Change, But Only Role Players

Over the summer, I was shocked that players like Jason Kidd and Jason Terry left the Dallas Mavericks.

But, in a way, I was not.

Like the saying goes, “It’s a business.” It’s hard to keep players that have done important things to help lead a team to success — a championship — because other teams are willing to spend more money with them.

But when you drop those players, you get excellent front court players like Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and younger guards on the rise like O.J. Mayo, Darren Collison and Dahanty Jones. But one thing has not changed — Dirk is still here.

Nowitzki has played with several combinations including Michael Finley and Steve Nash, then Jason Terry and Josh Howard, then Terry, Kidd, Tyson Chandler, and Shawn Marion — but they still have Marion.

It’s just how a business works. Tom Landry was fired from his 29-year run as the Dallas Cowboys coach after being one of the most winningest coaches in the NFL. Jimmy Johnson was fired after winning two Super Bowls with the Cowboys. But Landry’s team was going downhill and he was getting old. Jerry Jones did not like Johnson after a while, even though they were college buddies on a national championship team.

So, for this upcoming season with the Mavs, I expect them to be better overall, but the star-studded teams like the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder should be holding down the fort with the NBA championship.

I like Dallas finishing fourth in the Western Conference and advancing to the second round. The Mavs will have a shot to win it all with this crew, but the NBA’s competition has increased with superstar teams in control.

I also think the Miami Heat (yes, the team I thought would never win a ring with LeBron James) will win it all again against the Lakers.

Contributed by: Austin McNabb