Dallas Mavericks: Dumpster Fire
By Jason McIntyre
Eleven months later – swept out of the first round of the NBA playoffs.
July 8, 2012 – the core of that tittle-winning team is gone.
I haven’t seen a title-winning team crumble this fast since the then-Florida Marlins won a World Series. How’d it happen to the Mavericks?
* Tyson Chandler left in 2011 for the Knicks.
* JJ Barea left for the Timberwolves.
* Caron Butler left for the Clippers.
* Jason Terry bolted to the Celtics this week.
* Jason Kidd left for the Knicks Thursday.
But there’s good news, Dirk Nowitzki! You’ve still got Brenda (not a misprint) Haywood, Shawn Marion and Vince Carter! Enter all your old people jokes here.
Projected Dallas Mavericks’ starting lineup for the 2012-2013 season:
PG – Roddy Beaubois, 24
SG – Vince Carter, 35
SF – Shawn Marion, 34
PF – Dirk, 34
C – Haywood, 32
The bench will have some young pups like rookies Jae Crowder and Jared Cunningham, and Brandan Wright is coming off a decent season in which he shot 61 percent. Maybe they’ll overpay for OJ Mayo or Chris Kaman, but Dallas is headed toward a 28-win season and a Top seven pick in the lottery.