feel for the game. He's got a good knowledge of the game," the coach said.

Now the organization will try to keep Haywood patrolling the paint for years to come, as the talented center officially becomes a free agent on July 1.

"With (Haywood and Dampier), it gives us a really nice one-two punch," president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson said. "They do things a little bit different. But between the both of them, you've got a really solid centerpiece with youth and experience. That's something we look for with positions."


Meanwhile, Stevenson has done everything to make sure he's not the forgotten man in the deal. Though he wasn't always a fixture in the team's rotation, No. 92 found a way into Carlisle's heart. It translated into more time on the court.

Stevenson's scrappy defense gave the Mavericks a perimeter enforcer on the second unit. The veteran guard also stepped into the starting lineup five times, filling whatever role his coach asked of him.

"I've been trying to crack the rotation, but at the same time (Carlisle) has been talking to me. It's hard to get mad when you're winning -- as long as we're getting the wins. I've been getting in, sometimes starting, so I've been getting my opportunities. I've just got to go out there and do the things that I know I can do," Stevenson said.

"DeShawn's a guy that's developed into a very good 3-point shooter and is known as a good defender in this league," Carlisle added.

With some level of familiarity now with each player, the Mavericks' front office sees the trifecta playing much bigger roles next season.

"We feel like these guys are really going to help us. I was thrilled that this transaction could happen and we're looking forward to working with them," Carlisle said.

"They're great guys from top to bottom. They're all pulling in the same direction. We did make a transaction that hasn't fully taken, so that's a part of things. Guys are still getting used to each other out there...We like the guys that are in that locker room," Nelson concluded.

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Offseason Wishlist - Youth Movement

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Offseason Wishlist - Youth Movement

On a roster full of 30-somethings, the "young guns" are patiently awaiting their opportunity to explode on the scene. That opportunity may be on the horizon.

The play-making explosiveness of rookie Rodrigue Beaubois and energetic play of four-year guard J.J. Barea served as sparks of the bench for the 2009-10 Dallas Mavericks. But the two youngest players on the veteran ball club figure to have expanded roles next season, as the organization tries to tap into the potential of the budding stars.

"We've got some young guys that we're excited about," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've got to understand that this is something that's not going to happen over night. There's going to be growing pains, there's going to be ups and downs, but we're going to be steadfast in how we approach it."

While many see the two cat-quick youngsters in competition for the backup point guard responsibilities behind future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, the two also spent some time on the court alongside each other this season. Their interchangeability allowed Carlisle to play his upstart duo together, as Barea extended a helping hand to Beaubois, tutoring the first-year sensation on the duties of running a team.

"Roddy (Beaubois) is a great person. He has great character, so it's easy to be supportive and to help him out," Barea explained.

Between the two, the young backcourt mates combined to start 34 games. Now both head into the offseason with a list of things to work on before next season.

For Beaubois, becoming more comfortable as a lead guard tops his list, after seeing the majority of his game action at the shooting guard spot next to Kidd or Barea.

"Going forward, (Beaubois) needs to spend more time this summer, in Summer League, playing the point guard position. We need him to enhance his knowledge of the point guard position," Carlisle said.

"I need to get much better at the point guard position...This summer will be very important for me," Beaubois added. "I really need to work on my game and my body, everything, and just come into training camp ready to go."

The former French League product and native of Guadeloupe is also expected to suit up for France's national team during the FIBA World Championship held in Turkey, which runs from Aug. 28-Sept. 12.

Barea will also look to refine his game in international play, focusing on his ball-handling and shooting skills while steering the Puerto Rico national team.

"I love to play for Puerto Rico...This summer, I definitely want to play. We're going to have a long summer, so I have time to rest, I have time to work out and I have time to play," Barea said.

When the two finish representing their respective native countries, once again they'll be asked to spearhead the Mavericks' youth wave.

"We don't have to bring a bunch of young guys in at one time, but next year we can get more quickness," Barea said. "For the future, it's me and Roddy right now."

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Offseason Wishlist - Housing Haywood

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Offseason Wishlist - Housing Haywood

Productive 7-footers don't just fall in your lap every day. With that said, the Dallas Mavericks are determined to hold on to free-agent-to-be Brendan Haywood.

The big man is coming off of perhaps the best season of his career, even after joining the Mavericks via an All-Star Weekend trade with the Washington Wizards.

While the seven-player exchange on Feb. 13 was headlined by the acquisition of two-time All-Star Caron Butler, Haywood quickly proved to be more than just an accessory. The 30-year-old center averaged 9.1 points and a career-best 9.3 rebounds while splitting 77 games with the Wizards and Mavs, making him a highly sought-after player this summer. But the Mavericks don't intend on letting him go anywhere.

"It's very important to get Haywood re-signed," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "I really liked what he did for us. He's a guy that had an impact on both ends. At 30 years old, he's relatively young for a center. Centers tend to play for a very long time...Brendan is very athletic. He's got a good feel for the game. He's got a good knowledge of the game."

The front office shares the coach's sentiments, once again looking to team Haywood with fellow center Erick Dampier to stabilize the inside.

"With (Haywood and Dampier), it gives us a really nice one-two punch," president of basketball operations and GM Donnie Nelson said. "They do things a little bit different. But between the both of them, you've got a really solid centerpiece with youth and experience. That's something we look for with positions."

Meanwhile, Haywood would certainly like to make Dallas his home for years to come, after escaping the bottom of the standings in Washington and gelling with the players in the Mavericks' locker room upon arrival.

"I would love to be back in Dallas. The team's great. The city's great. The fans are great. We had a very good group of guys. Everything around here is done first class. I think any basketball player that experiences what this franchise has to offer would love to come back here," Haywood said.

No. 33 started 19 of the 28 regular-season games he suited up for the Mavs, connecting on better than 56 percent of his field goal attempts. But after spending his entire career in Washington until his recent departure, Haywood now embarks into the uncharted territory of free agency, with July 1 officially giving the former North Carolina standout the option of selecting a team of his choosing..

The Mavs hope he chooses to stay in Big D.

"I'll worry about free agency when it gets here. July 1, that seems like a long time. So, I have a long time to sit around and think," Haywood said.


For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Offseason Wishlist - Keeping Dirk in D-Town

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Offseason Wishlist - Keeping Dirk in D-Town

The Dallas Mavericks' front office can't envision seeing Dirk Nowitzki suiting up for another squad, and this summer the organization wants to ensure that No. 41 is a Maverick for life.

Coming off of a season in which Nowitzki picked up All-NBA Second Team honors and his ninth All-Star appearance, the 7-footer can now opt out of his contract and test the free-agent waters. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson are determined to keep that from happening, hoping to work out an extension with the superstar in the pending months.

"We can't imagine Dirk not being in a Maverick uniform," Nelson said. "He's been here for so long, and he's paid the ultimate price of sacrifice...From Mark (Cuban) to management, all the way down, we'll do whatever needs to happen to make sure he's in a Maverick uniform."

Like management, Nowitzki would like for his days in Big D to continue. But he has remained open-minded to joining the coveted free-agent class of 2010 when July 1 comes up on the calender.

"I always said I want to finish my career in Dallas, but I've still got some thinking to do. I never planned on opting out, but I have to keep my options open," Nowitzki said after becoming the first European-born player to join the 20,000-point club this season.

With 12 seasons now in the rearview mirror of Nowitzki's career, and no title to show for it, disappointment hovers over the Germany native's shoulders as he heads into the offseason. He also shoulders the Mavs' disappointing first-round playoff loss in six games to the San Antonio Spurs.

"It's another disappointing season to me. At this stage in my career, losing first, second or third round is all the same. As long as I don't achieve my goal and my dream, that means it was another disappointing season," Nowitzki said.

"That's where the disappointment is. You get a guy who is pure basketball heart. He'd do anything to win any ball game and he wouldn't care how many points he scored," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "That's what really makes him special, along with the other things (Dallas fans) have seen on a daily basis for over a decade."

But Nowitzki believes that the Mavericks are on the cusp of contending for a championship, which may be what keeps the league's seventh-leading scorer (25.0 ppg) during the regular season playing his home games at the American Airlines Center.

"I know it's been tough endings over the years, but I still believe we can do it. If we make some acquisitions, keep plugging and keep fighting, then hopefully we can get it done," Nowitzki concluded.

And hopefully his days in Dallas aren't done.

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Offseason Wishlist - Developing Roddy B

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Offseason Wishlist - Developing Roddy B

At the heart of the Dallas Mavericks' offseason plans is the organization's desire to refine the skill level and basketball IQ of a young guard from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

Rodrigue Beaubois turned heads during his rookie season, displaying an uncanny ability to fill up the scoring column with highlight reel dunks above the rim and sharpshooting from behind the 3-point arch.

But now the organization would like to see the 22-year-old settle into a role that both Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and the front office sees Beaubois playing for years to come: Point guard of the future.

"That's certainly in everyone's thought process as a possibility," Carlisle said of making Beaubois a building block for the team's future. "You don't want to anoint somebody as having arrived before they arrive, but he's taken the right steps."

Beaubois, who spent most of his team playing alongside veteran and future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, will now be asked to relieve his mentor at times while running the team's second unit in year No. 2.

"Probably 80 percent of his minutes this season where at the two (shooting guard) position. And he did terrific, particularly playing with Jason Kidd," Carlisle said of his young pro.

Under Kidd's tutelage, the first-year standout shined. The draft-day acquisition (in a deal with Oklahoma City) and French League product appeared in just 56 games, starting 16 times. Though his season tally reflected averages of just 7.1 points and 1.0 assists, Beaubois' career-high 40 points against Golden State on March 27 may have given a glimpse into the bright days ahead for the budding star.

"I have to work a lot, because if I didn't play more it's because I didn't show enough things," Beaubois said. "I need to get much better at the point guard position."

Now its time for Beaubois to carve his own path, hopefully allowing the team's 37-year-old first-stringer at the lead guard position to get more rest next year.

While starting in all 80 games that he appeared in, Kidd averaged 36.0 minutes a contest. That number jumped to 40.5 minutes of game action during the Mavs' first-round playoff series defeat to the San Antonio Spurs. With Beaubois' 12.5 minutes during the season undoubtedly expected to increase, including more time at the backup point guard spot, Kidd figures to be well-rested throughout the 82-game schedule.

"Going forward, we need (Beaubois) to enhance his knowledge of the point guard position -- his ability to score and do dynamic things -- but to also get the other guys on the floor involved. He's going to be a guy that is going to be an important player for this franchise, at both the point and two guard positions," the coach explained.

To help better equip himself for manning the controls, Beaubois will be spending a lot of time on the court this summer. For a second time, No. 3 will be leading the Mavericks' Summer League squad in July. He has also been selected to play for his native French national team in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey, which runs from Aug. 28-Sept. 12.

"This summer will be very important for me. I really need to work on my game and my body, everything, and just come into Training Camp ready to go," Beaubois said.

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

At the Movies with Shawn Marion

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
At the Movies with Shawn Marion

Shawn Marion is truly a man of the people.

Though the four-time NBA All-Star's season came to an unexpectedly swift ending due to the Dallas Mavericks' first-round exit in the playoffs, Marion hasn't stopped providing entertainment for his loyal supporters in Big D.

Wednesday, the star sent a message through his Twitter account to his thousands of followers, stating that anyone who could make it out to a North Dallas movie theater the next day would be treated to a free showing. Thursday, Marion followed through on his end of the deal.

The player known as "The Matrix" and his fans took in a matinee showing of "Iron Man 2," seeing a film with all the flair and excitement that Marion displays nightly on the court.

The star also gave each fan in attendance a gift to remember the date, as everyone left with a bobblehead doll in the likeness of No. 0.

Interacting with the Dallas community is one thing Marion is looking forward to doing this offseason, after joining the Mavericks last summer. Allowing the general public to spend some time with an NBA superstar, at his expense, is just one way Marion plans on giving back in his new adopted hometown.

"A lot of people don't get to know me and my personality. You can see on TV, but that's how I really am all the time. When you see me, that's how I really am. That's what you're getting. Everybody is starting to notice that, and that's what's up," Marion said.

Hear more of what the versatile forward and his fans had to say:

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavs Spotlight - Brendan Haywood (Offseason Edition)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Spotlight - Brendan Haywood (Offseason Edition)

"Mavs Spotlight" is a series of exclusive one-on-one video interviews conducted by Mavs.com's Earl K. Sneed with various Dallas Mavericks players and coaches. The offseason preview series continues with center Brendan Haywood, as he talks about his approaching free agency in July.

Of the current Mavericks, no player's future is as uncertain as Haywood's pending days. The 7-footer will be well sought after this summer, as teams try to enhance both their front lines and chances at contending for a championship.

The former North Carolina standout hasn't given much thought to the summer yet, still heartbroken by the Mavs' first-round playoff loss in six games to the San Antonio Spurs.

"I'll worry about free agency when it gets here. July 1, that seems like a long time. So, I have a long time to sit around and think about this last loss," Haywood said.

But while the 30-year-old big man has a big decision to make in the coming months, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle has made it clear that he wants to see Haywood in a Dallas uniform for a long time to come.

"It's very important to get Haywood re-signed," the coach said. "I really liked what he did for us. He's a guy that had an impact on both ends. At 30 years old, he's relatively young for a center. Centers tend to play for a very long time...Brendan is very athletic. He's got a good feel for the game. He's got a good knowledge of the game."

No. 33 averaged 9.1 points and a career-best 9.3 rebounds while splitting 77 games with the Washington Wizards and the Mavs. But Haywood, who was having a career year even before the Feb. 13 trade that shipped him, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson from Washington to Dallas, hasn't ruled out coming back to the Mavericks. In fact, he would love the opportunity to continue his career in Big D.

"I would love to be back in Dallas. The team's great. The city's great. The fans are great. We had a very good group of guys. Everything around here is done first class. I think any basketball player that experiences what this franchise has to offer would love to come back here," the free-agent-to-be concluded.

Hear more of what the big man in the middle had to say:

In case you missed it, here's what Jason Terry, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Rick Carlisle, Roddy Beaubois and J.J. Barea said, as they head into the offseason.

For all of your news on the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.