Dallas Mavericks In Tank Mode? Not So Fast

 

 

As I’m sure all of the MFFL’s out there tried to remove that sour taste in their mouths following the DeAndre Jordan “indecision”, we all quickly got used to the idea that the Dallas Mavericks would now turn their attention to full blown “tank mode”. Guess again. Less than a day after Jordan reneged on his verbal agreement with the Mavericks and re-joined the Los Angeles Clippers, the Mavericks changed Wesley Matthews new deal to a max contract, and traded for Zaza Pachulia. One could say that Matthews was always part of the plan regardless of if they landed Jordan or not. You could also say that trading for Zaza didn’t necessarily mean the Mavericks were giving up on the tank mode idea, because he is a valuable piece that can be used down the road in a form of a trade.

 

Fast forward to this morning, when ESPN reporter, Marc Stein, reported that the Mavericks and Deron Williams have mutual interest in one another if the Brooklyn Nets and Williams can work out a buyout agreement. Let me repeat. Deron Williams wants to be released from Brooklyn so he can join his hometown Dallas Mavericks. What is it with the players the Mavericks get interested in. First, we have the DeAndre Jordan flip flop, and now Williams wants to correct the mistake he made back in 2012.

 

One thing to remember is Deron Williams used to play with one of our newest Mavericks, Wesley Matthews. They were teammates early on in Matthews career for the Utah Jazz.

 

Would the addition turn the Mavericks into a contender? No. Does it take them out of tank mode? Yes. Look, I’ve never been a fan of teams tanking, and I can’t see this franchise, owned by Mark Cuban, ever really going down that road. There is a problem with this idea of tanking. Cuban is trying to own up to his promise to Dirk Nowitzki, and give him every chance possible to compete through the end of his career. DeAndre Jordan was a huge hit on that possibility. If Nowitzki wasn’t in the picture, I could see Cuban fully entertaining the idea of collecting as many losses as possible.

 

Boy, that sounds weird.

 

I’m sure this will create a divide between those who are fully expecting the Mavericks to throw this upcoming season away and the others who just can’t fathom that idea. I, for one, am the latter. I think the Mavericks have always done a brilliant job adjusting on the fly, and the fact that Nowitzki is still a part of this team, I can’t stomach the idea of Nowitzki taking the floor for a team who is trying to have one of the worst records in basketball so they can improve a team he won’t be a part of for much longer.

 

So bring on Deron Williams. Trade for who you need and give Nowitzki what he needs to play out the remainder of his career in full blown “German Wunderkind” style. For gods sake, put that tank back in storage…for now.