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.

Mavs Spotlight - J.J. Barea (Offseason Edition)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Spotlight - J.J. Barea (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. In this edition, reserve guard J.J. Barea talks about the backup point guard competition and his desire to play for the Puerto Rico National Team.

The shortest player on the Mavericks' roster embodies so much in his 6-foot frame.

Barea, a fan favorite for his grittiness and offensive spark off the Dallas bench, has been instrumental in the Mavs' success in recent seasons. But not even Barea's toughness and heart was able to will his squad in its 4-2 series defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

"We just had bad luck in the first round of the playoffs," Barea said. "It's disappointing, but you've got to move on...We needed to score over 100 every game and we weren't doing that. We were trying to play that grind-out game against the Spurs. That wasn't going to work."

This season, the Puerto Rico native got a little competition for the duties of the second-string point guard behind veteran Jason Kidd.

With the emergence of rookie Rodrigue Beaubois, Barea has a challenger for the title of "point guard of the future," though neither player looks at it that way. Instead, Barea is willing to lend a helping hand to his first-year teammate, assisting the young pro's maturation process.

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

Now, while Beaubois will try to better himself in Summer League, Barea will look to do the same when he suits up for his native country in international play.

"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.

Hear more of what the Mavs' spark plug of the bench had to say:

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

The series concludes Saturday, when "EKS" chats with Brendan Haywood. For all of your off-season news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavs Spotlight - Roddy Beaubois (Offseason Edition)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Spotlight - Roddy Beaubois (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. In this edition, standout rookie Rodrigue Beaubois talks about how he plans to get better in the offseason.

Perhaps no player did more with his opportunities on the floor than Beaubois.

The former French League product and Guadeloupe native appeared in just 56 games and averaged just 7.1 points and 1.0 assists during his limited time on the court. But the first-year budding star did start for the Mavericks in 16 games, at times showcasing a rare ability to score with ease above the rim and from behind the arch.

Proof of Beaubois' promising future was on display during his career-high, 40-point explosion against Golden State on March 27. He once again shined in the postseason, pouring in 16 points in just 21 minutes to help the Mavericks overcome a double-digit deficit, before eventually falling 97-87 in a season-ending Game 6 defeat to conclude Dallas' first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs.

"Roddy Beaubois has done some great things this year, and has done a good job of taking advantage of his opportunities," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

But Beaubois was also the forgotten man on the Mavs' bench at times, struggling to crack the rotation as most rookies do. While the young guard sat, a love affair between the Dallas fans and the 22-year-old developed, wanting to see No. 3 in action.

"I guess I have to work a lot, because if I didn't play more it's because I didn't show enough things," Beaubois said.

Now both the coach and the player have a plan for this summer.

While Beaubois saw must of his time at the shooting guard spot during his rookie season, his focus will be more at the point guard position, learning how to lead a team when he plays in the upcoming Summer League.

"Going forward, he 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.

"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 added.

Hear more of what the future star had to say:

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

The series continues Friday, when "EKS" chats with J.J. Barea. For all of your off-season news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavs Spotlight - Rick Carlisle (Offseason Edition)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Spotlight - Rick Carlisle (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. In this installment, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle addresses the team's future and the summer plans for rookie Rodrigue Beaubois.

As he entered his second season at the helm, Carlisle believed that his squad had all of the necessary ingredients needed for a championship recipe. The coach then had little doubt that his squad would be raising the Larry O'Brien trophy by season's end, once the organization brought in Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson via a seven-player trade with Washington over the All-Star break.

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

Carlisle also watched first-hand as a first-year pro out of Guadeloupe showed glimpses of being a centerpiece of the team's future plans. While the head man on the sideline loved what he saw from Beaubois in limited usage at the guard positions, he has big plans for the rookie this offseason.

"Roddy Beaubois has done some great things this year, and has done a good job of taking advantage of his opportunities. Going forward, he 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.

But despite the emergence of Beaubois and the additions of the trio from Washington, the season still ended in heartbreak for both the coach and his players. The 55-win Southwest Division champs fell in just six games to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

Though he liked what he saw during the regular season, Carlisle has devoted his entire offseason to helping the Mavs get over the hump next year.

"I'm going to spend a lot of time studying the team, working with the guys and trying to get things better. Next year will be here before we know it...Right now, we've got to lick our wounds, and pick up the pieces and then circle the wagons. And then get the most out of this summer and go forward from there," Carlisle said.

Hear more of what the coach had to say:

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

The series continues Thursday, when "EKS" chats with Rodrigue Beaubois. For all of your off-season news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavs Spotlight - Dirk Nowitzki (Offseason Edition)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Spotlight - Dirk Nowitzki (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. In this edition, Dirk Nowitzki talks about finishing another season without a championship and whether or not he will opt out of his contract for free agency.

Nowitzki made it clear when he addressed the team in September to start training camp. He is all about winning an NBA title at this point in his career.

After the nine-time All-Star and former MVP fell short of that goal with a first-round series loss to San Antonio, thoughts of this season quickly faded away and the attention turned immediately to next year for the 7-footer.

"It's another disappointing season to me," Nowitzki said. "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."

But the season was not completely lost for the star from Germany.

Nowitzki did become the only Mav and the first European-born player to surpass 20,000 points for his career. He also finished as the league's seventh-leading scorer in the regular season, averaging right at 25.0 points per game. That number jumped to 26.7 points in the playoffs against San Antonio, albeit in a series loss.

"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 explained. "That's what really makes him special, along with the other things (Dallas fans and media members) have seen on a daily basis for over a decade. The shotmaking, the plays, the threes...All that stuff."

But now the question becomes how much longer will the Dallas faithful get to watch Nowitzki play his home games at the American Airlines Center, as the star contemplates joining the heralded 2010 free agent class.

"He's the cornerstone of the franchise. I'd say there's probably a 98-percent chance of him coming back," Jason Terry said after teaming with Nowitzki for six seasons.

Nowitzki, however, is not rushing to any decision, knowing that he has until July to scratch his brain before hopefully returning to Big D.

"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," the team's all-time leading scorer said.

Hear more of what No. 41 had to say:

In case you missed it, here's what Jason Terry, Caron Butler and Shawn Marion said, as they head into the offseason.

The series continues Wednesday, when "EKS" chats with Rick Carlisle. For all of your off-season news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.